Singer/actress Jennifer Hudson has spoken out about the pain she felt following the shootings that killed her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew, The Wrap noted. "There would be no point in faith if it wasn't tested. My mother always told me no matter how negative your life seems to be, you must always look for a positive," Hudson told the British newspaper The Guardian. Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and her 29-year-old brother Jason were found shot to death inside their family home in Chicago in October 2008.
Morrissey has denied encouraging a man claiming to be his bodyguard to hurt the owner of fansite Morrissey-solo.com, according to Digital Spy. Bradley Steyn has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was fired as Morrissey's bodyguard after refusing to take revenge on Morrissey-solo's administrator, David Tseng. Morrissey has now released a statement through rival fansite True To You to deny those allegations, and to insist that he never employed Steyn.
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the gay mathematician whose code-breaking skills helped defeat the Nazis in World War II, in the new trailer for The Imitation Game, a Turing biopic directed by Morten Tyldum, NewNowNext.com reported. Although Turing cracked the Nazi's Enigma code, he was arrested and prosecuted for gross indecency after admitting to police that he was in a relationship with another man. Turing committed suicide in 1954, two weeks before his 42nd birthday.
Orange Is the New Black co-star Laverne Cox—the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy—corrected CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King during her appearance on the weekday show, according to The Wrap. When co-host Gayle King started her section of the interview by saying "So, you were born a boy…," Cox quickly corrected her by saying that she was "assigned" a gender at birth, but she always felt like she was a girl. Cox also spoke about her twin brother, singer M. Lamar, who played the pre-trans version of Cox's "Orange" character, Sophia, in season-one flashbacks.
Producers of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella announced that actress, talk-show host and recording artist Keke Palmer will make her Broadway debut in the show's title role beginning Sept. 9, making history as the first African-American Cinderella on Broadway, according to Playbill. At age 21, Palmer is also the youngest actress to portray Cinderella on Broadway. Actors Equity honored Cinderella with its award "Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway" in 2013.
Nicki Minaj surprised fans by sharing the audio for the remix of Beyonce's "Flawless." In it, the rapper proclaims she's "the queen of rap slaying with queen Bey"—but it's Beyonce who lays down the remix's standout line, according to Mashable. "Of course sometimes sh*t go down when it's a billion dollars on the elevator," Beyonce sings, addressing the infamous elevator brawl between her husband, Jay-Z, and her sister, Solange Knowles. The family previously released a joint statement about the incident.
Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson was shocked to learn that one of his relatives was accused of a deadly crime, The New York Daily News reported. He appeared on the TLC series Who Do You Think You Are?, which gives celebs an opportunity to explore their family's history. The actor traveled to Alaska for the show in order to explore his family tree on his father's side. Only one day in, Ferguson was shocked to uncover that his paternal great-grandfather was accused of murdering his aunt.
Speaking of Ferguson, he and husband Justin Mikita recently celebratd their one-year wedding anniversary, according to People.com . "We had a weekend of dinners," Ferguson, 38, said. "We made a few reservations and we had a chef come over to our house on our actual wedding anniversary and cook us something. So we ate a lot." He added that the time has flown by since his wedding day.
Three of The Big Bang Theory's five stars have reached a new deal with studio Warner Bros. Television, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Following prolonged negotiations that resulted in a brief production delay, stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco have inked new three-year deals to return to the CBS hit. Sources said the trio, who currently earn $325,000 per episode, likely secured about $1 million per half-hour with an increased cut of the show's back end.
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) released a video ad featuring professional skateboarder and CEO Tony Hawk, a press release stated. In the video, Hawk states, "We all deserve to follow our hearts, and we need to continue working until every state recognizes marriage as an equal right." The video can be viewed online at americansformarriageequality.org . Past videos include Kristen Bell, Bryan Cranston, Stanley Tucci, Busy Philipps, Cybill Shepherd, Jason Mraz, Krysten Ritter, Matthew Morrison and many more. One of the most recognized action-sports figure in the world, Hawk also heads Tony Hawk Inc., a worldwide leader in action-sports video games, merchandising, events, endorsements, and film and digital media.
