Latest news with #60th
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Reba McEntire addresses ex-stepson Brandon Blackstock's death for first time ahead of funeral
Reba McEntire has broken her silence. The country music legend paid tribute to her late former stepson, Brandon Blackstock, on Monday, Aug. 11, for the first time following his shocking death last week at 48. 'Very well said Shelby,' McEntire, 70, wrote in the comments of an Instagram carousel shared by her son and Brandon's half-brother, Shelby Blackstock. 'Yes we will miss him so much.' Advertisement 7 Reba McEntire at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown, Manhattan on May 12, 2025. GC Images 7 Reba McEntire shared this comment on Instagram after Brandon Blackstock's passing. Instagram/@reba McEntire became the late talent manager's stepmom when she married his father, Narvel Blackstock, in 1989. Advertisement Although the 'Fancy' singer and Brandon's dad later divorced in 2015, she and Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband remained close, and McEntire was still identified as a 'stepparent' in his obituary. Brandon passed away from melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer, on Aug. 7. His family announced the heartbreaking news in a statement obtained by The Post. 7 Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 28, 2015. Michael Buckner 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,' they said. Advertisement 'He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,' his loved ones added. 'We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.' Insiders later shared how McEntire was there for her former stepson before his passing. 7 Although Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock divorced in 2015, she and Brandon remained close. Instagram/shelbyblackstock 'Reba has spent more time with the Blackstock crew in the past year than in years prior,' an insider told Us Weekly in an interview published one day after Brandon's death. Advertisement The Queen of Country also opened up about how much she 'loved' Brandon back in 2021 when he and Clarkson, 43, were in the middle of their infamous and nasty divorce battle. 'Brandon's been my son forever, it seems,' she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. 'Although he's my stepson, I still love him like he's my total — my blood, so I'm praying for them both because I love them both.' 7 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson attend the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 2018. Getty Images for NARAS Brandon and the 'Since U Been Gone' singer married in 2013, and they had two children together: daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. Clarkson ultimately filed for divorce in 2020, and the pair settled in 2022. Following Brandon's passing, his half-brother and McEntire's son, Shelby Blackstock, took to Instagram to remember the late talent manager. 7 Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire at the American Country Countdown Awards at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15, 2014. Jason Merritt McEntire and Brandon's father welcomed Shelby, now 35, in 1990. Advertisement 'Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured,' the race car driver wrote alongside several touching pictures of Brandon. 'Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son.' 'Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family—funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed,' McEntire's son continued. 'We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering and celebrating you.' 7 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson attend Billboard's Women in Music event in Hollywood, California, on November 30, 2017. Getty Images for FIJI Water Besides the two children he had with Clarkson, Brandon shared daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. Advertisement Seth remembered his late father in an emotional Instagram post of his own over the weekend. 'I lost my hero yesterday,' Seth began Saturday. 'Words can't describe how proud of you I am on raising me and your 3 other kids.' 'You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend,' he added. 'You'll have to watch me grow up from a Birds Eye view now but that's ok with me.'
