With a tweet from Star Wars‘ official social media channels, it was announced that production on Disney+’s small-screen spin-off Ahsoka got underway Monday.
The series stars Rosario Dawson as the titular former Jedi character she played on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett; the show will also star Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, as well as Aladdin‘s Mena Massoud, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ivanna Sakhno, Ray Stevenson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Lars Mikkelsen.
Recently, ABC Audio spoke with Dawson — a life-long Star Wars fan and self-described geek — who enthused, “It’s really exciting to start getting into it, you know, like I literally am like, ‘I can’t hang out because I’m saber training.’ Like, that’s an actual thing I got to say, which is really, really fun and cool!”
First voiced by Ashley Eckstein, Ahsoka Tano made her debut in the Star Wars universe in the Emmy-winning animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Initially a Padawan learner under the tutelage of reluctant teacher Anakin Skywalker, Tano developed through that series, and also appeared in the subsequent animated show Star Wars: Rebels.
The true story of a 1980’s murder is at the center of the new series Candy, which debuts its first episode today on Hulu.
So, what’s it all about? For starters, it’s about a woman named Candy, who is played by Jessica Biel.
“Candy is a very normal suburban housewife and mom who is a churchgoing leader in her community,” Biel tells ABC Audio. “A fun, nice, kind woman who has a lot of emotional things that she’s incapable of sharing, and is incapable of knowing how to express herself in a way that that can keep her life on a regular track.”
She continues, “And she comes up against an experience where she commits a terrible act of violence. And it changes her life and her friend’s life.”
Biel also shares that Candy is a character with which she surprisingly could “very much relate to as a wife and a mother.”
“You know, just a normal-ish type of person,” she says. “And, you know, being pushed to the edge and then making a decision that, you know, you can’t take back.”
Likewise, Melanie Lynskey, who plays the woman Candy murders in the series, says that her role was also one that she could relate to.
“I’m a pretty shy person and I feel like I can be extremely awkward in groups of people. And that was something that I found very endearing about Betty,” she explains. “I also understood very deeply, and I cared about her. There was just something internally that felt right to me when I read the script.”
On their Instagrampages, Hilaria and Alec Baldwin announced that their seventh child will be a girl. The news was broken with a video in which mom and dad, along with some of their kids — Carmen Gabriela, 8; Rafael Thomas, 6; and Leonardo Ángel Charles, 5 — gave the coming bundle of joy some life advice.
“One characteristic doesn’t define you,” Alec said, smiling. “You are a complicated and multifaced human,” Carmen added. “No one can define your cultures,” Leonardo followed.
“You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone,” Hilaria commented, adding later, “Feel free to immerse in and express all parts of your identity.”
Of course, their two youngest children — almost-20-month-old Eduardo Pau Lucas Baldwin, and 15-month-old Lucia — were too young to add their two cents, but they’re shown playing with their siblings.
Halsey is very upset to learn they’re allergic to a favorite drink of theirs.
“Just found out I’m allergic to coffee so there goes my entire personality,” Halsey captioned a TikTok video of them sipping on an iced green drink while a remix of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Dreams” plays in the background.
Halsey revealed they are also allergic to a bevy of other things, including yeast, wheat, potatoes, onions, milk, mustard, shrimp, shrimp, soy, almonds, blueberries, squash and a lot more. But Halsey assured fans “Everything is fine!” although when one fan empathized with the singer about being allergic to garlic, Halsey admitted, “The Italian in me is weeping.” The singer said to another fan that she is seeking more answers because “this is just a WILD way to live.”
In other Halsey news, the singer recently issued a warning to their more squeamish fans about their upcoming tour, which “contains mature themes.”
“The show will contain visual images that may not be appropriate for all audiences,” they announced on Twitter. “With that being said however, this show is vulnerable and powerful in a way that I am so proud of. It is unlike anything I’ve ever done before and I can’t wait for you to see it.”
BTS cannot wait for fans to get their hands on their new album, Proof, which drops June 10, and just announced its complete track list.
Proof, which arrives June 10, is not only BTS’ 10th studio album, it’s a three-disc anthology collection meant to commemorate their ninth anniversary as a band. Their label, Big Hit Music, announced on Sunday that the first disc will feature the septet’s biggest hits, including “Dynamite,” Butter” and their Halsey collab “Boy with Luv.”