Girls star Allison Williams will take to the air as Peter Pan for NBC, according to The Wrap. Williams, the daughter of NBC News anchor Brian Williams, has been cast as the iconic forever-boy hero in Peter Pan Live!,"the network's Dec. 4 live telecast. Williams, a classically trained singer, has recorded songs for the Girls soundtrack, and has also appeared on sitcoms The Mindy Project and The League.
After winning it all just a few weeks ago, Maksim Chmerkovskiy has officially retired from performing on Dancing With the Stars, according to ABC News. "I'm done dancing," the season 18 winner said on ABC's The View. Chmerkovskiy, 34, has been on the show for more than a dozen seasons, including this year with gold medal ice dancer Meryl Davis, whom he took home the Mirror Ball trophy with. It was his first championship on the show.
Police have arrested a man they say was stalking Robin Roberts, one of the hosts of ABC's Good Morning America, according to The Huffington Post. Tony Warren, 43, turned up at the ABC studios in New York eight times between June 10 and June 24, demanding to see Roberts. "When I see her I'm going to punch her in the face," Warren allegedly told GMA security director Michael Centrella.
Oscar winner Liza Minnelli was unable to join fellow Tony winner Alan Cumming for their previously announced Aug. 4 concert in Provincetown, Massachusetts, according to Playbill. A statement from Minnelli's publicist says Minnelli "is under doctor's orders to continue to restrict her travel and performance schedule." Cumming went on with the show, joined by musical director-composer Lance Horne, with Eleanor Norton on cello.
Jessica Barrymore, the older half-sister of actress Drew Barrymore, has been found dead in her car in what appears to be a suicide two days before she would have turned 48, according to Newser. An official cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy has not yet been scheduled.
Events Comics announced that horror-movie-producing twins Jen and Sylvia Soska will helm a movie adaptation of the character Painkiller Jane, according to SheWired.com . The story line revolves around character PainKiller Jane, also known as Jane Vasko, a bisexual policewomen-turned-superhero who has regenerating powers and a high tolerance for pain. Painkiller Jane is no stranger to on-screen adaptations, having been brought to SyFy twice—once in 2005 as a film and then again in 2007 in a SyFy Tv series.
In Florida, Trattoria al Forno is replacing lesbian chef Cat Cora's Kouzzina at Disney's BoardWalk in December, The Orlando Sentinel noted. The restaurant will specialize in Old World techniques, including handcrafted mozzarella made daily, cavatelli and a variety of Neopolitan-style pizzas baked in wood-burning ovens.
Kirstie, the new TV Land series that cast comedic actress Kirstie Alley as a Tony-winning Broadway star, has been canceled, Playbill noted. The series made its premiere on the cable network Dec. 4, 2013. The cast also featured Rhea Perlman ( Cheers ), Michael Richards ( Seinfeld ) and Eric Petersen ( Shrek: The Musical ).
During a promotion for his film Guardians of the Galaxy in Britain, actor Vin Diesel sang the out musician Sam Smith's "Stay with Me," according to The New York Daily News. The deep-voiced crooner's rendition even got glowing reviews from Smith himself. "First of all I thought it was going to be good, but when I heard it it's the most hilarious thing I've heard in my life," the 22-year-old singer told the radio station Capital FM. "It's amazing. Brilliant."
Multiplatinum Grammy-winning recording star Lorde will curate the soundtrack album for the upcoming third installment of the global blockbuster The Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1, according to a press release. In addition to hand-picking the artists for that film's soundtrack, Lorde will provide the first single for the movie and album. The 17-year-old New Zealand native, who will embark on her third national North American tour this fall, exploded onto the scene with her global hit "Royals."
Writer/director Marina Rice Bader ( executive producer of Elena Undone, A Perfect Ending ) has released her feature-length directorial debut Anatomy of a Love Seen as a $5 digital rental on Vimeo via the film's website, www.AnatomyOfALoveSeen.com . Following the July 18 premiere of the lesbian-themed drama at the 32nd Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival, Bader immediately gave the film its worldwide release as a streaming rental. Anatomy of a Love Seen—which was filmed in five days—stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman.
