Music

In the first-ever interview since the unfortunate news of Traci Braxton‘s passing, her sister Toni Braxton opens up about how she’s coping with the untimely loss.

“I wake up every morning and I go, ‘Did I dream it? Did I dream it?'”, the 54-year-old singer said on Tuesday’s episode of the Tamron Hall Show. “and I have to remind myself ‘No, she’s gone but she’s been here with us for 50 years.’ So I try to relish in that moment and try to smile about it.”

Toni, the eldest of the five Braxton sisters, confirmed Traci’s death on Instagram earlier this month, sharing a black-and-white photo of the family along with a note that reads in part, “Traci passed this morning as the snow was falling, our angel is now a snowflake.”

Detailing Traci’s last moments, Toni says her sister was surrounded by loved ones.”We were all there. Her son was there, husband was there, everyone was there. Her best friends were there,” she said.

Though Toni “misses her sister every day” she also says she and her family are “just very fortunate to have had my sister with us for as long as we did.”

Traci Braxton died following a battle with esophageal cancer. She was 50 years old.

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Kehlani and Justin Bieber are giving fans a reason to dance with their all-new single, “Up at Night.”  Released Wednesday, the smooth track is about being unable to fall asleep because a certain someone is on their mind.

The track borrows the R&B elements that flourished in the 90s and early aughts, from a shuffle rhythm to a thumping bass. 

“You wonder why I love you, there was never pressure/ Easy as I want to, there’s just no one better/ You think it’s calculated, baby, I’m just not that clever/ Never,” the “Gangsta” artist gently sings.  As for Justin, he says he’s “a wreck” because he can’t stand the fact that his bed is empty.

“Up and Night” will be featured on Kehlani’s forthcoming album, Blue Water Road, which is due out April 29.  The album, which is the followup to her 2020 effort, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, is available now to pre-save.

“Blue Water Road is a destination in my mind,” Kehlani said in a statement about her forthcoming work. “It’s an emotional journey, a sexual journey, and a spiritual journey. To me, the album is like a glass house.”

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Wanda Sykes says she was “traumatized” by Will Smith‘s physical and verbal attack on Chris Rock at last Sunday’s Academy Awards.

While shooting an upcoming appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Sykes, who co-hosted the 94th Annual Academy Awards with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer, told Ellen “I’m still a little traumatized by it. It was sickening. I physically felt ill.”

“For something to happen like what happened with Will and Chris, it takes away from so many things,” said DeGeneres, a former Oscars host herself.

“Absolutely,” Sykes agreed.

“It took away from Questlove‘s win, it took away from the Williams family…,” Ellen continued.

Wanda recalled, “We had just introduced Chris…So I ran to my trailer to watch him…And when I got to the monitor backstage, I just saw Will leaving the stage, and everything was quiet. And I was like, ‘What happened, what happened?'”

Wanda said from her vantage point, she could hear Will cursing from his seat, and, “I was like, ‘Is this really happening?’

“I just felt so bad for my friend Chris,” the fellow stand-up said.

Sykes added forcefully, “For them to let him stay in that room, and enjoy the rest of the show, and accept his award, I was like, ‘How gross is this?’ You assault somebody, you get assaulted out the building, and that’s it.”

“And plus, I wanted to be able to run out after her won and say, ‘Unfortunately, Will couldn’t be here tonight,'” Wanda said to applause.

Sykes continued, “I know he apologized to Chris, but…we were the hosts…We worked really hard…And nobody apologized to us, I mean [people in] the industry…It’s wrong. It’s wrong.”

Wanda added, “I saw Chris at [an afterparty] and as soon as I walked up to him, the first thing he said was, ‘I’m so sorry.’ And I said, ‘Why are you sorry?’ And he said, ‘This was supposed to be your night, you, and Amy and Regina we’re doing such a great job, and now it’s gonna be about this.'”

The full interview airs on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday, April 7.

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Katy Perry is jumping into the world of podcasts and will narrate the upcoming series Elizabeth The First.

The “Roar” hitmaker’s Kitty Purry Productions will launch the 10-episode series, which is all about actress and fashion icon Elizabeth Taylor, later this spring.  The late actress’ estate, House of Taylor, is a partner in this new venture.

“Like most people, I was attracted to her glamour, and in my own life, I continue to find myself referencing her through some of my visuals. I’ve always felt a kinship towards her – I’ve even literally bathed in the same bathtub where she made that bar-setting Cleopatra deal,” Katy said in a statement. 

