Latest news with #AmericanBalletTheatre
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Former White House Press Secretary Shares Powerful Message Regarding Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis (Exclusive)
Former White House Press Secretary Shares Powerful Message Regarding Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade. Karine Jean-Pierre is sending her love to former President Joe Biden. The political advisor, 50, who served as White House press secretary from May 2022 to January 2025 and as a senior advisor to Biden from October 2024 to January 2025, exclusively told Parade she has reached out to the 82-year-old after he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. 'I have been in contact with the family,' she said on the red carpet at American Ballet Theatre's 85th anniversary Spring Gala, honoring Susan and Leonard Feinstein, at Cipriani South Street in New York City. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 'I think they know how I feel,' she continued. 'I've been very clear about the news and how heartbreaking it was to hear, but one thing that I know about Joe Biden is that he's a fighter. I wouldn't bet against him, and this is obviously an issue that's incredibly personal to them when it comes to cancer.' Biden's son Beau died in 2015 at age 46 from brain cancer. Jean-Pierre then went on to praise the former POTUS for how much he cared for his staff at the White House. 'I have to tell you this personal story,' she began. 'When my mom — during my tenure as White House press secretary — had cancer and only a few people knew, he was one of the people who knew because I wanted to keep that really private and because it was such a personal matter to go through.' Biden 'reached out' to Jean-Pierre personally to check up on her and her mother, who was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. (Jean-Pierre said in a January Vanity Fair piece that her mother finished treatment a year ago.) 'He reached out, and he asked me all the questions,' Jean-Pierre told Parade of Biden. ''How is she doing? What can I do? Where is she? What kind of treatment is she getting?' He was so tuned in because he understands how personal something like this is and how hard it can hit a family, and so my heart goes out to him and obviously his family.' Related: At the ABT gala on Wednesday night, Jean-Pierre also encouraged people struggling in the current political climate to remain 'hopeful' and look to 'your community and see how you can be helpful to your neighbors.' She added, 'Joy is resistance. Joy is important right now. We can't let them take that away, but understanding that there are people who are living next door to us who are indeed suffering and having a difficult time in this moment, I think it's important to show up and be very, very present.' Former White House Press Secretary Shares Powerful Message Regarding Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis (Exclusive) first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sophia Bush appears to be wearing a wedding band when with girlfriend Ashlyn Harris at a gala
Sophia Bush and her girlfriend Ashlyn Harris made a stylish duo while attending the 2025 American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala in New York City on Wednesday. The One Tree Hill star, 42, and the former soccer player, 39, matched in black looks for the star-studded event, held at Cipriani. Sophia — who recently sparked engagement rumors with Ashlyn — showed off her toned arms and flashed a hint of her midriff in a black dress with a slit along the torso. She accessorized with statement silver earrings and a chic clutch. She also appeared to have a wedding band on her ring finger. Meanwhile Ashlyn opted for an oversized black blazer with a low-cut black top underneath and matching pants. She wore black gloves on her hands while posing with her arm around Sophia. Sophia and Ashlyn — who previously denied cheating on her ex-wife with Sophia — publicly confirmed their romance in April 2024 when the actress came out as queer and revealed she was in love with the soccer star. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Earlier this month Ashlyn gushed about Sophia while appearing on the Second Wind podcast. 'What I love so much about her is she makes me feel the way I only thought we read about in books,' she said. 'She holds up a mirror and makes me feel like I'm the best human, I'm the best mother, and it's exactly what I needed and what I need to heal so much pain and trauma and grief in my life.' Harris co-parents two adopted children - daughter Sloane, 4; and son Ocean, 2 - with estranged wife Ali Krieger, whom she filed for divorce from in September 2023 after four years of marriage. Meanwhile Sophia finalized her divorce from second husband Grant Hughes in January. She filed for divorce from him in August 2023 after 13 months of marriage. Bush and the Wide Open podcaster began dating in October 2023, but they spoke on the same feminist panel during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2023. Rumors began swirling immediately that Harris was already dating Bush with some claiming she had cheated on Krieger. Harris broke her silence in November to deny cheating on her ex-wife in a lengthy statement. 'People have run with a narrative that's unbearably painful,' she said. 'Not all marriages last forever. Our did not. For many reasons. And while I understand that the false narrative about why might feel juicer or make a batter [sic] headline, they are simply not true. 