Music

Lady Gaga has found her next acting role — this time in the upcoming Joker 2. She confirmed her casting on Thursday, hinting she’ll be playing the villainous Harley Quinn.

“Joker: Folie à Deux,” Gaga announced on Instagram — the film’s title — and shared a brief teaser of the upcoming thriller set to debut in theaters in 2024. 

The video, set to a red backdrop, features Gaga’s all black silhouette — except for a little red heart on her right eye — dancing to Fred Astaire‘s “Cheek to Cheek.” The heart’s placement is in the same spot as Margot Robbie‘s interpretation of Harley Quinn, which appeared in several films, including 2021’s The Suicide Squad.

The snippet also sees the return of Joaquin Phoenix‘s Joker — a role that landed him an Oscar — also appearing as a silhouette.

His shadow is posed like a marionette smoking a cigarette while Gaga, who is dressed in a long dress with puffy sleeves, strikes a menacing pose. The two shadows then join together in a dance, with the Joker’s markings around his eyes and Harley’s heart on her cheek highlighted in red.

The Grammy winner was first rumored to star as Harley Quinn of the upcoming Joker sequel earlier this summer, following reports the franchise will flirt with more musical elements. While this teaser seemingly confirms the rumors, she has yet to explicitly name the character she’s playing in the upcoming movie.

The upcoming sequel will be directed by Todd Phillips, who previously produced A Star Is Born, the 2018 remake that starred Joker producer Bradley Cooper and Gaga.

Joker: Folie à Deux laughs its way into theaters on October 4, 2024.

The first Joker movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide and picked up a pair of Oscars, including Phoenix’s Best Actor win.

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Naomi Judd’s family members are headed to court in order to stop the details of her death investigation records from being made public.

Legal records obtained by ABC reveal that Larry Strickland — Naomi’s widower and the sole executor of her will — as well as her daughter and The Judds bandmate, Wynonna, are suing Williamson County Sheriff Dusty Rhoades to keep the records pertaining to her death investigation sealed.

Naomi died by suicide on April 30 at the age of 76. She used a firearm to end her life, a detail that her daughter Ashley Judd subsequently shared during an emotional Good Morning America interview.

After her death, per standard procedure, the sheriff’s office conducted an investigation, which involved creating records that include “photographs, video recordings, audio recordings and written reports,” according to the filing.

The family is seeking to prevent the release of those records to the public, as they contain “Mrs. Judd depicted in a graphic manner” and their release would cause “irreparable harm in the form of emotional distress, pain and mental anguish.”

The filing also expresses concern that media outlets “have or have planned to file records” to make the information contained in the death investigation public. Plaintiffs say the release of this information would go against their right to “legitimate privacy” as the surviving family members of the country star.

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by visiting 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. 

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It’s been 15 years since the Jonas Brothers released “S.O.S.” and Nick Jonas saluted the standout track by revealing a few of its secrets.

Taking to TikTok, the “Jealous” singer shared a one-minute video with some “fun facts… you may not know” about the song. 

Fact #1, according to Nick: “I wrote the song when I was 13 in a hotel room in New York City.”

The singer said the first draft sounded very different than the final product. The original, he explained, used palm muted strumming for its guitars. After recreating what that sounded like, Nick explained why that changed. 

“It wasn’t until we got into the studio with John Fields, our producer, that we were thinking, ‘It needs to be more memorable right off the top.’ So, that guitar line was born,” he revealed.

Secret #2 was about the song’s title! Nick revealed “S.O.S.” was originally going to be called “A Call I’ll Never Get.” So, what made the JoBros change it?

Said Nick, “When it came time to make the track list for the album, everyone kept calling it ‘S.O.S.’ So, we went with that.”

The Grammy winner also saluted the song for being their first to top the iTunes chart. Overall, despite the track now being 15 years old, Nick grinned, “To this day, [it’s] one of my favorite songs to play live.”

“Happy 15th birthday, ‘S.O.S.,'” Nick sweetly noted and extended the sentiment to his fans, who “sang your emo little hearts out then, and now, to every word.”

Nick captioned the birthday tribute, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

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Lady A’s Request Line Tour, originally scheduled to begin on August 13, is being postponed to 2023.

“Being on the road with our fans is our greatest joy, so it was a hard but important decision to make,” the country trio said in a statement posted to their social channels on Thursday.

The postponement is due to the group’s decision to support bandmate Charles Kelley during an important life change.

“We’re proud to say that Charles has embarked on a journey to sobriety,” the statement continues. “So, right now in order to be the healthiest, strongest and most creative band we can be, Lady A will take the time with the support of our families and team of professionals to walk through this together.”

They added, “It’s early on this road, but we are determined to do what will best set us up for many more years together. We’re grateful for your patience.”

The group also told fans that more information regarding ticketing details for the new Request Line tour dates will become available in the days ahead.

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Kendrick Lamar took some time from The Big Steppers Tour to reflect on the ways rap has positively affected his life. In a post on his Instagram Story, he credited the music for his self-growth, referring to it as a necessity in his lifelong journey.

“rap has truly helped my expansion of self. beyond the perception of who I believed to be. on jojo. music is air to a young n**** at this point. mr morale. the catalyst of my self expression,” Kendrick penned.

He also noted it took him “twenty years” to make “Mother I Sober,” a track off his Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers album, which sees him tackle his childhood trauma, battles with lust and other demons.