Disc two, according to Big Hit, is meant for the die-hard BTS fan, and will feature deep cuts such as “Euphoria,” “Her,” “Stay” and many others. The second disc’s track list was revealed Monday.
That said, we’ll have to wait until Tuesday to find out what’s on the third disc. The label has since released a full schedule of when they will announce all the Proof details, including concept photos and music video teasers. However, June 7 is only marked with “???”
Proof will be BTS’ first effort since they announced an “extended period of rest” in December. Their label said of their new release, “The BTS anthology album that embodies the history of BTS will be released as they begin a new chapter as an artist that has been active for nine years to look back on their endeavors.”
BigHit said Proof will “reflect the thoughts and ideas of the members on the past present and future of BTS.”
Garth Brooks has added an opening night at Commonwealth Stadium Edmonton, Canada on June 24 after his show on June 25 sold out in 45 minutes. Tickets for the opening night show go on sale May 12 at 12 p.m. ET.
Thomas Rhett has added three shows to his Bring the Bar to You Tour on August 4 in Phoenix, AZ, August 5 in Irvine, CA and August 27 in San Diego, CA. Pre-sale tickets for the Irvine and San Diego shows are available to members of Thomas’ fan club on Tuesday, and the Phoenix show beginning on May 17.
Carrie Underwood has shared a behind-the-scenes video of recording in studio and shooting the music video for her single, “Ghost Story.”
Craig Morgan is embarking on the God, Family, Country Tour with hit singer-songwriter, Ray Fulcher. The tour begins on October 19 in Green Bay, WI and culminates with a special Veteran’s Day show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on November 11. Tickets go on sale May 13.
Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik will be honored at the 20th anniversary benefit for the Little Kids Rock charity on May 17 in New York City.
Little Kids Rock is a nonprofit with the goal of restoring and expanding music-education programs in public schools. Johnny, the father of a young daughter, is being honored with the Rocker of the Year prize at the event, thanks to his 30+ years of hit-making with the band.
The event also will include performances from Run-D.M.C.‘s Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, Jon Secada and The Voice‘s season-three winner Cassadee Pope. Tickets can be purchased now at LittleKidsRock.org.
To raise additional funds for Little Kids Rock, a silent auction will launch on Tuesday, May 10, at the organization’s website. Proceeds raised by the benefit and the auction will go toward funding Little Kids Rock programs, teacher training and instrument donations.
(WASHINGTON) — The homes of Supreme Court justices are the newest site for protests over abortion access in the United States.
Activists gathered Saturday in the rain outside the Maryland residences of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh to protest a leaked draft opinion reportedly supported by the court’s conservative majority.
The document, reported by Politico last week, showed the panel is poised to repeal Roe v. Wade. The court confirmed the draft’s authenticity but reminded Americans it is not the final ruling. A decision in the case, which centers on a Mississippi abortion restriction, is expected by the end of June or early July.
Protesters held signs that read, “Never Again” and “Don’t Tread on My Choice.”
The demonstrations sparked a response Monday from the White House that justices shouldn’t have to worry about their “personal safety.”
“[President Joe Biden] strongly believes in the Constitutional right to protest,” press secretary Jen Psaki said in a Twitter post. “But that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism. Judges perform an incredibly important function in our society, and they must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.”
Republicans had accused the administration of not condemning violent threats after Psaki’s initial response to protests taking place at the justices’ homes.
“These activists posted a map with the home addresses of the Supreme Court justices. Is that the kind of thing this president wants to help your side make their point?” Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked during her daily press briefing May 5.
“I think the president’s view is that there’s a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document,” Psaki responded. “We obviously want people’s privacy to be respected. We want people to protest peacefully if they want to protest. That is certainly what the president’s view would be.”
Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department were on the scene as the protests unfolded, as seen in photographs from ABC affiliate station WJLA. The department did not immediately respond to ABC News request for comment. There didn’t appear to be any reports of violence or vandalism during the protests.
Senators Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, on Monday introduced legislation that would allow the Supreme Court Police to provide all nine justices and their families with around-the-clock security protection.
ShutDownDC said 100 people were part of Saturday’s protests in the Chevy Chase neighborhood where Kavanaugh and Roberts live. It’s unclear if the justices or their families were home at the time.
