Entertainment

How To Watch Whitney Houston’s Biopic, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’

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In recent years, it has paid off to land the leading role in a musician biopic. Rami Malek won his first Oscar for playing the late Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Jennifer Hudson was hand-selected by the late Aretha Franklin to portray her in last year’s Respect. Austin Butler is enjoying a career breakthrough in 2022 because of his titular star turn in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Naomi Ackie is next up.

It’s been two years since Ackie was cast as Whitney Houston for I Wanna Dance With Somebody, the long-gestated Houston biopic. The first official trailer was released by Sony in mid-September, showing Ackie as Houston wowing Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci) and ascending as the voice of a generation. The two-minute teaser ends with Houston’s famed 1991 performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV. A second trailer arrived in early November, which spotlighted Houston standing against unjust criticism for not being “Black enough” and meeting resistance after starting her tumultuous relationship with Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders). But when and where will we be able to watch the Kasi Lemmons-directed film in its full glory?

I Wanna Dance With Somebody will almost undoubtedly be available to stream at some point, but to start, it’s set for an exclusive theatrical release beginning on December 23. Tickets are available here.

The world premiere happened on Tuesday, December 13, in New York City.

“When I first found out I got the part, I think this was actually the scariest part for me, knowing that everyone would see it at some point,” Ackie told Vogue ahead of the premiere. “But I’ve been with it long enough now that I’m really ready to share it with the world. I’m so proud of what we achieved with it, and there’s a lot of love in there. It’s a lot of pressure, and you can’t help but feel slightly stressed by the magnitude of it, but this is the last piece of the puzzle, in a way.”

Houston tragically passed away on February 11, 2012, at 48. Her official cause of death was an accidental drowning in a Los Angeles hotel bathtub. The beloved icon was in LA ahead of that year’s Grammys and had been expected to attend Davis’ annual pre-Grammys party that night.

Who Sings As Whitney Houston In Her Biopic, ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody?’

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Baz Luhrmann is back with his latest biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The film will trek through the rise and fall of pop superstar Whitney Houston.

Former Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker actress Naomi Ackie has been tasked with Houston’s performance. Joining her are Ashton Sanders, Stanley Tucci, and Law And Order: Special Victims Unit alum Tamara Tunie.

While Ackie’s portrayal seems spot on, judging by the trailer released this past September, the actress won’t be singing in the movie. Clive Davis, Houston’s longtime producer, and collaborator, recently shared that only Houston’s vocals will be used in the film.

“When it came to Whitney, we just didn’t think anyone could capture her vocal genius, so it will be the Whitney voice in the film,” Davis told USA Today.

Davis will serve as the film’s executive producer. Alongside him are Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), who will direct, and Oscar-nominated Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody).

Here is the film’s synopsis, per Sony Pictures:

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten, produced by legendary music executive Clive Davis, and starring BAFTA Award winner Naomi Ackie, the film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant — and so emotional — journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?”

I Wanna Dance With Somebody will be in theaters on December 23.

Meghan Markle Was Absolutely Floored To Receive A Touching Beyoncé Text In A New Documentary Clip

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Despite Beyoncé’s status as one of the most important women in the music industry, she’s known to be quite a down-to-earth, caring friend. After she collaborated with Madonna for a “Break My Soul” remix, the Renaissance performer sent the iconic singer a thoughtful thank-you note.

In the new documentary Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, a scene spotlights Beyoncé’s kindness. The clip has been circulating Twitter, and it depicts Meghan Markle discussing her communication with the “Love On Top” singer.

“Beyoncé just texted,” she says, prompting Prince Harry to gasp. Markle says Beyoncé is “just checking in,” which bewilders Harry. “I still can’t believe she knows who I am,” she says. She explains, “She said she wants me to feel safe and protected. She admires and respects my bravery and vulnerability and thinks I was selected to break generational curses that need to be healed.” After a pause of absorbing such an insightful message, Harry says, “That’s well-said.”

One reply to the video reads: “ACTUAL ROYALTY was literally shocked that Beyoncé texted, that is power.” Another read: “‘she knows who i am’ girl bye you’re a whole princess [crying emojis].” Other replies admire the eloquence with which Beyonce shared her feelings and thoughts with Markle.

Grammys Mainstay Trevor Noah Will Complete The Three-Peat And Host Yet Again In 2023

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In recent years, Trevor Noah has become pretty much as big a part of the Grammy Awards as the gramophone trophy. He first hosted the program in 2021, then he returned in 2022. Now, the Recording Academy has decided to not fix what isn’t broken: Noah will host for the third year in a row at the 2023 Grammys. The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are set to go down on February 5, 2023.

