Shawn Mendes has toured the globe and performed before millions of fans — but it turns out he struggles with stage fright.
Speaking with Extraahead of the release of the movie Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Shawn revealed just how much he has in common with the titular character, which he voices.
“I love the juxtaposition of him being this giant, terrifying creature, and being so sensitive and so scared,” he said of what attracted him to the scarf-wearing reptile. He said Lyle’s character was “a beautiful way to express what it feels like” to be him.
Shawn noted that his career makes him seem larger than life, or even intimidating, but that’s not who he is at all. “He’s super shy. He’s super introverted and [has] stage fright,” he said of all the characteristics he shares with Lyle, noting he “constantly” feels these emotions.
The singer also finds inspiration in Lyle, adding, “I love how vulnerable he is. I feel like I am trying to embody that more at this place in my life.” Shawn also says Lyle taught him to be more honest.
Shawn revealed he does consider this movie an acting debut, even though he only provides the singing voice for Lyle. “There was a lot more acting involved in the way the songs had to be sung than I was expecting,” he said.
Shawn said he is curious about movies and wants to get more involved with them. “This felt like a perfect first step into that world,” he expressed.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile arrives in theaters October 7.
The reunited horror punks — consisting of original members Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only, along with longtime guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein — have announced a show in Las Vegas this coming New Year’s Eve, December 31.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 7 at 10 a.m. local time.
Danzig and Only reunited in 2016 — 33 years after the former left the Misfits in 1983 — and have played a number of one-off shows since. Last month, they headlined Chicago’s Riot Fest with a full-album performance of their 1982 debut, Walk Among Us,in honor of its 40th anniversary.
Prior to the Vegas date, the Misfits will celebrate Halloween with a Dallas show on October 29. Alice Cooper and The Distillers are also on the bill.
Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and many of Loretta Lynn‘s peers are sharing their admiration for her following her death.
Among those is Loretta’s sister Crystal Gayle, who wrote on Instagram, “the world lost a legend. We lost a sister. Love you Loretta.”
Dolly and Reba connected Loretta to their own families, with Dolly saying that she and Loretta shared a sisterly bond, acknowledging how Loretta had been a support system for her in Nashville throughout their careers.
“So sorry to hear about my sister, friend Loretta. We’ve been like sisters all the years we’ve been in Nashville,” Dolly says, describing Loretta as a “wonderful human being” and reflecting on her talent. “I miss her dearly as we all will. May she rest in peace.”
Loretta’s passing also brought up familial memories for Reba, noting that Loretta reminded her of her late mother, Jacqueline, as they were both “strong women” and “fiercely loyal.”
“I always did and I always will love Loretta. She was always so nice to me. I sure appreciate her paving the rough and rocky road for all us girl singers,” Reba shares alongside a photo of her and Loretta backstage at a show.
Barbara Mandrell also has fond memories of the country icon, sharing a throwback photo of her, Loretta, Reba and Tanya Tucker with the caption, “Loretta Lynn contributed enormously to the world of Country Music. All of us adored and loved her.”
Lynn passed away in the early morning hours of October 4 at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
NaomiOsaka continues to emphasize the importance of sports players off the field with her new book, The Way Champs Play.
The celebrated tennis star is making it a priority to ensure young girls can take part in any sport they desire and show them it’s possible to be confident while doing so.
“I wanted to reach young girls in a way that they would enjoy and understand, and it was really fun to simplify and celebrate girls in sport,” the four-time Grand Slam champion told People.
Osaka says she made it a mission of her media company, Hana Kuma, to help tell stories that are empowering to women and young girls. “So it was the perfect fit to have this book be the first one we published,” she said.
The picture book, which features a cover that shows girls from different backgrounds and abilities, champions women in all types of sports and reminds them they have the ability to find confidence while playing. Though a champion herself, Osaka says finding confidence is “really a process,” something that she works toward daily.
“I am still sorting through, finding confidence in myself and what I do — that is why this book means so much.”