'Let me be clear: I did not step out on my marriage. I was always faithful in my marriage, if not always totally happy. Like in many partnerships, there was work and therapy and processing done. None of this happened on a whim.' Sophia and Ashlyn publicly confirmed their romance in April 2024 when the actress came out as queer and revealed she was in love with the soccer star In February they sparked engagement rumors, after Sophia was seen flashing a ring on her wedding finger. She sported an ornate gold and silver ring as she posed at the TIME Women of the Year Gala in West Hollywood. Speaking to Glamour magazine last year, Bush revealed in her own words that she now identifies as queer: 'I feel like I can finally breathe,' she said. And the Chicago PD actress admitted that she is indeed 'in love' with Harris whom she became friends with in 2019 then started a romantic relationship with in October 2023 after her marriage with Grant fell apart and Ashlyn left her wife. 'I didn't expect to find love in this support system,' began the star who noted that her bond with Harris was rare and beautiful. 'I don't know how else to say it other than: I didn't see it until I saw it.' As far as falling for Ashlyn, she said it was a new frontier. 'And I think it's very easy not to see something that's been in front of your face for a long time when you'd never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option,' she shared. 'What I saw was a friend with her big, happy life. And now I know she thought the same thing about me,' said the star. Bush added that the road to her romantic relationship with Harris was long after they met in 2019 and spent years becoming friends: 'People looking in from the outside weren't privy to just how much time it took, how many painful conversations were had,' said Sophia. 'A lot of effort was made to be graceful with other people's processing, their time and obligations, and their feelings.' Wednesday's ballet gala was also attended by Alec Baldwin, 67, and wife Hilaria, 41. The yoga instructor put her toned legs on display in a black and white sleeveless mini dress. She added height to her look with a pair of black heels. Meanwhile Alec looked handsome in a black suit. The pair looked in good spirits, despite the fact that their reality TV show, The Baldwins, has not yet been renewed for a second season, after it was blasted by critics as being a 'snoozy infomercial.'
Time Magazine
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Susan Fales-Hill
When Susan Fales-Hill agreed to pay ballerina Misty Copeland's salary for American Ballet Theatre in 2004, the TV writer-producer rocketed into prominence as a new force driving the arts to diversify. For a time, Copeland was ABT's only Black performer; today, Black dancers comprise about 10% of the company. That's thanks in large part to Fales-Hill's influence, both as a prodigious fundraiser who has chaired several of ABT's glitzy galas and as a board trustee pushing the nonprofit to foster new talent in diverse communities. An executive producer for Max's And Just Like That…, Fales-Hill says her arts philanthropy is inspired by having watched her mother, Haitian-American actress Josephine Premice, and other Black performers struggle to find work when she was growing up. 'I knew from as soon as I started making money that part of my job would be to give it away and use the access I had to open doors for others,' Fales-Hill says. Fales-Hill and her husband also endow a scholarship at the private high school their daughter attended and last year helped create a fund at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute for a series of symposia on civil discourse. 'It's all about reinforcing our common humanity and leveling the playing field so that everyone has an equal chance,' she says. 'Everyone's not going to have the same outcome, but everyone needs an equal chance.'
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Misty Copeland shares essential advice from Prince, favorite dish to cook, self-care tips
Misty Copeland shares essential advice from Prince, favorite dish to cook, self-care tips In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. Misty Copeland is paying it forward – both on and off the dance floor. The American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, still dancing but now at a new stage of her career as a mom, foundation owner and mentor, is sharing her advice for teens in a new book. 'Letters to Misty' (out now from Simon & Schuster) compiles fan notes the ballerina has received over her decades-long career. As the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at the ABT, Copeland has long inspired young performers, especially dancers of color. She shares with USA TODAY the best tips she's learned for self-care and confidence. Prince gave Misty Copeland key advice for confidence In 'Letters to Misty,' Copeland, 42, teaches teens that confidence is something you have to practice. 'It's working a muscle, it's putting in the reps and having a support system around you,' Copeland says. 'The ballet mistresses or the coaches or the teachers around you are there to help and guide you, but it's up to you to be consistent." As a young dancer, she was often the only Black girl in the room. Throughout her several collaborations with Prince, she said the 'Purple Rain' singer gave her advice she'll never forget: Uniqueness and individuality are strengths. 'I was coming from this place of fear and wanting to shrink myself in order to fit in and he was like 'What are you talking about? There's so much power in being the only one out there,' ' she says. ''You're holding your attention – now what are you going to do with the opportunity?'' Mentors are an essential part of Misty Copeland's journey A support squad is also crucial to building confidence, Copeland says. Her local childhood Boys and Girls Club (where she took her first ballet class) helped her establish healthy mentor figures from a young age. Her first ballet teacher was a key role model. She also looks up to fellow dancers Alicia Graf Mack, Raven Wilkinson (who Copeland's 2022 book 'The Wind at My Back' is about), Lauren Anderson, actress Victoria Rowell and producer Susan Fales-Hill. 