“I’m inspired by her bold activism, her constant boss moves in business, and through it all, an unapologetic way of loving – all things I try to live in my own life. It’s an honor to be able to share her story in this way,” she continued.

The podcast will not only take a deep dive into Elizabeth Taylor’s life and career, including her battles against sexism and addiction, it will also share never-before-heard audio and stories about the National Velvet star.

House of Taylor said the upcoming podcast is “extraordinarily special” because it’s “the first narrative that explores Elizabeth as the original multi-hyphenate. She did it all and we believe wholeheartedly that this take on Elizabeth will resonate with audiences.” 

The estate added of the Grammy nominee, “We choose our partners very carefully and could not be more elated to have worked with Katy Perry.”

Elizabeth The First is slated to arrive “in Late Spring 2022.”

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Tariq St. Patrick and Brayden Weston are at it again, this time in an off-screen joint venture.

According to Deadline, Power Book II: Ghost co-stars Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo have launched Twenty Two Entertainment, a media company that will produce films and TV series, among other things. 

“The boys can’t be stopped!!,” said Paolo in an Instagram announcement. Rainey Jr. shared the news in a similar post saying, “Checkin em off the list one by one CEO boyz @giannivpaolo #GM.”

The first project out of the newly formed company will be the podcast The Crew Has It, which will be hosted by Paolo and Rainey Jr. The duo will interview actors, hip hop and R&B stars, dish about the beloved Power franchise and more. 

Twenty Two Entertainment is funded by the full-service production company Artist for Artist, founded by SNL’s Kenan Thompson along with CEO John Ryan Jr. On partnering with the Power stars, Ryan Jr. says, “Kenan and I built Artists For Artists to support hard-working creators like Gianni and Michael, and we look forward to sharing their dynamic slate of entertainment.”

“Thank you to everybody who has supported Mike and I along the way but we only getting started!!!!!” Paolo said.

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Shawn Mendes teased his upcoming single, “When You’re Gone,” as well as its music video on Wednesday.

The Grammy winner shared a snippet with Good Morning America, giving fans a taste of what’s to come.  The clip contained the lyrics, “Hold on/ I don’t wanna know what it’s like when you’re gone/ I don’t wanna move on/ I don’t wanna know what it’s like when you’re gone for good/ You’re slipping through my finger tips/ A little bit/ By a little bit/ I didn’t know that loving you was the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Shawn also shared a brief teaser of the music video, which shows him performing the song before a screaming crowd of fans.

“When You’re Gone” drops Thursday at midnight. It’ll be his followup to his other breakup anthem, “It’ll Be Okay.”

Shawn’s next music era appears to explore his breakup with girlfriend Camila Cabello, whom he dated for two years.

The “Stitches” singer isn’t the only one to use the breakup as a source of musical inspiration, as Camila previously admitted she will sing about her respective heartbreak in the upcoming album, Familia, due out April 8.

Fans believe the two are communicating with each other through their music, with Shawn seemingly insisting he didn’t want things to end while Camila appearing to hint their separation was for the best.

The “Havana” singer teased a new song clip on TikTok, where she asks, “Did you get the space you needed?/ Did you realize you don’t need me?”  She shared another song teaser on Monday that hints Shawn may have forced a wedge between the two by not opening up to her emotionally.

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Paul McCartney has joined the long list of famous artists paying tribute to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died Friday, March 25, at age 50.

In a message posted on his official website and social media pages, McCartney who is a longtime friend of the Foo Fighters, writes, “Taylor’s sudden death came as a shock to me and the people who knew and loved him…Not only was he a GREAT drummer but his personality was big and shiny and will be sorely missed by all who were lucky to live and work alongside him.”

Sir Paul goes on to note, “I was asked by the Foo Fighters to play on one of their tracks. It turned out that they wanted me to play drums! — on one of Taylor’s songs [referring to ‘Sunday Rain,’ from the band’s 2017 album Concrete and Gold]. This request came from a group with TWO amazing drummers! It was an incredible session and cemented my relationship with Taylor and the guys.”

McCartney then reflects on the Foo Fighters asking him to induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 2021 ceremony.

“I sang with them on ‘Get Back,'” Paul notes. “Taylor provided a powerhouse drum part. I’ll never forget that night. All of which made it much more of a desperately sad shock to hear he had died.”

McCartney concludes, “So thanks Taylor for sharing some glorious minutes with me. You were a true Rock and Roll hero and will always remain in my heart. God bless his family and band — Love Paul X.”

Interestingly, McCartney and the Foos will be competing against each other for two honors at the Grammy Awards this Sunday — Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album.

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