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San Francisco Chronicle
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Ronstadt tribute concert to feature Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood
An all-star lineup of country and rock luminaries is expected to gather in Nashville this summer to honor one of music's most boundary-breaking voices. Trisha Yearwood, Emmylou Harris, Patti Scialfa, Rodney Crowell and James Taylor are slated to perform in a tribute concert celebrating Linda Ronstadt and the Los Angeles country-rock scene on July 22 at the CMA Theater. The event pays homage to Ronstadt, whose soaring vocals and genre-defying catalog made her a defining figure of the 1970s country-rock movement. 'Linda Ronstadt is a big reason I wanted to be a singer,' Yearwood said in a statement. 'I'm honored to be a part of celebrating Linda and this incredible era of music that is such an important part of the history of country music.' The evening will spotlight Ronstadt's enduring influence through performances of her songs and other country-rock classics. It also highlights her deep connections to several of the performers. Crowell, Harris and Taylor — all award-winning artists in their own right — were key contributors to the genre's rise. Scialfa, a longtime member of Bruce Springsteen 's E Street Band, will also lend her voice to the celebration. The concert is presented in conjunction with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibition 'Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock.' Ronstadt has not performed publicly since losing her voice to a rare neurological disorder in 2012. Still, her influence remains profound — especially for Yearwood, who commemorated her at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors with a performance of the 1974 hit 'You're No Good' that moved her husband, Garth Brooks, to tears and earned a standing ovation from Ronstadt. 'To be a part of honoring Linda at the Kennedy Center last night was a lifelong dream fulfilled,' Yearwood later wrote on Instagram. 'Thank you, Linda for teaching me through your life and music to trust myself and follow my instincts. I love you.' Though Ronstadt spent her early years in Tucson, Ariz. and the Rio Sonora region of Northern Mexico and rose to fame in Los Angeles, she has lived in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood for the past three decades. To mark her 78th birthday last year, the city's Board of Supervisors officially declared a Linda Ronstadt Day in her honor.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Biden ‘couldn't recognize A-list actor standing right in front of him & aide forced to intervene' in ‘startling' moment
JOE Biden failed to recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser as the A-list actor stood right in front of him, according to insiders. Witnesses called it a "startling" moment as Biden's aide was forced to intervene multiple times to remind Biden who the Hollywood icon was. Advertisement 2 Joe Biden reportedly couldn't remember the name of a popular actor and longtime friend who was standing right in front of him Credit: AP 2 Biden had known George Clooney for over two decades Credit: Refer to Caption The concerning incident involving Clooney and Biden emerged in a new book, Original Sin, by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson. Reflecting on Biden's 2024 presidential campaign, they wrote about how Biden blanked on who Clooney was at the fundraiser hosted by the actor for the Democratic candidate's re-election. The authors described Biden as looking 'severely diminished, as if he'd aged a decade since Clooney last saw him in December 2022" in an excerpt of the book obtained by They detailed how he took tiny steps as an aide guided him through the room during the June 15 event. Advertisement READ MORE NEWS He'd just gotten back from the G-7 leaders' summit in Italy that morning. 'It was like watching someone who was not alive,' a Hollywood source said in the book. 'It was startling. And we all looked at each other. It was so awful.' Biden had been greeting guests with a polite "thank you for being here," when he approached Clooney, who he's known for nearly two decades. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Like the others, Biden thanked Clooney for being there. Sensing something was amiss, Biden's assistant reportedly told him, 'You know George.' Joe Biden Faces New Health Concern After Prostate Exam Discovery "Yeah, yeah,' Biden said back - with the authors noting Clooney is one of the most recognizable men in the world and the host of the fundraiser. 'Hi, Mr. President,' Clooney said. Advertisement 'How are ya?' Biden replied. Clooney asked how his trip was and Biden said fine - but the authors insisted it seemed as if Biden didn't recognize Clooney. 'George Clooney,' his aide said again. 'Oh, yeah! Hi, George,' Biden replied. Advertisement Clooney was left extremely concerned and the author's source at the party added, "It was not OK." LAST MEETING Biden had last seen Clooney in December 2022 at the Kennedy Center Honors. 'Mentors—he mentors these—those historic kids from Parkland on their march and their lives—against gun violence,' Biden said at the event. 'I met with every one of those kids, and they really appreciate what you did, George. Not a joke.' Advertisement The actor continued defending the then-president until Biden's disastrous performance at the first presidential election on June 27, 2024. During the debate, Biden stumbled over his words and looked disassociated while arguing with Donald Trump. The former president went on an interview with George Stephanopoulos to try to amend the situation, but it only made matters worse. Days after the fiasco, on July 10, Clooney wrote a New York Times op-ed letter calling for Biden to drop out of the election. Advertisement "The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010,' Clooney wrote. 