In a new Billboard interview, Noah said of how he prepares for the show:

“First of all, I listen to absolutely everything that’s going to be on the show, just to get a sense of the vibe. I want to get into the feeling of what’s going to be happening on the night. I spend a lot of time writing and preparing for what will or won’t happen. I try to think about what’s happening in music and pop culture. Then obviously I’m paying attention to what’s happening on the night. I try to craft my performance so that it is most complementary for what is happening from one performance to the next. We rehearse a lot, and we need to because it’s live and, as I said, anything can happen.”

Read the full interview here and find the full list of 2023 Grammy nominees here.

Janelle Monáe Reckons The Grinch Ought To Have An Illegitimate Child In A New Movie Reboot

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When it comes to Halloween, Janelle Monáe is one of the best to ever put on a costume. Her high-effort looks wow every year, like when she came through with a Fifth Element-inspired get-up this past October. Monáe sat down for an interview on Late Night yesterday (December 14) and Seth Meyers went through some of her best costumes, including her pitch-perfect The Grinch from 2021. Here’s that in case you need a refresher:

Meyers brought that up and Monáe referred to it as “Johnny Grinch,” then revealing that she had an idea for a Grinch reboot movie. After Meyers’ prompting, she explained, “If you go on my page, you’ll see the Johnny Grinch is, like, this sort of hipster. Like, you know, vegan and green eggs and ham… or wait, not really a good vegan. Anyway, forget that, forget that, forget that, I’m off course. But the pitch is: What if the Grinch had an illegitimate child? Like, he didn’t know that he had Johnny and she somehow brings him back.”

The host, ever the writer, had some valid concerns about plot logistics, like when he noted, “I also want to hear this story about how he’s like, ‘I had no idea.’ I’m like, ‘Alright, Grinch. You lived alone in a cave and you’re like, ‘I don’t know how I’m a dad.’ You know.”

Check out the full interview above.

Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, And Others Represent The Music World With Their 2023 Golden Globes Nominations

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Rihanna ended her six-year music hiatus in late October with the powerful ballad “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack — and tacked on “Born Again” for good measure. Taylor Swift clocked the biggest first-week tallies since 2015 and monopolized the top 10 of Billboard‘s Hot 100 with Midnights. Lady Gaga won another Grammy with Tony Bennett and set out on her Chromatica Ball tour. And now, the powers that be at the 2023 Golden Globes are supposed to choose between them.

The Best Original Song, Motion Picture category is stacked: “Carolina” by Taylor Swift for Where The Crawdads Sing; “Ciao Papa” by Roeben Katz and Guillermo del Toro for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio; “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga and BloodPop for Top Gun: Maverick; “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Tems for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; and “Naatu Naatu” by Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, and Rahul Sipligunj for RRR.

Elsewhere in the nomination field, Selena Gomez is up for Best Actress In A TV Series, Musical Or Comedy for her role in Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building, co-starring alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin for two seasons with a third on the way. The category is rounded out by Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), and Jean Smart (Hacks).

The films that make up the Best Original Score category are Babylon, The Banshees Of Inisherin, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Fabelmans, and Women Talking.

Other loosely music-related nominations of note are Donald Glover’s (sometimes known as Childish Gambino) for Best Actor In A Television Series, Musical Or Comedy; Austin Butler for Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture, Drama for his portrayal in Elvis; and four nods for Pam & Tommy, Hulu’s limited series revisiting everything surrounding the 1995 sex tape made by Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee.

The 2023 Golden Globes are scheduled for January 10, 2023 and will broadcast live on NBC with Jerrod Carmichael hosting.

Tia Mowry To Spend Holidays With Cory Hardrict Following Divorce Filing

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It’s the holiday season, and as many families are getting together to celebrate, Tia Mowry recently revealed that she and her estranged husband Cory Hardrict are doing the same despite their divorce.

In a video by TMZ, the Sister, Sister actress explicitly shared, “We are going to be spending the holidays with him, which we’re really excited about.”

“Family is family no matter what happens,” the 44-year-old continued. “And that’s what’s important to me, so we will always be family.”

Mowry recently announced her separation from Hardrict in an Instagram post earlier this year. 

“I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness.  We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children.” she shared in October. “I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives.”

READ MORE: Tia Mowry & Cory Hardrict Exchange Sweet Words Amid Split 

The pair formerly tied the knot in 2008 and share two children, 11-year-old Cree and 4-year-old Cairo.

Mowry recently opened up about the divorce in a sit-down with US Weekly last month, admitting “it was not easy.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actors Tia Mowry (L) and Cory Hardrict attend the 23rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)

“Once you are in tune with yourself, it makes it easier to make that decision. But it doesn’t mean that it’s not hard. It was very difficult because you have to think about so many things,” she told the outlet.