Kathie Lee Gifford has written Today: The Musical, an 18-minute extravaganza expected to air this year, according to The Wrap. Gifford has worked on several plays and musicals, including Scandalous, which shut down on Broadway after less than a month in 2012. Former Regis & Kathie Lee co-host Regis Philbin will guest in the musical, which will feature all the Today anchors and crew. The musical's title will be "Not Today and Tomorrow's Not Looking Good Either."
Michael Johns, a singer-songwriter and former American Idol finalist, has died at the age of 35, The Wrap reported. Johns—who died of a blood clot in his ankle—finished in eight place in the show's seventh season, which finished in 2008. Paula Abdul and former American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle were among those sending condolences.
The Human Rights Campaign has thrown its weight behind those taking issue with the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival's "intention" to exclude transgender women, accoding to Advocate.com . This happened just days after a Equality Michigan called on the festival to reverse its unofficial policy discouraging transgender women from attending the annual festival. This year, out Canadian rock trio Hunter Valentine announced it will not perform at the festival because of Michfest's intention, which they see as discriminatory; also, Orange Is The New Black star Lea DeLaria cancelled her scheduled performance after becoming the subject of online criticsm for being on the event's roster.
Original Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Ian Ziering says singing with Olivia Newton-John was on his ''bucket list," according to ContactMusic.com . The Sharknado 2 star did a duet with the 65-year-old Grease! star on stage at her 'Summer Nights' Las Vegas residency. Ziering, 50, is currently performing with the Chippendales at The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Michael Jackson's iconic Neverland ranch is to be sold by a billionaire's private investment firm, ContactMusic.com noted. Tom Barrack's company Colony Capital is planning to put Neverland on the market. The firm currently owns a primary stake in the estate after a deal made in 2007, when it purchased the $23-million loan Jackson owed to private investment group Fortress Investment.
The world-champion San Antonio Spurs made NBA history, announcing that six-time WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon will join the team as an full-time assistant coach for the 2014-15 season, making her the first woman ever in that position, USA Today reported. Hammon, a 16-year WNBA veteran who has played for the San Antonio Stars since 2007, will retire after the current WNBA season concludes. CBS Sports noted that Lisa Boyer was a "volunteer assistant coach" on John Lucas' coaching staff for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002.
Chemically Altered, Telly Leung Productions and Yellow Sound Label have announced the release of the soundtrack to Grind: The Movie, a press release stated. Grind: The Movie—which stars Anthony Rapp, Claire Coffee and Pasha Pellosie—is described as "a short film musical that takes a sexy and artistic look at the ways we connect in today's multi-screened hook-up culture." The movie was awarded "Best LGBT Film" from the NYC Downtown Shorts Film Festival, and has been an official selection at several other LGBT movie festivals.
Roxanne Lowit—the seminal New York fashion and celebrity photographer who previously published Backstage Dior—will launch a new tome of behind-the-scenes photos on late fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent in November, according to Page Six. Lowit recently recalled how she traveled to Paris in the 1970s and had to read the instructions on how to use a camera on the plane. She ended up at the top of the Eiffel Tower with Saint Laurent and Andy Warhol; she then began a lifelong friendship with the designer, taking exclusive backstage pics at all his shows.
Billie Letts, the mother of the Chicago playwright Tracy Letts, recently died in her home state of Oklahoma, The Chicago Tribune reported. Billie Letts, who was 76, was a highly regarded novelist ( as well as a teacher and screenplay writer ) whose works include Where the Heart Is, which sold more than 3 million copies and was turned into a movie starring Natalie Portman. Billie was married to the actor Dennis Letts, who died in 2008, shortly after appearing in his son Tracy's Pulitzer Prize-winning play August: Osage County, initially at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and then on Broadway.
Singer-songwriter Sia tied the knot with beau filmmaker Erik Anders in a private backyard wedding on Aug. 2, SheWired.com reported. The "Chandelier" singer got engaged this past June posting a picture of her engagement ring on Instagram. Gossip Blogger Perez Hilton outed Sia as bisexual in 2010, which she said increased pressure on her; at the time she was dating J.D. Samson of Men.