Kendrick’s rap career has afforded him the opportunity to meet his fans and travel around the world. He appreciates the experiences, some of which he says will forever be ingrained in his memory.

“ill never forget the process of falling in love with imperfection. the piano. my fans. the stories of reconciliation i hear from penitentiaries to small villages,” Kendrick wrote. “Some words will find you today. Some will find you in 10. find your children type shit. sitting in the corner like an old book.”

“im forever underground. infratrating [sic] the mainstream a la carte,” he continued. “these cities still beautiful to watch. on jojo. ily.”

Kendrick’s U.S. tour ends September 15 in LA; the European leg picks up the following month. Visuals of his shows can be found on his Instagram, where he uploaded 50 photos before sharing his reflective post.

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WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over five months, was found guilty on drug charges in a Moscow-area court Thursday. She was then sentenced to nine years in prison.

The judge found that Griner had criminal intent, and said she is guilty of smuggling and storing illegal drugs.

Griner, a 31-year-old Houston native who plays professional basketball for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki as she returned to Russia to play during the WNBA’s offseason. She was accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who appeared in court Thursday for the final hearing in her trial, was facing up to 10 years in prison, although 9 1/2 years is the maximum sentence with time served. Griner has a right to appeal.

Griner shared an emotional statement in court ahead of the verdict on Thursday morning. She apologized to her loved ones for the hurt that her detention has caused, and said that her parents instilled hard work in her and this value is what brought her to Russia.

The Phoenix Mercury star held up a photo of her Russian teammates on Thursday and said that she made “an honest mistake” by packing the vape cartridges in her bag.

The prosecutor argued that Griner’s guilt has been proven and also asked that Griner pay a $16,500 fine, which is about 1 million Russian roubles.

Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in court last month, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage mistakenly and that she had no “intention” of breaking Russian law.

Her legal team told ABC News in a statement last month that her guilty plea was recommended by her Russian attorneys.

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Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock has released a cover of the Motown classic “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”

The rendition was recorded for the soundtrack to a new documentary called Claydream, which tells the story of Will Vinton, the so-called “Father of Claymation.”

As for what all these things have to do with each other, Vinton created The California Raisins, a group of anthropomorphic dried grapes that revitalized “I Heard It Through the Grape Vine” in the ’80s by singing it in a series of popular commercials. The ’80s! What a time!

Brock’s cover is streaming now via Soundcloud and you can also hear it in the Claydream trailer. The doc opens in New York City this Friday.

Modest Mouse, meanwhile, released their latest album, The Golden Casket, in 2021. They launch a North American tour August 19 with a hometown show in Portland.

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Sam Smith is about to release their most authentic album yet and they credit that to coming out as nonbinary in 2019.

Speaking with Billboard, the Grammy winner said being able to embrace their truest self, unencumbered by gender expectations, has been emotionally and mentally freeing. “I can’t express how incredible I feel every day,” they said.

Fans got their first taste of the new Sam Smith in their new single “Love Me More.”

“Love Me More,” says Sam, is an anthem of their journey of “trying not to hate myself” and discovering the “self-worth I had to earn.”

“I think joy for me, and for a lot of queer people, is quite a dangerous place,” the singer explained. “We’re all masters of pain, and I think it’s actually a very courageous act to step into the queer joy of it all.”

“Maybe the music I make in the future won’t sit as well on the radio … It takes a bit of courage to maybe try something that maybe people aren’t going to like,” Sam continued. “But I like it. And that’s all that matters.”

“This album, for me, marks the beginning of doing exactly what I want to do,” the British singer said, adding their newest offering will be their “first non-heartbreak album.”

The singer adds this new, authentic album is also a product of their journey of discovering who they were over the past three years.

“It was really a coming-of-age moment for me,” they said. “I was turning 30, we went through COVID-19, and I got the opportunity to sit down and really ask myself what it is I want to do [and] the type of music I want to make.”

Sam has yet to announce the album’s title or release date.

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Mystikal was denied bond following his recent arrest on charges of rape and battery, among others. The rapper was accused of attacking a woman at his home on Saturday, taking her car keys and holding her against her will.

The Advocate reports Mystikal’s defense attorney, Roy Maughan Jr., maintained his client’s innocence and asked for $250,000 bail. State District Judge Steven Tureau determined the rapper should remain in jail until trial, citing the evidence in the current case, the victim’s fears and Mystikal’s criminal history.

Mystikal, born Michael Lawrence Tyler, is a lifetime registered sex offender. He previously served six years in jail in connection to a 2003 incident for which he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion. He later spent 18 months in jail while facing rape and kidnapping charges, which were dropped in December 2020 due to a lack of evidence.

Mystikal’s also been arrested numerous times in relation to marijuana possession, misdemeanor domestic violence and first-degree rape but walked away with no conviction. 

According to testimony from Sheriff’s Detective Garrett Keith, the accuser, who was in a long-term relationship with Mystikal, went to his home to discuss financial matters when things went downhill. He allegedly accused her of stealing his money before abusing her, using prayers and rubbing alcohol to remove her “bad spirits” and raping her.

Prosecutors argued that Mystikal is likely to repeat a similar crime given his criminal record, but Maughan argued that his celebrity status would make it difficult to evade authorities. He also noted his client’s perfect attendance in court and that he hasn’t been convicted for any other crimes outside the 2003 case. Maughan objected to the judge’s decision, but an appeal is unlikely, The Advocate reports.

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