Lesbian musician Brandi Carlile memoir, Broken Horses, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Sellers list, a press release announced. In addition to the hardback book, a very special audiobook edition of the memoir, narrated by Carlile herself, will be released Tuesday, April 20, on Random House Audio. In the book, Carlile discusses a life shaped by music, including songs that inspired her and the true stories behind many of her lyrics, woven throughout the book at the end of each chapter. The audiobook song list includes many tunes by Carlile, but also others, such as Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors."
HBO Max will debut the second season of the ballroom-competition series Legendary on Thursday, May 6, a press release announced. MC Dashaun Wesley—along with judges Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, Law Roach and Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion—will crown the last house standing with the help of guest judges including Tiffany Haddish, Taraji P. Henson, Amiyah Scott, Nicco Annan, Normani, Adam Lambert and Demi Lovato. This season features ten new houses igniting the catwalk to battle for the legendary trophy and the $100,000 cash prize.
GLAAD announced the most recent children's book in its series in partnership with Little Bee Books: Grandad's Camper, written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate, a press release noted. In the book, grandfather-granddaughter relationship is at the center: As a little girl hatches the perfect plan to get her Grandad adventuring again, as Gramps and Grandad were adventurers. "Grandad's Camper was partly inspired by my university research into queer representation in illustrated children's literature, and my aim was not only to honor the often underrepresented older members of our LGBTQ community, but also to create a story that moved beyond the 'coming out' narrative that is common especially in younger children's titles," said Woodgate.
The 23rd annual OUTshine Film Festival will take place April 23-May 2, a press release noted. Due to the pandemic, this year's festival will be mostly digital. It will feature 80+ LGBTQ films from around the world beginning with the opening night presentation of Potato Dreams of America—a semi-autobiographical comedy film that follows director Wes Hurley growing up gay in Russia and coming to the United States with his mail-order bride mother. A new feature being added this year is OUTshine At Home. After the festival's conclusion, OUTshine will offer its members eight to 10 films every month—a mixture of brand-new films and older festival titles that are not available on any streaming services. Visit www.outshinefilm.com .
Trans writer/producer/director Janet Mock (Pose) will join Marta Kauffman (Grace & Frankie), Susanne Bier (The Undoing) and Geeta V. Patel (The Great) at the WrapWomen's 2021 BE Conference, running May 11-13, a press release noted. During day two, Mock, Kauffman, Bier and Patel will join TheWrap's founder/Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman for a discussion titled "Script to Screen: Directing & Producing Quality Content." During this session, the leading Hollywood storytellers will discuss their careers, lessons learned, and what it takes to get a project made and seen. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScD1bg6ttPrrNalyW5eT3LDpxs6d6GByNMv7V_vhwx8vY7A-Q/viewform.
The Hulu teen dramedy Love, Victor will return for a second season with all 10 episodes on Friday, June 11, a press release noted. The new season features a newly out-of-the-closet Victor entering his junior year at Creekwood High. But being out brings with it new challenges, as Victor faces a family struggling with his revelation, heartbroken ex-girlfriend Mia and the difficulties of being an openly gay star athlete—all while navigating his relationship with Benji.
Susan Johnson, the director of Netflix's hit teen dramedy To All The Boys I've Loved Before, is helming Paramount Players' Bounce, based on the Megan Shull YA novel and starring LGBT YouTube personality JoJo Siwa, Deadline noted. Bounce tells the story of a teenage girl who wishes she could trade her family for a new one on Christmas Eve. Her wish is granted and she finds herself "bouncing" into the lives of other girls and living Christmas Day on repeat—learning the value of family, finding one's voice and the power of love.
Funko—the company known for making bobbleheads and specializing in "pop culture collectibles"—announced that it is introducing a vinyl figure of the Baltimore-based writer and filmmaker John Waters as part of its Pop! Icons collection, according to LGBTQ Nation. The company released images of the Funko POP!, depicting Waters wearing a dark suit and holding a pink flamingo, in reference to his 1972 movie Pink Flamingos. The vinyl figure of Waters is almost four inches high, comes in a window display box and sells for $10.99.
Actor/singer Lance Bass claimed newly out former Bachelor Colton Underwood may receive some backlash from the gay community for "monetizing the experience" of coming out, Deadline noted. On The Ben & Ashley I. Almost Famous Podcast, Bass said, "There is a small percentage of the community that's just gonna not like the fact that he came out this way, that he's monetizing the experience. They don't think he deserves this attention and one of those reasons is, and this is what I experienced when I came out. … When you first come out, most people have no clue about the LGBT community."