The group has another protest planned for outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito on Monday night that will include speakers, a candlelight vigil and quiet moments of reflection.
Alito was the author of the Feb. 10 draft opinion, in which he wrote, “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.”
“It is important that we gather in this way because attacks on abortion rights represent not only a violation of our autonomy over our own bodies and an invasion of privacy between us and our doctors, but also a real and symbolic victory for those who would like to strip even more rights from us – among them contraception, gay marriage, privacy and safety from state scrutiny of our beliefs – and still more from our Black, brown and Indigenous friends and siblings,” ShutDownDC’s Hope Neyer told ABC News.
The bombshell draft opinion on Roe sparked rallies from both abortion rights activists and anti-abortion protesters across the country. A nationwide day of action is planned for Saturday, May 14.
An “unscalable,” eight-foot-high fence was placed around the Supreme Court building last week. Neither the court or law enforcement officials have said anything publicly about possible threats to the institution or the justices, who are set to return in-person for a private conference on May 12.
Republicans are condemning the protests, with Sen. Ted Cruz equating them to “mob violence” even though there were no reports of violence.
“It is disgraceful,” Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News on Sunday.
ShutDownDC responded to Cruz’s comments, telling ABC: “We are exercising our constitutional right to gather and demonstrate and intend to continue to do so regardless of whatever aspersions people like Ted Cruz who are scared of our collective power might cast.”
Democratic strategist Paul Begala also chimed in on the protests in front of Roberts and Kavanaugh’s homes, saying they could do more harm than good.
“This is wrong, stupid, potentially dangerous, and politically counterproductive,” Begala wrote on Twitter.
Joe Alwyn, who is famously dating Taylor Swift, stars in Hulu’s Conversations with Friendsand is part of some pretty steamy scenes in the show. So, how does his girlfriend of six years feel about them?
Speaking with Extra, the British actor said he didn’t need to give Taylor a heads-up before watching. “I mean she’s read the book and she loves the book so she knows it,” Alwyn explaied.
Conversations with Friends, which was published in 2017 and written by author Sally Rooney, tells the story of two young female friends who become entangled with a married couple, played in the series by Joe and actress Jemima Kirke.
Despite filming his fair share of racy scenes, Alwyn said he knew Taylor wouldn’t have a problem with them. “She just, like, couldn’t be a bigger fan of the project,” he assured.
The actor went on to explain that each love scene is meant to progress the story, and an intimacy coordinator made sure each scene was what it needed to be.
“Hopefully, each intimate scene feels different or there’s some kind of progression in their relationship,” he added.
Alwyn also spoke about being considered one of Hollywood’s most private actors, telling the outlet, “I don’t really mind if people call me that. I think people having a private life is important to understand people’s interest in what’s going on behind closed doors. I think it’s nice to draw a line as well and keep what’s important and close to you private.”
Taylor is also notoriously quiet about her private life, which has sparked numerous rumors about her relationship with Joe and their status.
Conversations with Friends arrives on Hulu on May 15.
Courtesy of Big Machine Records & Warner Music Nashville
Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde are celebrating their #1 song, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” in numerous ways.
While on the road opening for Kenny Chesney, Carly took a moment to honor the moment by posing in front of her tour bus with “#1” balloons in hand and a smile plastered on her face. She also shared a photo of her and Ashley on a video call, but holding one finger in the air.
In a caption accompanying the photos, Carly reflects on their writing session with Shane McAnally as they were “thinking about the women we want to be and the way that’s not always how life and love turn out,.
“Sometimes out of something bad comes something good. Thank you to everyone who plays Country music, our fans, our record labels, management teams, agents, our bands and everyone in between,” Carly continues, saying that she’s “proud” to call her duet partner a “friend” and “sister.” “I will forever be grateful for this song bringing us together. Gonna go cry for the 100th time!”
“First times only happen once,” adds Ashley. “I’ll always love that Carly and I got to ride this rocket of a song together. I’ll always love that she, Shane and I trusted each other and ourselves to be brutally honest when we wrote it. It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that.”
“Never” is the second all-female country duet in the past 30 years to top the charts, following Miranda Lambert and Elle King‘s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).”
“Never Wanted to Be that Girl” was also named Music Event of the Year at the ACM Awards. “Never” is Carly’s third #1 single and Ashley’s first.
