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  WINDY CITY TIMES

SHOWBIZ Madonna, David Bowie, Jennifer Lawrence, Ricky Martin
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Andrew Davis, Windy City Times
2018-02-27

This article shared 1315 times since Tue Feb 27, 2018
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Musical anniversary: Twenty years ago, Madonna released her seventh studio album, Ray of Light, according to Advocate.com . The album would win three Grammys, sell 16 million copies, expose a growing spiritual side to the pop queen, and endear her even more to her legion of gay fans. Produced by British musician William Orbit, Ray of Light contained songs more electronica-infused than previous Madonna releases. Some of the album's songs include the title track, "Frozen," "Nothing Really Matters" and "Candy Perfume Girl."

Through March 23, BOWIE ( a exhibition devoted to David Bowie ) will be open to the public at Morrison Hotel galleries in New York City; West Hollywood, California; Lahaina, Hawaii—and online, according to a press release. The exhibit will feature photographers such as Geoff MacCormack, Duffy, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Bob Gruen and many others. All available David Bowie prints are for sale. They are limited-edition, fine-art prints signed by the photographers, and can be purchased at MorrisonHotelGallery.com .

Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep are upset that Harvey Weinstein's lawyers name-dropped them while defending the disgraced mogul in a sexual misconduct lawsuit, Page Six noted. "Harvey Weinstein's attorneys' use of my ( true ) statement—that he was not sexually transgressive or physically abusive in our business relationship—as evidence that he was not abusive with many OTHER women is pathetic and exploitive," Streep told Deadline. Meanwhile, Lawrence told TMZ, "Harvey Weinstein and his company are continuing to do what they have always done, which is to take things out of context and use them for their own benefit." Weinstein has apologized.

Ricky Martin said he hopes to play a part in normalizing open relationships, Metro reported. The "Livin La Vida Loca" singer, 46, is currently portraying the longtime partner of fashion icon Gianni Versace, Antonio D'Amico on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In real life, the couple were non-monogamous and slept with other people and Martin is hoping people will not be as judgemental of non-traditional relationships after they watch the show. Although Martin has never publicly stated that he and husband Jwan Yosef are in an open relationship, he did say that representation of such couples is good "for me, as a gay man with kids."

Transparent creator Jill Soloway will launch their own Amazon Publishing imprint, according to Page Six. The new imprint will be called Topple Books, named after Soloway's production company. Soloway will use Topple Books to spotlight the voices of women of color as well as gender non-conforming, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer writers.

Rumors have long been whispered about Janelle Monae's sexuality, but she has thus far resisted publicly defining it, according to a profile in The Guardian. She characterizes herself again as "sexually liberated," and added, in part, "I'm about women's empowerment. I'm about agency. I'm about being in control of your narrative and your body. That was personal for me to even talk about—to let people know you don't own or control me, and you will not use my image to defame or denounce other women." Monae's video for "Make Me Feel" has some speculating that she's dating actress Tessa Thompson; in the video, Monae sensuously accepts a lollipop from Thompson while locking eyes with a guy.

Roxane Gay has offered to write the Batgirl movie after slater writer/director Joss Whedon departed from the movie, EW.com noted. Given Gay's stature and popularity, the idea quickly took off, with the offer generating thousands of retweets and some pleas to Warner Bros. and DC Comics to hire her. Gay regularly contributes to major outlets with cultural criticism and TV recaps, wrote the Black Panther: World of Wakanda comics series, and co-wrote the screen adaptation of her novel An Untamed State.

Laverne Cox has dropped the music video for her first-ever single, "Beat for the Gods," The Washington Blade noted. Cox debuted the single on Out and explained the song was for "the kids who vogue, the kids who drag—the nightclub scene." She said the song started out as a joke but she decided to make it into a full-on music video for "a cute song for the kids to vogue to." However, she doesn't have any serious ambition to transition to a music career.

Kesha will postpone her Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan tour dates this spring as a result of an ACL tear in her knee after she fell during a concert in Dubai on Feb. 9, Variety noted. The singer underwent surgery, followed by rehab in preparation for her co-headlining North American tour with Macklemore this summer, which is titled "'The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore."