Show producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh announced the ensemble cast to present at the 93rd Oscars, which will air live on ABC on Sunday, April 25, a press release noted. Starring, in alphabetical order, are Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Bong Joon Ho, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Laura Dern, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Renee Zellweger and Zendaya. The Oscars will be held at Union Station Los Angeles as well as the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood; and international locations via satellite.
Karen Olivo—the Tony-nominated star of Broadway hit musical Moulin Rouge!—will not return to the production when the industry reopens to protest what she said is the industry silence over the workplace harassment and abuse claims against film and theater producer Scott Rudin, Deadline noted. Olivo's announcement comes two days after three theater unions—SAG-AFTRA, Actors' Equity Association and American Federation of Musicians Local 802—condemned workplace harassment. Although the unions did not name Rudin, the statement followed a Hollywood Reporter story detailing allegations by four former employees of Rudin about what they say is the producer's volatile and sometimes violent behavior.
Jeffree Star was in "excruciating pain" after flipping his Rolls Royce in a car accident with his best friend, according to PinkNews. The makeup blogger was on a drive with best friend Daniel Lucas in Natrona County, Wyoming, when the car hit black ice. Starr himself tweeted, "This morning was one of the scariest moments of our entire lives. I'm so grateful to be here still."
Fashion consultant/Queer Eye co-host Tan France announced he's going to be a father, out.com noted. "With the greatest gift/help of the most wonderful surrogate, Rob and I are lucky enough to be on our way to being parents, this summer," France wrote. Tan has been married to husband Rob France, a self-taught freelance illustrator, since 2007.
After online trolls attacked a Valentino ad for the model's androgyny, the brand's creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, clapped back, out.com noted. During the weekend, Valentino uploaded several campaign images to its Instagram—but one, featuring a nude man holding a bag—generated online vitriol; one person stated, "While I like your products, I feel sick looking at a man who wants to be a woman and you [shoving it down] our throats." The hate forced photographer Michael Bailey Gates to make his personal Instagram account private; however, Piccioli said, in part, "Hate is not an expression, hate is a reaction to fear and fear can easily turn into violence, which can be either a comment or an aggression to two guys kissing in a subway."
Lady Gaga's 2013 album Artpop is back on the charts—and the singer got emotional about it, out.com noted. In an effort to get Gaga to release an album of B-sides from Artpop, fans got the album back on the charts all the way at number three on the iTunes chart, after Taylor Swift's re-release of Fearless and the late DMX's greatest hits. "The petition to #buyARTPOPoniTunes for a volume II has inspired such a tremendous warmth in my heart," she tweeted. "Making this album was like heart surgery, I was desperate, in pain, and poured my heart into electronic music that slammed harder than any drug I could find. I fell apart after I released this album. Thank you for celebrating something that once felt like destruction."
Brockhampton has released a new single ("Count on Me") and video—and the latter features Lil Nas X, according to out.com . As the video opens, Lil Nas X is riding in a convertible with previous Brockhamption collaborator Dominic Fike, a 25-year-old singer who released his first album, What Could Possibly Go Wrong, in 2020. Eventually, the video turns into a hallucinogenic trip featuring computer animation and plenty of making out—between Nas X and Fike. Fike has never stated his sexuality publicly, but is currently dating Diana Silvers, from the film Booksmart.
Supergirl showrunners Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner explained why an important scene was cut, Digital Spy noted, citing The Wrap. The Arrowverse series recently returned for its sixth and final season, and the premiere episode saw Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh) make the decision to tell girlfriend Kelly (Azie Tesfai) that Alex's sister Kara (Melissa Benoist) is Supergirl. Rovner told The Wrap, "Because Kelly was fine with the news, we felt that we could integrate it into the story and that their relationship. It was something that Kelly was going to be very supportive [of] and helping Alex cope with this. And some of it is explored in the next episode, when Alex is having a very difficult time."
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) and the CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, announced a partnership that will bring the museum's collaborative project, Music Legends & Heroes, to select high schools within Metro Nashville Public Schools, a press release noted. As part of the Music Legends & Heroes program, several musicians including Country artists BRELAND, Willie Jones,
Reyna Roberts and Tiera will mentor students, sharing their histories and answering questions about the industry.
