Tag: tribute

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‘Legendary Divas’ Take The Stage In Las Vegas

Jazmine as Whitney Houston (courtesy photo)
What started as just a six-week engagement at the Imperial Palace in 1983, Legends in Concert became the longest-running show in Las Vegas history with 40 years of live music entertainment and 22,000+ performances. And now, a gorgeous, all-new edition with music spanning more than four decades, Legends In Concert – Legendary Divas, has opened at The Orleans in Las Vegas. This production really showcases the “best of the best” tribute artists all on one stage. Continue reading “‘Legendary Divas’ Take The Stage In Las Vegas”

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GLAAD Media Awards: GLEE Stars To Reunite In Tribute To Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez in GLEE

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez in GLEE
Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez in GLEE (image via Fox)
The cast of iconic series GLEE will reunite for a special tribute to the legacy of the late Naya Rivera’s character Santana Lopez. Jacob Artist, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Vanessa Lengies, Jane Lynch, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Matthew Morrison, Alex Newell, Amber Riley, Harry Shum Jr., Becca Tobin, and Jenna Ushkowitz will come together during the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards to honor the 10th anniversary of Santana’s coming out on the show. And that’s not all – the cast will be joined by global superstar Demi Lovato, who played Santana’s girlfriend on GLEE, to introduce the special tribute. Tune in for the premiere on April 8th at 8:00 P.M. on YouTube, or stream on Hulu starting at 10:00 P.M. Remembering just a little bit of the fabulous Ms. Rivera as Santana in GLEE.

(via press release)

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Dolly Parton Gracefully Declines Tennessee Capitol Statue

International superstar Dolly Parton is writing a Broadway m

International superstar Dolly Parton (image via Instagram)
The Tennessee state legislature has been working on passing a bill that would install a statue of country music legend Dolly Parton on the grounds of the state Capitol. So far, the legislation has been approved by a state House committee on February 9. But Parton gracefully asked the lawmakers to remove the bill from consideration (for now) saying she is “honored and humbled by their intention” but feels “given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time.” She added that “somewhere down the road several years from now” or after she’s gone, “if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean.” Parton closed her message promising she’ll “continue to try to do good work” to make her home state proud. And I have no doubt that she will. #ClassAct

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Hearse Carrying Rep. John Lewis Pauses At Rainbow Intersection

The hearse carrying the late Rep. John Lewis pauses at Rainbow Intersection
As the motorcade for the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) made its way through the streets of Atlanta on Wednesday heading to the Georgia State Capitol, the hearse carrying his body paused in tribute to his support for the LGBTQ community at an intersection marked by rainbow-painted crosswalks. Supporters were already waiting at Piedmont and 10th Street where the scheduled stop had been previously announced. When the hearse paused in the intersection, supporters clapped and cheered the memory of the civil rights legend. And as the motorcade resumed its journey, Terrence James, a downtown Atlanta resident, began singing “We Shall Overcome.”

In addition to his lifelong commitment to equal rights for Black Americans, Lewis was an early ally to the LGBTQ community In 1996, long before gay rights were widely embraced by mainstream America, Lewis took to the floor of the House of Representatives to denounce the heinous anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as a “mean” and “cruel” bill. “This bill seeks to divide our nation, turn Americans against Americans, to seed fear, hatred, and intolerance,” declared Lewis. “Marriage is a basic human right. You cannot tell people they cannot fall in love.”

A few years later, he penned an op-ed for the Boston Globe urging equal rights for LGBTQ Americans. “This discrimination is wrong,” he wrote in 2003. “We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and lesbian Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation.” “I’ve heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry.” And in 2017, he compared the struggles by the LGBTQ community to those of other marginalized Americans. “It doesn’t matter whether they are black or white, Latino, Asian American or Native American, whether they are straight or gay, Muslim, Christian or Jews,” Lewis said during a Congressional hearing. “We all live in the same house. The American house.”

Rest in power, Rep. John Lewis.

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Break Out The Vitameatavegamin! – Will & Grace Announces ‘I Love Lucy’ Tribute

The cast of Will & Grace (photo: Dave Bjerke/NBC)
Break out the Vitameatavegamin! Will & Grace is planning a tribute episode to legendary 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. EW reports the homage, set to air in the spring, will offer three cast members – Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes – all taking on the role of the irrepressible redhead in iconic scenes from the beloved series. Messing will take on Lucy’s loopy “Vitameatavegamin” scene, while Hayes will attempt to keep up in the continually-accelerating conveyor belt in the chocolate factory. Mullally will, appropriately, have an alcohol-related scene as she stomps grapes at an Italian winery. In each of the excerpts, Eric McCormack will become play Ricky Ricardo as the other cast members rotate in the roles of Fred and Ethel Mertz.

In a nod to the original series’ comedic genius, the writers of Will & Grace will present the scenes scripted exactly as they were over 70 years ago. Plus, for a touch of authenticity, Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, will make a cameo appearance as the no-nonsense supervisor in the chocolate factory scene. “I know my parents would be over the moon to be honored in this way and by such similar talents who bring the same kind of joy to audiences as they did in I Love Lucy, said Arnaz in a statement. “I’m thrilled to be invited to the party and will do my best to honor the memory of Elvia Allman’s iconic performance.” Messing shared a jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes photo of her done up as Lucille Ball writing, “I can’t wait until you see all the mind-blowing work done by Costumes, Sets & Set Dressing, Props et al when it airs next spring.”

Will & Grace airs Thursdays on NBC at 9:30 p.m. ET. (Source: EW)

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Song Of The Day: Alt-Rocker Juliana Hatfield Covers Olivia Newton-John “A Little More Love”

Alt-rocker Juliana Hatfield says she has never not loved pop music icon, Olivia Newton-John.

The Boston-based musician’s upcoming April 13 release, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John, is a heartfelt tribute, with an focus on the four-time Grammy Award-winner’s ’70s and ’80s hits.

“I have never not loved Olivia Newton-John. Her music has brought me so much pure joy throughout my life. I loved her when I was a child and I love her still. Her voice and her positive energy and her melodies have stood the test of time and they give me as much pleasure now as they ever did. Listening to her is an escape into a beautiful place. She has inspired me so much personally and I just wanted to give something back; to share some of these tremendous songs, reinterpreted, with love, by me.”

In my opinion, the best tribute recordings pay respect to the original while bringing a new sensibility or perspective to the piece, which is exactly what Hatfield does here.

I like.

You can pre-order Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John via American Laundromat Records.

Hatfield will donate $1 from the sale of every album to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing patients with cancer access to leading medical treatment, breakthrough research, and the best in wellness and supportive care.

Watch the music video below.