(NEW YORK) — The New York Giants will retire Super Bowl winner Michael Strahan’s No. 92 this season.
Former teammates Justin Tuck, Eli Manning and Jesse Armstead surprised Strahan, who currently co-hosts ABC’s Good Morning America, by appearing on the morning show Wednesday to announce his number would be retired during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 28.
Watch the announcement from Good Morning America below:
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Michael Ray is opening up about the challenges of last year, including his divorce from Carly Pearce after less than a year of marriage. The Florida native admits he made mistakes, but says that he has learned to accept who he is, imperfections and all.
“I’m human,” Ray told People. “For a long time, I just wanted everything to be right. But I’m not perfect and my family is not perfect, and my friends aren’t perfect…nobody’s perfect. And instead of being ashamed of that, I’ve started to embrace it now.”
Ray, who just released his telling EP, Higher Education, is eager to move forward in every way, including with his new music.
“I think I’ll be coming out of this year actually better than I went into it,” Ray reflects. “In every way, I’m more confident than I’ve ever been and more accepting of things than I’ve ever been. You have no other choice but to grow and be better.”
The challenges of 2020 including both his divorce and the pandemic, ultimately made him more confident, as an artist and a person.
“Basically, this is what I have to offer,” Ray says. “And it’s going to be great for some and for some, we just ain’t going to fit. But this is where I am at. And I’ve honestly never felt better. I’ve never felt more confident. I’ve never felt more connected with my friends. I’ve never felt such a great one-on-one connection with someone else. I feel like I’ve got my vision back. I feel like I lost it for a little while. There was a time of my life where I felt like I was just crossing off boxes…but not anymore.”
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(NEW YORK) — The most restrictive abortion law in the nation took effect in Texas early Wednesday, effectively barring the procedure across the state, as the U.S. Supreme Court remained silent on an emergency request from women’s health groups to block the measure while legal challenges continue.
Texas becomes the first and only state in the country to outlaw abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Twelve other states have passed similar laws that have not yet taken effect due to legal challenges.
Abortion providers across Texas had said the measure would “immediately and catastrophically” prevent care for “at least 85%” of Texas abortion patients. Several clinics reported full waiting rooms up until the midnight deadline.
“Our clinic staff saw patients until 11:56 last night, just 3 minutes before the 6 week abortion ban went into effect in Texas,” Whole Women’s Health, a top abortion provider in Texas, posted to Twitter.
Most of the abortions performed nationwide are after 6 weeks of pregnancy; staff at several Texas clinics have said they plan to start turning away patients Wednesday.
“Our clinics are providing abortions in accordance with the law,” the group added Wednesday. “Our work is not over.”
The law, Senate Bill 8, says “a physician may not knowingly perform or induce an abortion … if the physician detects a fetal hearbeat,” including embryonic cardiac activity, that can be observed as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
In an unusual twist, the law expressly prohibits the state from enforcing the ban, instead authorizing private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion — but not the patient herself.
“It actively encourages private individuals to act as bounty hunters by awarding them at least $10,000 if they are successful,” the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement.
The enforcement mechanism has complicated the legal dispute before the Supreme Court, because it is not clear who might bring a lawsuit and how widespread private legal action might be.
The abortion providers “have not shown they’ll be harmed by a bill that may never be enforced against them by anyone, much less the government,” a group of Texas state officials defending the law wrote in a filing with the Supreme Court late Tuesday.
The court has only been asked at this stage to decide whether or not to issue a temporary injunction on S.B. 8 while lower-level court proceedings continue. Whatever the decision, legal experts cautioned that it will not have direct bearing on the precedent in Roe v Wade or abortion rights more broadly across the country.
The justices are likely to weigh in on the matter but do not operate on a fixed timeline.
“The abortion industry is using their last, desperate option in an attempt to block the life-saving Texas Heartbeat Act,” said John Seago, legislative director of Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion rights group.
“This anti-Life lawsuit is invalid. We are hopeful that Justice Alito will examine the compelling arguments raised explaining why the case should be ultimately dismissed,” he said.
Women’s rights groups planned protests against S.B. 8 across Texas on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, advocates said women seeking abortion services now faced expensive and time-consuming options to obtain care.
“Patients will have to travel out of state – in the middle of a pandemic – to receive constitutionally guaranteed healthcare,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is leading the challenges to Texas’ law. “And many will not have the means to do so. It’s cruel, unconscionable, and unlawful.”