After 11 seasons, the cast members of Shameless said goodbye to their longtime characters, castmates and fans, USA Today noted. On April 11, Showtime aired the series finale of the family dramedy about a large, dysfunctional family led by William H. Macy's troubled patriarch Frank Gallagher. After 11 seasons, the cast of "Shameless" has said goodbye to their longtime characters, castmates and fans. "Goodnight everyone, a watershed event," Macy tweeted. "I love you Shameless family. I love you Shameless fans. I'm exhausted." Shanola Hampton, who played the Gallaghers' neighbor Veronica Fisher, said it was a "joy bringing [her character] to life."
Legendary vocalist and musician Dennis DeYoung announced the release of his final studio album, 26 East, Vol. 2, will will drop June 11 via Frontiers Music Srl, a press release noted. Additionally, DeYoung released the first single and video from the album, "Isle Of Misanthrope," which is at youtu.be/wUzp4FJ0tCM. The album's title refers to where former Styx singer DeYoung grew up in Roseland, Illinois, on the far South Side of Chicago.
The Will Smith runaway-slave thriller Emancipation has left Georgia over the state's new election law, Deadline reported. Said Smith and director Antoine Fuqua: "At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice. We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access. The new Georgia voting laws are reminiscent of voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction to prevent many Americans from voting. Regrettably, we feel compelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state."
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez officially called off their engagement weeks after attempting to work past issues, EW.com noted. The two issued a joint statement shared exclusively with Today: "We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another's children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support."
Netflix ordered another two seasons of its Regency-era blockbuster Bridgerton, Deadline noted. In accordance with Bridgerton tradition, Lady Whistledown had her own say on the renewal. "This author shall have to purchase more ink," quipped the character, who is narrated by Julie Andrews and is the pen-name of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
Lucy Liu has signed on to play the villainous Kalypso in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the sequel to 2019's Shazam! from New Line and DC Films, Deadline noted. Liu is joining star Zachary Levi, back to reprise his title role, as well as new cast members Rachel Zegler and Helen Mirren, who will play the villain Hespera, a daughter of Atlas and sister to Kalypso.
Chris Evans stars in the limited series Defending Jacob, arriving on DVD July 6, from Paramount Home Entertainment, a press release announced. The series unfolds around a shocking crime that rocks a small Massachusetts town and one family in particular, forcing an assistant district attorney (played by Evans) to choose between his sworn duty to uphold justice and his unconditional love for his son. The series also stars Golden Globe nominee Michelle Dockery (of TV's Downton Abbey), Jaeden Martell (It; Knives Out), Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), and three-time Emmy winner Cherry Jones (TV's The Handmaid's Tale).
Diamond-certified, Grammy-nominated singer Bebe Rexha will unveil her sophomore album, Better Mistakes, on May 7 via Warner Records, a press release noted. Also, she has revealed the new track "Sabotage," with a video (directed by Christian Breslauer) at www.youtube.com/watch. Rexha has already set the stage for Better Mistakes with the radio anthem "Sacrifice."
Amazon's Audible, The Man in the High Castle producer Big Light Productions and Vespucci will jointly develop a podcast slate with a scripted series starring Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as one its first projects, Deadline noted. Coster-Waldau will star in Mask of Sanity—a serial-killer story based on a true story from Bulgarian journalist Dimiter Kenarov. The series will be joined by Killer Book Club—a documentary true-crime thriller exploring the case of British novelist/private-school teacher Peter Farquhar, who was murdered by church warden Benjamin Field, his much younger lover and former student.
Goo Goo Dolls announced a surprise extended play titled EP 21, via Warner Records, a press release noted. Produced by frontman John Rzeznik and recorded during the pandemic, the release features stripped-down versions of four fan-favorite tracks from the band's catalog: "As I Am," "Feel the Silence," "Happiest of Days" and "Bullet Proof Angel."
Chris Crocker—who became famous for their "Leave Britney Alone" viral video in 2007—sold the original video as an NFT (digital art) in order to help fund their transition, out.com noted. The video was sold to an anonymous buyer for about $41,000. "I felt like a lot of people might misconstrue why I wanted to sell it," Crocker told Business Insider. "But the real reason is because I felt like I took a lot of hits—you know, literal hits," they added, specifying that they received death threats and were "physically assaulted at gay clubs" because some in the community didn't like Crocker representing them.
Harvey Weinstein was hit with another indictment from the L.A. grand jury, Deadline reported. Due to objections by the incarcerated producer's East Coast lawyer over the latest developments in Los Angeles, further discussion on the interstate transfer has been pushed to April 30. Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case wants paperwork from Weinstein's attorney Norman Effman by April 20 and response from the local District Attorney by April 27. Mirroring the previous charges that the Pulp Fiction EP already faced on the West Coast, the newly minted 11 counts of sexual assault are presently under seal.
