Taylor Swift makes Grammy history

ENTERTAINMENT

Taylor Swift won the album of the year Grammy for her 2022 album Midnights, becoming the artist with the most wins in the coveted category with four.
Prior to her win of the coveted award, Swift was tied with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, who along with her all previously won album of the year three times. She took home golden gramophones for album of the year in 2009 for Fearless, 2015 for “1989” and 2021 for Folklore.
After a stunned and overjoyed Swift accepted the award on Sunday from surprise presenter Celine Dion, she said, “I would love to tell you that this is the best moment in my life but I feel this happy when I finish a song or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love.”
“For me the award is the work. All I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much. It makes me so happy.”
Swift also thanked producer Jack Antonoff, who she described as one of her “best friends” and a “once in a generation producer.” The duo collaborated on “Midnights,” and a number of Swift’s previous albums.
She also thanked singer Lana Del Rey, who collaborated with Swift on Snow on the Beach off the album.
“I think she’s a legacy artist, a legend in her prime right now,” Swift said of Del Rey.
The Style singer is also tied with Barbra Streisand for the most all-time nominations by a female artist in the album of the year category, with six nominations total.
The win caps off an already eventful night for Swift, who announced earlier in the ceremony that she’s releasing her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department in April.
“Midnights” debuted to massive success in October 2022 when Swift claimed all top ten slots of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time with tracks from the album, according to the music charting website at the time.
Swift’s six Grammy nominations this year included album of the year, song of the year, record of the year, pop solo performance, pop duo/group performance and pop vocal album.
Earlier in the night, she won best pop vocal album for “Midnights” as well.
– CNN

Celine Dion surprises at Grammys

As excited as many people were by the album of the year award at the Grammys, Celine Dion presenting the category just heightened it.
“When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” Dion said after she took to the stage to roaring applause.
Dion shared in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, a condition, she said, that doesn’t allow her “to sing the way I’m used to.” The disorder is “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” Dion said at the time. “Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
The singer recently announced that she is chronicling her journey in a new documentary titled “I Am: Celine Dion. ” She said she’s optimistic about being able to perform again.
“This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” she recently wrote on her Instagram page. “As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realized how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans.”
She added that she wanted to “document” this part of her life through her film, “to raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.”
Dion has been mostly out of the public eye as she focuses on her health.
“Those who have been blessed enough to be at the Grammy Awards must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world, ” Dion said on Sunday. She recalled the album of the year award was presented to her 27 years ago by Diana Ross and Sting.
The award went to Taylor Swift for “Midnights.” It marked Swift’s fourth album of the year Grammy, making her the artist with the most wins in that category. – CNN

Rocky star Carl Weathers dies aged 76

US actor Carl Weathers, pictured, has died at the age of 76, according to his family.
Weathers, who starred as Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films, “died peacefully in his sleep”, according to a statement released by his family.
His other film credits include Predator, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore.
Weathers, who began his career as an NFL linebacker, “was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life”, his family’s statement added.
“Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations,” said the family.
“He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”
The athlete-turned-actor was comfortable starring in action and comedy, in appearances ranging from Arrested Development to The Mandalorian, where he featured in all three seasons of the Disney+ hit series.
His one-time co-star, the former California governor and superhero action star Schwarzenegger, praised Weathers on X, formerly Twitter: “Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person. – BBC

Spears seems to apologise to Timberlake over book

Britney Spears has appeared to apologise to her ex Justin Timberlake for comments in her autobiography.
He had told her to have an abortion as he “didn’t want to be a father”, she alleged in The Woman in Me, and cheated on her with “another celebrity”.
She posted a clip of him singing his songs with Jimmy Fallon on NBC’s Saturday Night Live programme.
And alongside the Instagram post, she wrote: “I wanna apologise for some of the things I wrote about in my book.”
Spears wrote: “If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about, I am deeply sorry.
“I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake’s new song, Selfish. It is so good – and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together, I laugh so hard?”
Spears released a song in 2011 with the same title, with some Britney fans campaigning to get her Selfish track into the charts higher than Timberlake’s new single, according to US media. – BBC