'He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate." Timeline of Biden's failed re-election bid President Joe Biden endured weeks of calls to step aside before he announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Here are key developments leading up to his decision. June 27: Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump sparks calls for him to step aside. His voice was raspy and he trailed off several times after having already endured questions about his age and mental capacity following a series of blunders at public events. July 2: Polls after the debate indicate that Trump is pulling ahead. Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett was the first Democratic congressman to publicly urge Biden to drop his bid for re-election, and big Democratic donors issued the same call a day later. July 5: Biden does a live TV interview with George Stephanopoulos where he tries to quell fears about his age and debate performance. He called the debate "bad night" and said he was under the weather and "exhausted." July 10: Vermont Senator Peter Welch becomes the first senator to call for Biden to drop out. July 11: Biden refers to Ukrainian President Zelensky as President Putin at a NATO event. July 13: Trump is shot at a campaign rally by a wannabe assassin. His popularity and favorability rating soared after he was seen bloodied on stage but walked off with a fist in the air, telling the crowd to "fight!" July 17: California Representative Adam Schiff and a series of other Democrats call for Biden to step aside. Even former President Barack Obama tells allies that Biden's path to victory has "greatly diminished." Biden tests positive for Covid-19 hours after saying he would consider ending his bid if he were diagnosed with "some medical issue." July 19: Biden insists he will continue campaigning in his first statement since Obama's U-turn, despite reports that he would decide to drop out by the weekend. July 21: Just before 2 pm, Biden announces he is stepping aside in the 2024 election and endorses Vice President Kamala Harris. The actor wrote that Biden's interview with the ABC host 'only reinforced' the fact that the candidate was not fit to be president. "The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. Advertisement "None of us can,' Clooney concluded. On July 21, Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee for president. Tapper and Thompson's book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, goes on sale on May 20, 2025.
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Biden ‘couldn't recognize A-list actor standing right in front of him & aide forced to intervene' in ‘startling' moment
TROUBLING SIGN Biden 'couldn't recognize A-list actor standing right in front of him & aide forced to intervene' in 'startling' moment JOE Biden failed to recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser as the A-list actor stood right in front of him, according to insiders. Witnesses called it a "startling" moment as Biden's aide was forced to intervene, even calling the then-president "severely diminished." 2 Joe Biden reportedly couldn't remember the name of a popular actor and longtime friend who was standing right in front of him Credit: AP 2 Biden had known George Clooney for over two decades Credit: Refer to Caption The concerning incident involving Clooney and Biden emerged in a new book, Original Sin, by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson. Reflecting on Biden's 2024 presidential campaign, they wrote about how Biden blanked on who Clooney was at the fundraiser hosted by the actor for the Democratic candidate's re-election. The authors described Biden as looking 'severely diminished, as if he'd aged a decade since Clooney last saw him in December 2022" in an excerpt of the book obtained by The New Yorker. They detailed how he took tiny steps as an aide guided him through the room during the June 15 event. He'd just gotten back from the G-7 leaders' summit in Italy that morning. 'It was like watching someone who was not alive,' a Hollywood source said in the book. 'It was startling. And we all looked at each other. It was so awful.' Biden had been greeting guests with a polite "thank you for being here," when he approached Clooney, who he's known for nearly two decades. Like the others, Biden thanked Clooney for being there. Sensing something was amiss, Biden's assistant reportedly told him, 'You know George.' Joe Biden Faces New Health Concern After Prostate Exam Discovery "Yeah, yeah,' Biden said back - with the authors noting Clooney is one of the most recognizable men in the world and the host of the fundraiser. 'Hi, Mr. President,' Clooney said. 'How are ya?' Biden replied. Clooney asked how his trip was and Biden said fine - but the authors insisted it seemed as if Biden didn't recognize Clooney. 'George Clooney,' his aide said again. 'Oh, yeah! Hi, George,' Biden replied. Clooney was left extremely concerned and the author's source at the party added, "It was not OK." LAST MEETING Biden had last seen Clooney in December 2022 at the Kennedy Center Honors. 'Mentors—he mentors these—those historic kids from Parkland on their march and their lives—against gun violence,' Biden said at the event. 'I met with every one of those kids, and they really appreciate what you did, George. Not a joke.' The actor continued defending the then-president until Biden's disastrous performance at the first presidential election on June 27, 2024. During the debate, Biden stumbled over his words and looked disassociated while arguing with Donald Trump. The former president went on an interview with George Stephanopoulos to try to amend the situation, but it only made matters worse. Days after the fiasco, on July 10, Clooney wrote a New York Times op-ed letter calling for Biden to drop out of the election. "The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010,' Clooney wrote. 'He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate." Timeline of Biden's failed re-election bid President Joe Biden endured weeks of calls to step aside before he announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Here are key developments leading up to his decision. June 27: Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump sparks calls for him to step aside. His voice was raspy and he trailed off several times after having already endured questions about his age and mental capacity following a series of blunders at public events. July 2: Polls after the debate indicate that Trump is pulling ahead. Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett was the first Democratic congressman to publicly urge Biden to drop his bid for re-election, and big Democratic donors issued the same call a day later. July 5: Biden does a live TV interview with George Stephanopoulos where he tries to quell fears about his age and debate performance. He called the debate "bad night" and said he was under the weather and "exhausted." July 10: Vermont Senator Peter Welch becomes the first senator to call for Biden to drop out. July 11: Biden refers to Ukrainian President Zelensky as President Putin at a NATO event. July 13: Trump is shot at a campaign rally by a wannabe assassin. His popularity and favorability rating soared after he was seen bloodied on stage but walked off with a fist in the air, telling the crowd to "fight!" July 17: California Representative Adam Schiff and a series of other Democrats call for Biden to step aside. Even former President Barack Obama tells allies that Biden's path to victory has "greatly diminished." Biden tests positive for Covid-19 hours after saying he would consider ending his bid if he were diagnosed with "some medical issue." July 19: Biden insists he will continue campaigning in his first statement since Obama's U-turn, despite reports that he would decide to drop out by the weekend. July 21: Just before 2 pm, Biden announces he is stepping aside in the 2024 election and endorses Vice President Kamala Harris. The actor wrote that Biden's interview with the ABC host 'only reinforced' the fact that the candidate was not fit to be president. "The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. "None of us can,' Clooney concluded. On July 21, Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee for president. Tapper and Thompson's book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, goes on sale on May 20, 2025.
Black America Web
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Soul Brothers: 10 Black Male Singers We Lost This Decade
Christian Rose It never gets easy saying goodbye to the music icons of our culture. Some singers we lost prematurely, either right before they were about to show us their best talents or in the midst of their rise to the top of the charts. Others actually got the chance to live fruitful lives and reach an apex in their career that gives their posthumous legend status merit. Either way, the loss is felt immensely each time. 10 years ago to the day (May 14), we experienced just that when blues legend B.B. King tragically passed away from vascular dementia after suffering a handful of small strokes resulting from his type 2 diabetes. The only thing that makes it bittersweet is that he left us peacefully in his sleep. No matter how long it's been, the world will forever remember the name B.B. King. RELATED: RIP: Black Singers Who Died in the Last 10 Years There aren't many musicians who can make claim to what King was able to accomplish in his 89 years of life. He's released a whopping 48 studio albums that span from his debut LP in 1957 to the final one released during his lifetime in 2008, which went on to win the GRAMMY for 'Best Traditional Blues Album' back in 2009. Speaking of GRAMMY trophies, the guy has an impressive 15 wins under his belt that range from 'Best Male R&B Vocal Performance,' his first one back in 1970, to the six times he won in the aforementioned 'Best Traditional Blues Album' category. His accolades also include a Blues Hall of Fame induction in 1980, getting added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement that same year, Kennedy Center Honors in 1995 and, while he was still alive, a Living Legend Medal from The Library of Congress at the turn of the century just to name a very small few of his honorific achievements. Although 'the thrill is gone' when it comes to having King here in the physical, we will always remember the music he gave us and the inspiration as a Black male in music who defied the odds and became extraordinary. Reminiscing on the 10-year anniversary of a fallen icon had us thinking about a handful of other male soul singers who we lost over the last 10 years. From the ones who are still living in our hearts and on our airwaves to a few that may be a bit more unsung, we implore you to look these men up and their timeless music if you truly want to put yourself onto greatness. We miss each of them in a way that's unique to what each fella contributed to the culture, and we can only hope this continues their respective legacies. SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
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Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Joe Biden reportedly failed to recognise George Clooney at 2024 fundraiser
President Joe Biden reportedly did not recognise longtime friend George Clooney during a June 2024 fundraiser, according to claims in the upcoming book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. The incident is cited as a key moment in growing concerns over Biden's mental fitness during his re-election campaign. As reported by Variety and The New Yorker, Clooney — who had last seen Biden at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors — was 'shaken' when the president failed to identify him without prompting at the high-profile event. The fundraiser, co-headlined by Clooney and Julia Roberts, raised at least $28 million for the Biden campaign. Clooney had already expressed concerns about Biden's health, including reports from a White House aide about efforts to improve his mobility. But the 2024 encounter led Clooney to believe the problem was 'much graver.' The book also describes Biden as appearing 'slow and almost catatonic' during the event, displaying noticeable signs of cognitive decline. The incident, combined with Biden's poor June 27 debate performance, reportedly prompted Clooney to write a New York Times op-ed urging him to withdraw from the race. Original Sin, published by Penguin Press, is set for release on May 20 and offers a behind-the-scenes look at internal Democratic concerns leading up to Biden's eventual exit from the 2024 presidential race.