The Twitches actor then added, “Everybody deserves to live their authentic life. And I encourage people to do that no matter what anybody else is saying on the outside and really tap into yourself and tap into what really makes you happy and go for it.”

What are your thoughts on the actress’ amicable split with Hardrict? Sound off in the comments below.

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Cardi B Reached Season Five Of ‘The Crown’ And Had More Wild Thoughts: ‘Camila Treat Charles Like Sh*t’

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A couple weeks ago, Cardi B asked her fans if anyone was watching Netflix’s drama series, The Crown, which details the history of the British royal family. Now, it seems the Bronx rap star has reached season five of the show — the most recent version. The show reaches the ’90s and details the triangle between Prince Charles, Princess Diana (and their separation), and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Just like before, Cardi has a LOT of thoughts about the way these royals handle their romantic relationships.

“Why would Charles want Diana to hang out with Camila? THE NERVE the f*ck !” she wrote, misspelling her name. “Camila think she slick sending congrats notes to Diana ….I wish a b*tch would.”

“One thing I notice is that Camila treat Charles like sh*t ….Sooo ladies if you want a man to chase you act like THE CHASE don’t do the CHASING!” Cardi added.

Cardi chalked the show up to one key statement point back in November, as all the royals have guy issues in each decade. “Watching The Crown just shows you that you can be the queen of England or you can be the girl next door, we all got the same problems with men…stay safe,” she posted.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Terrence Howard Announces Plan To Retire From Acting

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After decades in the entertainment industry, Terrence Howard announced his plans to retire from acting. The actor made things clear in a recent interview, saying, “This is the end for me.”

Sitting down with Entertainment Tonight, the Empire star revealed some sage advice that he received from the late actor Sidney Poitier in the past.

“I asked Sidney Poitier 10 years ago does he want to do any more work, and he said, ‘Why would I spend my last 10 years doing an impersonation of myself?’ And that’s what I’ve gotten to.” Howard shared.

While revealing his appreciation for new actors, the 53-year-old continues, “I’ve gotten to the point where now I’ve given the very best that I have as an actor. Now I’m enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don’t want to do an impersonation of myself.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 14: Terrence Howard stars in a new ad campaign for Tubi, the worlds largest free movie and TV streaming service on October 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Tubi)

The Chicago native has enjoyed a successful career since he started in the early 1990s. 

After making guest appearances in various sitcoms, he later starred in Ray, Crash, and Four Brothers. In 2006, Howard earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in Hustle & Flow. 

READ MORE: Terrence Howard Believes We “Have To Respect” Jussie Smollett Jury’s Decision

Per Complex, the actor previously claimed in 2019 that he would retire after Empire officially ended. Though the hit Fox show finished with six seasons in 2020, Howard continued to act in several films.

But now, it appears the Best Man star is finally ready to leave the profession.

Rooting for his fellow entertainers to find success, Howard also shared with Entertainment Tonight, “Yes, there’s some better actors out there that can do things that I was never able to do. So, I want to applaud them, I want to be excited about what they do.”

What are your thoughts on the seasoned actor ending his years-long career? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Janelle Monáe Had A Completely Topless Birthday Party And Has Now Explained The NSFW Video On ‘Kimmel’

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Janelle Monáe dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to dish on their appearance in Netflix’s upcoming blockbuster, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery… as well as the backstory behind a video of them posing topless at a friend’s birthday party.

Much like the mystery in the movie, this friend takes Monáe on a secret vacation destination each year, with past places including Jamaica and Las Vegas. This year’s party spot was Mexico — and each night of the trip had a different theme.

The first night of Monáe’s birthday trip was “Intergalactic,” where they channeled an extraterrestrial in a pink wig and lots of fluorescent sparkles. From there, the friends organized a “hot sexy tea party” (with a lingerie dress code) and a murder mystery party night. (It’s unclear if Monáe won this game, considering their recent experience in the genre.)

However, Monáe decided to let their creativity shine when the friends organized a “wine night where […] your clothes need to match your favorite white wine or your favorite red wine.” They opted for neither.

“Earlier in the day they had told me the theme and I was like, you know what, it’s my birthday, I just want to be free!” they explained. “I want to be, like, so free and I want to let it all hang out. So they were all dressed and I was topless.”

Monáe uploaded a video from that night to Instagram, where they are dancing around in just a skirt as a band plays and fireworks set off from the beach. “Still floating. Thank you all for the bday love. This is just a small glimpse of how I spent it,” the caption read. “Fully honoring the present. Thank you to my loved ones for planning such a magical experience + each of them adorning my body with temp tats so I could have a bday suit that matched how i felt.”