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How much would you pay for an ice cream sundae? Selena Gomez is hoping you’ll shell out 30 bucks for one of hers.
Selena, who’s a celebrity partner and investor in the New York City eatery Serendipity 3, has introduced The Selena Sundae to the menu. The $29.95 price tag gets you three scoops of Selena’s own Cookies & Cream Remix flavor, as well as banana, hot fudge, cream-filled Cookie Crumbles, Pink Sugar, whipped cream and, of course, a cherry on top.
But this isn’t just some evil plan to empty your wallet and raise your blood sugar: It’s for a good cause. Ten percent of the proceeds the Selena Sundae will go to the star’s Rare Impact Fund, which is dedicated to expanding mental health services.
“My memories at Serendipity date back to when I was a kid and I came to New York City for the first time,” Selena says in a statement. “I’ve always loved this restaurant, and I am excited to celebrate its reopening by adding a sundae I created to the menu.”
Selena’s new TV series Only Murders In the Building is streaming now on Hulu.
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Sting has announced plans for a new album, The Bridge, which will be released on November 19. The upbeat first single, “If It’s Love,” which describes being in love as some kind of symptom, is out now on all digital platforms.
Speaking about the song, Sting says in a statement, “I’m certainly not the first songwriter to equate falling in or out of love with an incurable sickness, nor will I be the last. ‘If It’s Love’ is my addition to that canon where the tropes of metaphorical symptoms, diagnosis, and downright incapacity are all familiar enough to make each of us smile ruefully.”
Sting wrote and recorded The Bridge over the past year in lockdown, with the musicians contributing their parts remotely. As for the title, he explains, “These songs are between one place and another, between one state of mind and another, between life and death, between relationships. Between pandemics, and between eras — politically, socially and psychologically, all of us are stuck in the middle of something. We need a bridge.”
The Bridge, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available in various formats, including standard and deluxe CD and vinyl, and on cassette. The deluxe CD and vinyl versions will feature bonus tracks, including a cover of Otis Redding‘s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.”
The Bridge is Sting’s first solo album of original material since 2016’s 57th & 9th.
Sting will return to performing live later this month with a September 27 gig in Sicily, Italy, followed by two shows in Greece. His Las Vegas residency, My Songs, kicks off October 29.
Here’s The Bridge‘s full track list:
“Rushing Water”
“If It’s Love”
“The Book of Numbers”
“Loving You”
“Harmony Road”
“For Her Love”
“The Hills on the Border”
“Captain Bateman”
“The Bells of St. Thomas”
“The Bridge”
“Waters of Tyne”*
“Captain Bateman’s Basement”*
“(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”*
“I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City”**
* = Deluxe bonus track
** = Japanese exclusive bonus track
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Jonathan Scott and actress Zooey Deschanel recently celebrated their two-year dating anniversary, and the Property Brothers star admitted that he knows he’s very lucky to have her in his life.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the media personality joked, “I know I am dating up!”
“It means I just need to keep raising the bar and keep up with those expectations,” Jonathan clarified before diving into how his relationship has also inspired him to come up with new ideas on how to expand his Property Brothers empire. The Emmy nominee hinted that he has a new show in the works, which allows him to work side-by-side with Deschanel.
“[My brother Drew Scott] actually came up with a good concept, because Zooey is obsessed with real estate,” Jonathan teased.
As for how the Property Brothers will be allowed to fix up a random stranger’s home, Jonathan exclaimed, “Is someone going to say no if Zooey Deschanel just walks up to their door and knocks on it and says, ‘Hey, this guy will fix your house if you want it!’?”
The HGTV star also revealed that he and his brother can be credited for Hollywood’s latest hot couple — Ant Anstead and Renee Zellweger. Apparently, the two met on their show Celebrity IOU: Joyride, and Jonathan says sparks were flying between the two almost instantly.
“There was a scene where they were joking about being flirtatious, and Ant was like, via zoom, was putting on the flirty moves,” he dished. “It was just a joke, but apparently it worked!”
Drew chimed in, “He is that smooth… It’s that British accent, I tell you. He just charms with that!”
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Colman Domingo knows the power of having a Black woman at the helm. The actor, who starred in Janicza Bravo‘s Zola and Nia DaCosta‘s Candyman, says there’s something special about having a Black woman behind the lens.
“As we know in our experiences in this entertainment industry…it’s hard to get any job, especially if you’re a Black woman in this industry,” Colman shares. “And by the time you get to the plate, to get your opportunity, you were ready to meet it.”