Rock legend Mick Jagger stopped into Roscoe's Tavern in Chicago recently to see RuPaul's Drag Race alum Aja perform, according to NewNowNext.com . Roscoe's tweeted a photo of Jagger with the caption, "Thanks for the LOVE World of Wonder! We definitely had the moves like Jagger last night when Mick Jagger stopped by Roscoe's to see Aja and Milk perform! Talk about satisfaction! #DragRace #AllStars #RoscoesDoesItBetter." The club is becoming increasingly popular with celebs: Rapper Iggy Azalea stopped by the other week to debut her new single, "Savior," and to catch Shea Coulee and host Frida Lay perform.

Legendary vocalist/activist Joan Baez has announced what she's calling her "final formal North American tour," according to JamBase.com . The run is currently scheduled to run Sept. 11-Nov. 17, with stops in Nashville, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and other cities. Baez's new studio album, Whistle Down The Wind is due on March 2. Whistle Down The Wind features songs written by Tom Waits, Anohni, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Josh Ritter and more.

Having canceled all press and USA book-tour appearances, activist/author Rose McGowan broke her silence in a special on queer digital-media network Revry's "SHOOK with Ashlee Marie Preston." Preston is a media personality, writer, speaker and civil-rights activist who says she was the first trans woman to become editor in chief of a national publication. A trailer is at www.youtube.com/watch. See Revry.com .

In an interview to promote the documentary Survivor's Guide to Prison, David Arquette remembered late sibling Alexis Arquette, The Spectrum reported. When asked which of his siblings he thought was most courageous, David said his whole family, but said specifically of Alexis that she "was amazing—the way Alexis stood up for who she was. She was out and transgender before it was really talked about as much, and she really was a hero of mine." David added, "I miss her, but she was ready to move on."

Tom Ford supplied the alcohol at Joan Collins' housewarming party in LA recently, according to Page Six. "Tom brought her three magnum bottles of Champagne to the housewarming," a source told Page Six. Also, George Hamilton brought the entertainment. Barbara Davis, Stefanie Powers, Nikki Haskell, Piers Morgan and Alana Stewart were also there celebrating Collins' new Wilshire Avenue pad.

Emmy and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth will succeed John Lithgow as a star on the upcoming second season of NBC's anthology comedy series Trial & Error, Deadline noted. She will play a central new character accused of murder in a season-long arc, similar to Lithgow's Larry Henderson in season one. Chenoweth will play eccentrick heiress Lavinia Peck-Foster.

Kevin Smith said he has suffered and survived a "massive heart attack," tweeting a photo from his hospital bed, Deadline noted. The Clerks and Chasing Amy filmmaker was shooting a new standup special, Kevin Smith Live!, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. He also tweeted, "The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery ( aka "the Widow-Maker" ). If I hadn't canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would've died tonight."

Talk-show host Wendy Williams announced on her Feb. 21 show that she is taking three weeks off ( on her doctor's advice ) to be treated for Graves' disease, which causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone, USA Today noted. In normal amounts, thyroid hormones regulate a person's metabolism; however, an excess of those hormones, the Mayo Clinic says, can cause a person to have heart palpitations and tremors, rendering them anxious, irritable and shaky. The Wendy Williams Show will be airing repeats during the unplanned hiatus, adding that the Feb. 21 live show was produced so that Williams could speak to her fans and explain her condition.

Stephen Fry has had his prostate removed after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, People.com noted. The English actor/comedian, 60, revealed in a video that he's been battling the disease since a routine physical from his doctor revealed higher-than-average PSA levels. An MRI and biopsy followed before doctors diagnosed Fry's adenocarcinoma, a type of cancerous tumor. His prostate as well as 11 lymph nodes were taken out during the first week of January.

The Weinstein Co.'s board directors issued a statement saying it has no choice but to file for bankruptcy after talks with the investor group led by Maria Contreras-Sweet and Ron Burkle apparently collapsed, Deadline noted. The Weinstein Co. board said it now believes the offer was "illusory" and "would only leave this company hobbling toward its demise," and it plans to begin the bankruptcy process.

New details of alleged sexual misconduct have emerged from Ryan Seacrest's former stylist, who has accused the omnipresent TV and radio host of sexual harassment, groping and sexual assault, NJ.com noted. Variety reported that an attorney for Suzie Hardy, who worked as Seacrest's stylist at E! from 2006 to 2013, sent a letter to E!, NBCUniversal and Seacrest in November that detailed Hardy's allegations. Seacrest has vehemently denied Hardy's claims.