With The Way Champs Play, the 24-year-old entrepreneur hopes “young girls see the beauty and benefit in sports” and “remember that no dream is too big to dream.”
She’s also excited about the book’s simple message of having fun: “It’s something that I think we lose and it’s an important part of the game,” she said.
Old Dominion has a new song in the works and is asking fans for their opinions.
On Monday, the band shared a clip on Instagram of a new song they’ve written and recorded called “I Should Have Married You” that tells the story of a man looking back on a relationship, wishing he had made the ultimate commitment when he had the chance.
“That’s just the way it goes/I should’ve seen it through/I should’ve let you know/I should’ve said I do/Back when I still had the chance/I should’ve married you,” frontman Matthew Ramsey sings in a video while on a boat ride.
“Does this new one pass the boat test? You decide,” Matthew poses in the caption with #IShouldHaveMarriedYou.
The song earned a series of clapping emojis from Little Big Town in the comment section, with several fans giving the song a “pass,” saying that they “love it.”
OD has been in the studio working on new music and sharing snippets of songs along the way, including “Memory Lane” and “Easier Said With Rum.”
A day after teasing “Married,” the band paid homage to Loretta Lynn, who passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday, with a photo of her in a ball gown on the deck of a rustic cabin.
The cast is now complete for Francis Ford Coppola‘s long-anticipated drama Megalopolis, and Saturday Night Live‘s Chloe Fineman has apparently gotten the tap from the legendary filmmaker.
It’s a major career move for the actress, who of late has only appeared in comedies, including Father of the Bride. Filming gets underway in Georgia this fall.
Deadline reports Fineman and Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman have been added to the cast, along with Licorice Pizza‘s Isabelle Kusman and veteran character actor D.B. Sweeney.
The cast for the drama already boasts Oscar winners Forest Whitaker and Jon Voight, as well as Academy Award nominees Laurence Fishburne, Shia LaBeouf and Adam Driver. Fast and Furious series star Nathalie Emmanuel was recently added to the ranks in a lead role.
The Godfather’s Talia Shire — Coppola’s sister — also stars, as does her son, Jason Schwartzman.
James Remar, Grace Vanderwaal and Kathryn Hunter will also appear in Coppola’s big-budget, mostly self-funded project, reportedly an “epic story of political ambition, genius, and conflicting interests” centering on creating an ideal society.
Artists including Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and Wet Leg are contributing unreleased recordings to an upcoming benefit compilation titled Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All.
Other participating artists include Death Cab for Cutie, David Byrne and Devo, Bob Weir, Foals, Grouplove, Silversun Pickups, Sleater-Kinney and The Regrettes. Pearl Jam’s track will be a live version of the Ten track “Porch.”
In other Pearl Jam news, guitarist Mike McCready will be performing the national anthem ahead of the Seattle Mariners’ double-header against the Detroit Tigers, beginning Tuesday at 3 p.m. PT. The Mariners, PJ’s hometown baseball team, recently clinched a trip to the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years.
Artists including R.E.M., David Byrne of Talking Heads, Devo and The Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir are contributing unreleased recordings to an upcoming benefit compilation titled Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All.
The compilation will include a track featuring Byrne collaborating with Devo, while Weir’s contribution was recorded with his side group Wolf Bros. R.E.M.’s track will be a live version of “Walk Unafraid,” a song from the band’s 1998 album Up.
Other participating artists include Pearl Jam, Cat Power, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Tegan and Sara, Grouplove, Silversun Pickups and Sleater-Kinney.
Jennifer Lopez, who has an estimated net worth of $400 million, explained how she became a powerhouse in the industry.
Lopez covers Entrepreneur Magazine and spoke about how she took ownership of her career. It happened when she launched her first fragrance in 2002, Glow by JLo, which went on to become one of the best-selling fragrances in the country.
When the perfume was predicted to earn $2 billion, the singer had an epiphany that she “didn’t make but 0.01% of that,” even though she was “building this brand on my back.” Lopez continued, “I realized, at a certain point, I’m still working my a** off, and everybody’s collecting checks.”