Colman says that that readiness is what made Bravo “the perfect director for Zola” and DaCosta the “perfect director for Candyman.”
“They were ready,” he emphasizes. “They’re young, they’re smart, they’re innovative, they are willing, they’re game. They are great collaborators.”
Domingo says getting to work with all that talent actually helped to make him a better actor.
“When I tell you I feel like I’ve done some of my best work in both of these films, it’s because there was such a level of care and love and grace,” he says. “And also interrogation and intelligence. And also saying, ‘Colman, do the thing that you do. Go forward and try that thing.'”
He continues, “But then I listened and I’m guided as well. So there’s an ease, honestly, working with both of them. They didn’t come in with some bravado and something else. They came in with strict talent. And they came in with grace and love, and appreciation for the moment. And I think that’s why they’re two of my favorite directors that I’ve worked with recently.”
Candyman is in theaters now. Zola is available on Video on Demand.
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Elton John is revealing his thoughts on being name-dropped by BTS and — no surprise here — he found it “very flattering.”
According to Billboard, during an interview with UK radio show The Official Big Top 40, the legendary singer, who’s mentioned in the opening verse of the K-pop group’s hit “Permission to Dance,” said, “It was so cool to be name-checked by someone like BTS.”
“It does blow my mind but it’s because I love new, young music,” he added. “That’s what inspires me.”
“Permission to Dance” dropped in early July and became a mega-hit thanks to the group’s army of fans. And, earlier this month, John actually did a short cover of the track, ending his clip with a message of appreciation.
“Thanks BTS,” he said. “Love to the ARMY.”
During the interview, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also shared that younger artists like BTS remind him of the days when he was just getting started in the industry.
“I love the old music, but the new music, when you hear something great by someone new, like Holly Humberstone or The Kid LAROI or someone like that, you just think ‘God, I wish I could have done something like that when I was that young,'” John said.
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Every day brings us one step closer to Lil Nas X‘s debut album, Montero, due out September 17.
On Tuesday, the “Industry Baby” artist debuted the album’s official artwork, a psychedelic piece that depicts a nude Lil Nas X floating over a waterfall while surrounded by rainbows, butterflies and droplets of water. The cover also features buildings reminiscent of Greco-Roman architecture, lush green grass and a twisted tree, underneath which a smaller Lil Nas X is reclining while playing with bubbles and butterflies.
As fans furiously attempted to decode the hidden messages and meanings in Montero‘s cover art, Lil Nas X revealed that a certain yellow sponge inspired his pose.
Taking to Twitter after the reveal, he shared a SpongeBob SquarePants meme, which features the titular character rising up to the rainbow sky while an iPod, connected by a pair of headphones, dangles beneath him.
Lil Nas X then featured the meme side-by-side with his new album artwork and captioned it, “inspiration.”
“The album art is a continuous loop, to represent the circle of life,” he added in another tweet before revealing that he was inspired by another external source for the colorful album cover.
Lil Nas X revealed in a follow up that the concept was inspired by a Bible verse found in Genesis 2:1-2, “Thus the heavens and the Earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” He also revealed the album’s backdrop was a tribute to a painting by artist John Stephens and shared a side-by-side comparison, as well.
Lil Nas X also promised on Twitter that he will reveal Montero‘s track list today.
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Taylor Swift‘s surprise eighth studio album, folklore, celebrated its first anniversary on July 24 and, to celebrate the occasion, the “Cardigan” singer is rolling out exclusive merchandise with Urban Outfitters.
Taylor’s partnership with the retailer allows her to roll out all the stops for her celebratory collection, which currently features a limited-edition hoodie, tee shirts, and an exclusive double-LP vinyl sleeve.
Each clothing item celebrates a track that appeared on folklore, with a burnt umber-colored hoodie bearing a lyric from “Peace” that reads, “I’m a fire and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm.”
The merchandise line also features an oversized white tee that bears Taylor’s face on the front and folklore‘s track list on the back.
Another tee shirt, which is also a burnt umber color, celebrates the track “August” with the lyric “August slipped away into a moment of time” emblazoned across the chest.
The folklore double LP features 17 tracks, including “The Lakes,” all of which appeared on the Deluxe Edition of folklore, and retails for $29.
Both tee shirts are being sold for $39, while the hoodie can be purchased for $75, all for a limited time.
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