New York Post
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Fate of Kelly Clarkson's talk show revealed after death of ex-husband Brandon Blackstock
Kelly Clarkson's talk show is said to be moving forward after the shocking death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' which premiered in 2019, is still scheduled to return for its seventh season this fall, according to TMZ. 13 Kelly Clarkson during the beginning of an episode of 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.' Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Advertisement 13 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson shortly before their 2020 split. MediaPunch / BACKGRID Insiders told the outlet that new episodes of Clarkson's popular daytime program are set to air in September, with separate sources telling Page Six that the 'Since U Been Gone' singer's mysterious absences this past season were because of Blackstock's illness. Sources also shared with TMZ that the staff of 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' knew about Blackstock's private cancer battle, but they kept the information hush-hush out of respect for Clarkson and her family's privacy. Advertisement Blackstock passed away Thursday, Aug. 7, following a secret fight with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. He was 48. 13 The talent manager and 'Since U Been Gone' singer shortly after their 2013 wedding. Instagram/@kellyclarkson 13 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 2018. WireImage 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,' the late talent manager's family said in a statement to The Post. Advertisement 'He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time,' they added. Clarkson, 43, postponed the remaining August shows of her Las Vegas residency hours before her ex's death, marking the second time she canceled dates since it kicked off last month. 13 Kelly Clarkson postponed the remaining shows of her Las Vegas residency hours before her ex's death. @kellyclarkson/Instagram The 'Stronger' singer revealed her ex-husband's illness in a heartbreaking statement on Wednesday. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,' she wrote on Instagram two days before her residency was set to pick back up. 'While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,' Clarkson added. 'I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.' 13 Kelly Clarkson performing at the Citi Concert Series for the 'Today' show in New York City on May 6, 2025. Jackie Brown / 13 The 'Stronger' singer during the sixth season of 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' on NBC. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The 'Because of You' singer-songwriter first sparked concern earlier this year when she missed 10 episodes of her syndicated NBC talk show. Clarkson's celebrity friends stepped in to help host 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' and the first-ever 'American Idol' winner later revealed that she was dealing with a personal matter. However, insiders shared that Clarkson's life was unraveling behind the scenes due to Blackstock's worsening health. 13 Kelly Clarkson fights back tears during the emotional 1,000th episode of her talk show. YouTube/@kellyclarksonshow Advertisement 13 Kelly Clarkson wipes away tears during the emotional 1,000th episode of her talk show. YouTube/@kellyclarksonshow 'It's been exhausting and so sad,' a source told Page Six. 'Kelly has been working so hard, as well as looking after Brandon. Despite their difficult divorce, he's still the man she loved and still her kids' father.' Clarkson and Blackstock, who was country superstar Reba McEntire's former stepson, met during a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006 and reconnected years later at the Super Bowl. The pair married in 2013, and later welcomed two children: daughter River, 11, and son Remy, 9. Advertisement 13 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson backstage after she performed songs from her album, 'The Meaning of Life,' at the Rainbow Room in New York City on September 6, 2017. Kevin Mazur 13 Remington Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, River Blackstock, Brandon Blackstock and Seth Blackstock at the Los Angeles premiere of 'UglyDolls' on April 27, 2019. / Blackstock was Clarkson's manager during their marriage. But nearly seven years after tying the knot, the Grammy winner filed for divorce from Blackstock in 2020. Following an ugly legal battle, which included a fight over custody of their two kids and their Montana ranch, Clarkson and Blackstock reached a settlement in 2022. Advertisement Clarkson is said to be 'devastated' for her children in the wake of Blackstock's death. 13 Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock in 2020. Instagram/@kellyclarkson 13 Kelly Clarkson performing for her audience during 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.' Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Advertisement 'When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,' a source told People after his passing. 'Kelly has always tried to keep things classy,' they added. 'It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She's been devastated for the kids.'
News18
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Protest Erupts Over Khalid Ka Shivaji At Maharashtra Film Awards, 2 Men Shout Slogans