TidalWave Comics is re-releasing more than 20 of its most popular nonfiction comic books featuring LGBTQ+ people in a new print format, according to a press release. These titles, some of TidalWaves' bestsellers, include an historical look at the Stonewall Riots. Other titles explore the lives of allies or out celebrities such as RuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Beyonce, Madonna, Joan Jett, Tom Daley, Keith Haring, Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, Britney Spears and others. See TidalWaveComics.com .

UnREAL, the Lifetime series about the making of a Bachelor-esque dating show called Everlasting, has returned for a third season—and this time it's ladies choice, NewNowNext.com noted. In the trailer for season three, Everlasting's cutthroat producer, Quinn ( Constance Zimmer ), once again enlists the help of Rachel ( Shiri Appleby ) to make sure things go smoothly during filming. The new season promises lots of drama, but also plenty of eye candy since this time it will be a group of men vying for the heart of bachelorette Serena ( Caitlin FitzGerald ).

CMT set a June 7 midseason return date for Nashville, which is in its final season—and the final curtain will fall on the countrified soap with a series finale set for July 26, Deadline revealed. Now in its second season on CMT, which picked up the show a month after ABC canceled it suddenly in May 2016, Nashville follows country stars Juliette Barnes ( Hayden Panettiere ), Deacon Claybourne ( Charles Esten ) and the Highway 65 family as they strive to keep Rayna Jaymes' ( Connie Britton's ) dream alive and pursue their music while juggling relationships, family and the music industry.

Summer staple America's Got Talent has been officially renewed for a 13th season by NBC, Deadline noted. The onscreen team from the highly rated Season 12 will remain intact, with AGT creator/executive producer Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B set to return as judges next season, along with Tyra Banks, who made her debut as host of the talent competition series last summer.

While dozens of '90s movies are getting film reboots, 1996's Set it Off will be making its return as a live stage play, according to Complex.com . Famed '90s rapper Da Brat announced that she will be making her theatrical debut as Cleo, who was originally played by Queen Latifah in the film. The rest of her bank robbers in crime will be portrayed by Kyla Pratt, Latoya Luckett and Demetria McKinney ( in roles originally played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox ). Set it Off—written, directed and produced by Je'Caryous Johnson—will kick off March 9 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta and continue to Washington, D.C.; Houston; Chicago; St. Louis; and Detroit before ending in Los Angeles.

Fans have always longed for '90s couple Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston to get back together—something Justin Theroux became keenly aware of two years ago when he found love notes Aniston had saved from the heartthrob, US Weekly reported. A sourced claimed the impact of those little notes was huge: "Jen assured him they weren't a big deal, but Justin wasn't thrilled. … Justin had moments of insecurity like that." Aniston, 49, and Theroux, 46, recently announced their separation.

Jeffrey Sanker Presents has announced the 29th Annual White Party Palm Springs, a festival of entertainment, music by DJs and with a headline performance by Grammy winner Kylie Minogue, per a press release. Jeffrey Sanker's White Party Palm Springs will be April 27-30 in Palm Springs, California. See JeffreySanker.com .

Martin actress Tisha Campbell-Martin and husband Duane Martin are over after more than 20 years of marriage, Extra noted. Campbell-Martin announced that she filed for divorce in a statement to People magazine, saying, "After 27 years of being together and two amazing children, it pains me to announce that I've filed for divorce. It's an emotional time and I graciously ask for privacy for me, our children and the rest of our family."

Kylie Jenner, a member of the insanely popular Kardashian family, tweeted to her 24.5 million followers that she was no longer opening Snapchat—and Bloomberg said Jenner's tweet, which was "Liked" more than 327,000 times, cost Snap $1.3 billion in market value, according to Recode. However, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said Jenner's action was what the company wanted, saying recently that Snapchat is using algorithms and separate sections of the app to create a division between content from users' friends and content from publishers' and celebrities'.

Court documents show R&B singer R. Kelly has been evicted from two Atlanta-area homes over unpaid rent, according to a Chicago Sun-Times item that cites the Associated Press. Feb. 13 filings with the Fulton County magistrate court show Kelly owes more than $31,000 in past due payments to SB Property Management Global. The Fulton County District Attorney's Office said it's still reviewing a file from Johns Creek police following July 2017 allegations that the Grammy winner was holding women against their will as part of a cult.


This article shared 1315 times since Tue Feb 27, 2018
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