'Throughout my career, so many incredible women, and specifically Black women, have really been like the backbone of my success,' Copeland says. 'That, naturally and organically, taught me the importance of being a mentor.' Misty Copeland's favorite social media accounts help her stay 'zen' In 'Letters to Misty,' young readers ask Copeland about staying true to themselves in the digital age and how to navigate an often toxic social media landscape. 'I really suggest surrounding yourself, following people that are more aligned with your own values and being able to shut it off and say 'What's important are the people who are actually in my life that are there for me,'' she says. Her favorites include culinary icon Ina Garten, photographer Mark Seliger, art curator Thelma Golden and any of the Aman hotel properties, which make her feel 'so zen just looking at them.' How Misty Copeland recharges: 'A necessity and not a luxury' Rest is a self-care priority to Copeland, telling teens in 'Letters to Misty' it's 'a necessity, not a luxury.' When she's in the dance studio for eight hours a day, a day off has a leisurely start, sleeping in late and stretching. On the second day of her weekend, she'll take a Pilates class, nap more, drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious meals. She also ices her body with her Game Ready ice machine, which keeps her blood circulating and reduces inflammation. You'll also find her dabbling in some 'terrible TV' and listening to Kendrick Lamar, Mariah Carey, Anita Baker, or Sade. One of her favorite ways to unwind is to cook, especially her signature citrus salmon dish that she once made for Garten herself. Copeland broils her fish in a homemade marinade of brown sugar, orange juice, soy sauce and white wine vinegar, pairing it with sweet potato mash on the side. 'One of my favorite things is opening the refrigerator and there's nothing in there and you're like, how can I make something work? It's this creative challenge,' Copeland says. Journaling is also a key part of her routine and has been since she was young. She often journals when she's on the road or in hotel rooms and saves every finished notebook to look back on later. 'It's such a healthy way to process things and also to document,' she says. Need a new book?: 15 new releases you can read right now Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter, or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Ballerina Misty Copeland uses letters from fans, personal experiences to offer advice in new book
Ballerina Misty Copeland has been an inspiration on and off the dance floor for many. She made history nearly a decade ago as the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Through Copeland's new book, "Letters to Misty: How to move through Life with Confidence and Grace," she's continuing to help others. "It feels amazing to have young people come to me and trust me with these things that are — can be very sensitive matters," she said. In an interview with "CBS Mornings," Copeland said the book is not just for dancers. It offers advice to young readers on issues like body image and friendship, based on letters she's received from fans throughout her career. "It's specifically for young people that, you know, I think are coming of age … dealing with confidence issues or just navigating through life, relationships, with their parents, with their friends, figuring out who it is they want to be." Copeland took her first ballet lesson at 13 years old and never thought she would become someone that people come to for advice, describing herself as introverted. "I feel like that's what I think people are drawn to is that I've always been someone who observes and I listen and I think that that's just my nature so people feel comfortable sharing things with me," Copeland said. "It's not just been through letters, it's young people that just come up to me. I mean, on the street and they hug me and they want to tell me everything and I'm like, this is amazing to be in a position — a trusted position." Copeland said it's been important for her to be vulnerable and connect to her audiences by sharing her own life experiences. "I mean, we get really personal. We're talking about going through puberty, just what young people experience, what it is to have a friend for a period of time and then not have them in your life anymore, and make that decision whether or not there's someone that's going to bring value to your life." For 25 years, she's been a professional dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. Copeland said she is grateful for dance education and diversity in the arts. "You may be all doing the same choreography, choreography from the 1800s, but someone who's from Argentina grew up listening to different types of music and eating a different type of food and this choreography is going to come out of them and be completely different from someone who grew up in Ohio. … That's what's beautiful about the complexity of diversity." While she hasn't performed for five years — and welcomed her first child — Copeland revealed she's working on a return. "It's happening. It's happening. I'm back in the studio. I'm getting back in shape and gearing up for something to come," she said. "Letters to Misty" goes on sale on Tuesday.