“When you start off as an artist, you’re just happy to get whatever you can,” she admitted. “You can’t believe your good fortune. I remember myself back then: I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll do the perfume! Oh yes, I love fashion, I’ll do a clothing line!’ I’ll do this, I’ll do that. I was just so happy to be here.”
Lopez said she learned to demand a spot at the table and understand her worth — and now she hopes to inspire others to do the same. She launched Limitless Labs in 2021 to highlight Latina-owned businesses and has now partnered with Grameen America to support low-income female entrepreneurs.
The goal is to provide $14 billion in loans and six million hours of financial education to Latina-owned businesses by 2030.
Lopez said Latino-owned businesses are “the fastest-growing segment of all small businesses,” but Latina women face significant obstacles in securing loans. “We get, like, $1 out of every $23,” she said.
With this, Lopez hopes to even the playing field and inspire more Latinas to reach for their dreams.
(NEW YORK) — Nearly a third of Americans say they’re not prepared for a recession and they aren’t taking action to get their finances ready for one, according to a recent Bankrate poll.
Experts are calling it “recession fatigue” and it might be why younger generations in particular are failing to take active steps to weather an economic downturn.
“Recession depression, recession fatigue — whatever you want to call it, the hits to Americans’ financial security keep on coming, first with the devastating coronavirus pandemic, followed by 40-year-high inflation and now the growing risk of another downturn,” said Bankrate.com analyst Sarah Foster. “Sustaining motivation for two-plus years to prepare for tough economic times can no doubt feel exhausting.”
Bankrate’s poll found 40% of Gen Z (ages 18-25) say they aren’t prepared for a recession and aren’t taking any steps to get their finances in order. That compares with 31% of unprepared millennials (ages 26-41), 30% of Gen X (ages 42-57) and 27% of baby boomers (ages 58-76).
Gen Zers also say the pandemic interrupted their formative years and feel slighted that major life events, like proms and high school and college graduations, had to be canceled.
“Recession fatigue is the awkward cousin of revenge spending,” Foster said. “Americans were deprived of so many activities that brought them joy. It’s kind of like financial apathy.”
Experts say some Americans may not be preparing for a recession because they simply don’t know how. Many have never experienced an environment of high inflation and rising interest rates. For many Gen Zers, the closest they’ve come to a severe economic downturn is seeing how the Great Recession of 2007-2009 affected their parents.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell recently warned that the central bank’s aggressive interest rate hikes to combat stubbornly high inflation may cause “some pain,” including a rise in the unemployment rate.
A growing number of Americans now believe the Fed will not be able to achieve a “soft landing,” or bringing prices under control without tipping the economy into recession. According to a recent survey from MassMutual, 49% of respondents said they think there will likely be a recession next year. Experts seem to agree. A survey from the audit, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton finds 72% of CFOs think the Fed’s rate hikes will spark a recession.
While the best time to prepare for a recession is often before it even begins, it’s never too late to get your financial house in order.
Start by identifying unnecessary spending and decide where you can cut back. Consider cutting subscriptions for monthly magazines or streaming services, eat out less or stop ordering food delivery.
Put the money you’re saving into an emergency fund. As a general rule of thumb, try to have at least three to six months of expenses set aside in case of a job loss or unexpected medical expense.
Once you have your emergency fund, prioritize paying down your debt, especially balances on high interest credit cards.
The Fed’s rate hikes are pushing the cost of unpaid balances even higher. Over the past six months, the average annual percentage rate on a credit card has jumped from 16.17% to 16.65%, closing in on a record high of 17.14% in 2019, according to the Fed.
If you’re carrying balances on multiple credit cards and you have good credit, consider consolidating them into a 0% interest rate transfer card or consider taking out a lower interest personal loan to pay off your higher interest credit card debt.
Finally, find a side hustle you enjoy. That doesn’t necessarily mean taking on a second job. It could mean turning your hobby, like jewelry making or photography, into an extra revenue maker.