At the Maharashtra State Film Awards, two protesters disrupted the event, demanding a ban on Khalid Ka Shivaji for alleged historical distortion. Tensions ran high at the Maharashtra State Film Awards ceremony on Tuesday evening when two individuals disrupted the event with a vocal protest against the upcoming Marathi film Khalid Ka Shivaji. The incident occurred in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was about to address the audience at the time. The two protesters stood up inside the auditorium holding placards and began chanting slogans, demanding a ban on the film and accusing it of historical distortion. 'Distortion of history must be stopped," they shouted, as security personnel quickly intervened and escorted them out of the venue. The film is scheduled for release on August 8. In response to the disruption, CM Fadnavis briefly addressed the protestors, saying, 'You have put forth your point of view, and now stop. Don't spoil the function." The protest at the awards function was not an isolated event. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Khalid Ka Shivaji had already become a flashpoint for controversy, primarily targeted by members of the Sakal Hindu Samaj, a right-wing organisation that claims the film spreads 'false history" and promotes religious divisiveness. A celebration where Marathi cinema stars and Maharashtra's heritage sparkled together — 60th & 61st Diamond Jubilee State Film Awards…मराठी चित्रपटसृष्टीचा आणि सांस्कृतिक वारशाचा गौरव करणाऱ्या 60 आणि 61 व्या हीरक महोत्सवी महाराष्ट्र राज्य मराठी चित्रपट पुरस्कार सोहळ्यातील… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 6, 2025 Law enforcement authorities have stepped in to monitor the situation. The Bhandup division of the Mumbai Police recently issued a formal notice to the administrator of a WhatsApp group linked to the Sakal Hindu Samaj, citing concerns over online mobilisation and its potential to disturb public peace. The group had allegedly encouraged members to protest the film across social media platforms. The police notice warned against such activities, stating: 'We advise you to not engage in such acts henceforth. If such messages encourage unlawful activities in the city, then you will be held responsible and strict action will be taken." In reaction, the Sakal Hindu Samaj condemned the police's action, defending its online campaign as an exercise of constitutional rights. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the group wrote: 'Bhandup Police Station has sent a notice to #Hindutva Karyakartas for posting a protest on social media against the film Khalid Ka Shivaji, which spreads false history and seeks to divide the minds of Hindus. @MumbaiPolice have completely surrendered to #Jihadi forces! Please stop sending such notices to those who are protesting through constitutional means (sic)." The police have not issued a public response to this statement so far. Directed by debutant filmmaker Ankur Bhatia, Khalid Ka Shivaji explores themes of identity and alienation. The narrative centres on Khalid, a young Muslim boy who struggles with a sense of exclusion due to his religious background. He finds empowerment by drawing inspiration from Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Despite the controversy, the film has also received international recognition. It was one of the few Marathi films selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar had earlier praised the film's achievement, stating, 'Khalid Ka Shivaji highlights the thoughts of young minds and their quest for identity in today's society." He called its Cannes selection 'a moment of pride for Marathi cinema." Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ACM Awards 2025 highlight mainstay country legends like Reba McEntire, new talent
The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards marks a significant transition for the prestigious ceremony. Country music's cultural influence and industry evolution are at an inflection point as the industry embraces pop music, inspired by crossover success like Post Malone's "F-1 Trillion" album and others. This year's awards show also fully embraces the streaming era. The 60th annual ACM Awards will not only be livestreamed, commercial-free on Amazon Prime Video for the fourth consecutive year, on May 8 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT. The show, hosted by Reba McEntire, will also be available on Twitch's Amazon Music channel. A Prime Video membership is not required to watch the show, streamed from the Dallas Cowboys' world headquarters at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Only a decade ago, music award shows like the ACMs performed 20% better than, on average, the year's top primetime television programs, according to Nielsen Media Research data, Times are different now. Broadcast and cable television use is waning, while streaming-first programming — including National Football League games being first-run on Netflix, Peacock and Prime Video — is entrenching itself as a marketplace leader. Reba McEntire presents Lainey Wilson with the Female Artist of the Year at the 59th ACM Awards at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Academy of Country Music Awards 2025 performers ACM CEO Damon Whiteside and ACM Awards veteran producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor are each keenly aware that the future of awards shows, and TV programming in general, is in streaming. "We know fans are on streaming platforms," Whiteside said in 2021. "We've seen in research that they feel programs [that] are on streaming platforms seem more interesting to them than traditional broadcast. We felt this was a great opportunity for us to get a foothold in the future." That future has arrived — and it's not just for young people. A 2023 study from DeepIntent and Roku found that 79% of adults aged 50 and older are streaming viewers. Up to half of those polled also said they were willing to grow their engagement with streaming platforms. In June 2024, Nielsen data also showed that time spent streaming equaled 40.3% of total TV usage, doubling broadcast numbers. The streaming format also shaped the show's content. It will open with a 12-minute performance featuring Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland. "We're giving a super-sized breath of fresh air to the award-show concept by opening with a 12-minute musical performance honoring the 60th anniversary," said ACM Awards showrunner Raj Kapoor. "We're delivering a show full of performances with awards mixed in." Music and tech industry executives alike are watching online viewers closely. "Partnering with programs that could reach viewers (like country music fans) who've yet to jump to digital "is genius for [Amazon]," said streaming industry research group Conviva's president and CEO Keith Zubchevich to The Tennessean in 2021. "Nobody's talking about late adopters. That's the only greenfield market left. Everybody else is fighting over the digital natives. There's this entire late adopter base that nobody's talking to." Country music awards show future Subscription-based streaming platforms surged to record popularity amid COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Streaming's rise has profoundly impacted the music industry. Consumer tastes diversified and broadened as the medium grew 500% in a decade to become the top revenue driver. Super-sizing existing concepts to super-serve streaming's unprecedented boom in the music and television industries seemed necessary. Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton host the 58th ACM Awards at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco Texas, on Thursday, May 11, 2023. A near tie exists between the TV ratings of the 2021 ACM Awards and the viewership on Prime Video in 2023, with 7.6 million homes tuning in for the 2021 broadcast and 7.7 million viewers watching in 2023. The 2025 awards represent the next chapter in this technological evolution. ACM Awards seeks to hold onto existing viewers while courting new Award programs like the ACMs face the challenge of balancing the recognition of numerous new No. 1 stars emerging from the streaming era with the familiarity needed to engage dedicated industry followers and casual viewers alike. Creating a show that appeals to everyone and keeps viewers from switching to other available programming in an environment with abundant viewing options is difficult. For the 17th time, Reba McEntire hosts the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8, 2025 in Frisco, Texas ACM Awards: Backstreet Boys, Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll, Alan Jackson, more The ACMs address this challenge by featuring 50-year country veteran and pop-crossover icon Reba McEntire as the event's host. McEntire has hosted approximately one in four ACM Awards throughout the program's history and nearly every other year for the past 40 years. The "Fancy" vocalist remains a prominent and recognizable figure associated with the broadcast. "Amazing legends with career longevity who connect with the fans as well as supporting the rise of eventual Entertainer of the Year talents along their journey to that honor (are also important)," said Kapoor, highlighting the event celebrating the 35th anniversary of ACM-nominated duo Brooks & Dunn, who will join Cody Johnson for a performance. Kapoor added that veteran acts with over two decades of experience have key roles in the show, including Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. In previous years on Prime Video, mainstream superstars of the moment, including Dua Lipa, Noah Kahan and Ed Sheeran, have appeared. However, country music is now a genre where pop crossover success has elevated Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Post Malone and Morgan Wallen to broader acclaim. Thus, this year's program finds the Backstreet Boys — superstars superseding country and pop's present moment, but still familiar to country's core audience — appearing with revived 2000s era chart toppers Rascal Flatts. "I can't wait for everyone to hear two vocal supergroups with great harmonies," Kapoor said, adding that he served as the Backstreet Boys' creative director for the 2017 Las Vegas residency and as a production designer for Rascal Flatts' 2015 tour, among many others. ACM 2025: Emerging talent Ella Langley snags most nominations The 60th ACM Awards will continue to "honor (and break) new talents," Whiteside said. Alabama-born rising country star Ella Langley snagged eight nominations. Before the Prime Video program on May 8, she was awarded Best New Female Artist and Visual Media of the Year for her "You Look Like You Love Me" video with Riley Green. Ella Langley poses for a portrait before the Opry NextStage Live concert at Lava Cantina in The Colony, Texas., Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Being able to strike a balance in ensuring that genre's seemingly now-perpetual and streaming-led star-making potential is properly represented against popular established acts is "tough," Whiteside said. Even in a broadcast format that, for 2025, has been expanded to 2 hours and 30 minutes, maintaining visibility for the genre's legacy acts who can drive the program's long-familiar viewers to the show is essential. In 2023, the ACM Awards achieved greater global reach that "overwhelmed" executives like Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, because of the involvement of icons like Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton on the show. "We look forward to continuing the success and bringing even more star-studded and captivating shows to fans worldwide," he said, in a press statement. The jury is still out on how this year's show, available to 200 million Prime Video subscribers and an untold number of new-to-Prime Video and Twitch users, will resonate with its blend of classic and modern country performers. ACM Awards traditions evolve, remain vital In 2015, the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards resulted in a 15% ratings spike, reaching an estimated 16 million American homes. Reba McEntire jokes with Dan + Shay at the 59th ACM Awards at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Trends suggest that this year's move to streaming during another anniversary year could help the program achieve ratings comparable to pre-COVID-19 levels. According to Kapoor, the program's enduring appeal and potential streaming success highlight the ACM Awards as one of the country music industry's most cherished traditions. "Being the executive producer of the ACM Awards means I'm the caretaker of a historic (vital property) that the country music community stands up and supports," Kapoor said. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amazon streams ACM Awards to tap in with new, younger audience
