Latest news with #KennedyCenterHonors
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
House panel votes to rename DC opera house after Melania Trump
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives quietly took a step Tuesday toward renaming the Kennedy Center's iconic opera house after first lady Melania Trump. Language inaugurating the Melania Trump Opera House was tucked by Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) into an amendment to a government funding bill that cleared the House Appropriations Committee. 'Naming the Opera House at the Kennedy Center after [Melania Trump] is an excellent way to recognize the first lady's appreciation for the arts,' Simpson declared after lawmakers approved the amendment. Advertisement 'I am proud to honor her support and commitment in promoting the arts and humanities.' 3 The measure is intended to honor First Lady Melania Trump's 'commitment in promoting the arts.' Getty Images Advertisement 3 President Trump has dramatically shaken up the Kennedy Center during his second term in the White House. AP The amendment cleared the Appropriations panel by a 33-25 vote, with Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) joining Republicans in backing it. The opera house, one of three major performing venues at the waterfront complex which opened in 1971, seats 2,347 patrons and is the home theater of the Washington National Opera as well as the site of the televised Kennedy Center Honors every December. Back in February, President Trump declared himself the chairman of the Kennedy Center and retooled its Board of Trustees. Advertisement 'Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth – THIS WILL STOP,' Trump proclaimed on Truth Social at the time. 'The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' Last month, the president and first lady attended a performance of 'Les Misérables,' whose show-stopper 'Can You Hear The People Sing?' has been featured at Trump's campaign rallies. 3 Rep. Mike Simpson's amendment cleared the Appropriations Committee, but it is unclear whether it will become law. AP The House Appropriations Committee advanced its government funding bill for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations, which is one of 12 bills Congress needs to pass by Oct. 1 to fund the government. Advertisement But that bill, which funds agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the US Forest Service, still needs to clear the full House and the Senate, where Democrats can filibuster. Simpson's amendment is the latest in a series of Republican tributes to the president. In January, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced a bill to put Trump's face on Mount Rushmore. Several weeks later, freshman Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) unveiled a proposal to put the 45th and 47th president's face on the $100 bill. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced legislation in February to designate Trump's birthday — June 14 — a national holiday, while Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) pushed a measure to enable Trump to run for a third term. In May, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) proposed a bill to block federal funds for the Washington, DC underground transit system until it renames the Metrorail as the 'TRUMP TRAIN.' Multiple Republicans have also called for Trump to be given a Nobel Peace Prize for his foreign policy successes.
The Hill
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
House GOP move to rename Kennedy Center's Opera House after Melania Trump
The Kennedy Center's famed Opera House could be renamed to honor Melania Trump, if House Republicans have their way. House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the Interior, Environment and related agencies annual spending bill that would rename the Opera House in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the 'First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.' The panel voted 33-25 on Tuesday to approve the amendment, which was part of a series of others. The push to pay homage to the first lady came months after President Trump, in an unprecedented move that was met with some criticism, overhauled the Kennedy Center's board and named himself as its chair after accusing the performing arts institution of being too 'woke.' Both the president and Melania Trump — who bucked tradition during his first term in office and declined to take part in the annual Kennedy Center Honors — attended the opening night performance of 'Les Misérables' at the Washington arts hub last month. Neither representatives for the Kennedy Center nor the first lady's office immediately responded to ITK's request for comment about the Opera House's potential name change. It remains unclear when GOP leaders plan to put the legislation, with the amendment, on the floor for a vote of the full chamber. With more than 2,300 seats, the Opera House is the second-largest theater at the Kennedy Center and often hosts its headline performances. 'Over the years, the Opera House has welcomed dozens of the world's great dance and opera companies and has hosted some of the most important artistic events of the last quarter century,' according to the Kennedy Center.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Stephen Colbert's life and career, from 'Daily Show' to 'Late Show' cancelation
One of the biggest moments in Stephen Colbert's life and career will forever be a choice somebody else made for him. Following his July 17 revelation that CBS was canceling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after one more season, headlines blazed about Colbert. Was the show canceled because late night TV is a relic of the past? Was the cancelation politically motivated? What does this mean for the future of the industry? What does it mean for Stephen Colbert? The highly successful and popular comedian, 61, has been an institution in late night TV for nearly three decades, starting in the weird world of sketch comedy and eventually making his way to a desk first occupied by the legendary David Letterman. Over his career he has mocked President George W. Bush to his face at an infamous White House Correspondents Dinner, held a Washington, D.C. rally with friend and colleague Jon Stewart, published books, hosted award shows and the Kennedy Center Honors, won 10 Emmy awards, two Grammy Awards and five Peabody Awards. He has even gotten his own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor. Colbert may only have 10 months left at CBS hosting "Late Show" in the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater, but that doesn't mean the prolific entertainer is likely done. Here's a look back at his career, personal life and biggest moments. How did Stephen Colbert get started in comedy? Colbert got his start in Chicago's Second City Comedy Troupe, which also was the launchpad for such famous faces as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, John Candy, Steve Carrell, Mike Myers and many more. Colbert was a member of the group in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and met comedians Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello, with whom he would later work on Comedy Central series "Exit 57" (1995-1996) and "Strangers with Candy" (1999-2000). He auditioned for "Saturday Night Live" twice but never made the cut (you can find footage of his auditions in the recent Peacock documentary "SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night"). 'Stephen Colbert' joins 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert' Report His big break came when he joined the cast of "The Daily Show" in 1997, while it was still hosted by Craig Kilborn. When Jon Stewart took over as host in 1999, it became more overtly political. Colbert soon developed a character for himself, a parody of conservative political pundits loosely based on Bill O'Reilly, then on Fox News. He was a staple on "Daily" until 2005, when the popularity of his character led to the creation of spinoff "The Colbert Report." Colbert hosted "Report" from 2005-2014 as "Stephen Colbert," in his trademark frameless spectacles and with a fierce commitment to never breaking character, no matter what news he was covering. It more directly satirized elements of cable-personality news opinion shows like "The O'Reilly Factor," "Hannity" and "Glenn Beck" that dominated Fox News in that era. While he hosted "Report," Colbert's fame and popularity surged and led to some of his biggest career moments. In 2006 he was asked to host the White House Correspondents Dinner, and used that platform to lambast the president and the media that were gathered in front of him. "I stand by this man because he stands for things," said Colbert, in his character as his pundit persona. "Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound – with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world." In 2010 he and Comedy Central colleague Stewart each held rallies in Washington, D.C., aimed at satirizing Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally. Stewart hosted the "Rally to Restore Sanity" while Colbert's event was the "March to Keep Fear Alive." The events were eventually merged into the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear," attracting an estimated 215,000 people, according to CBS News. Colbert took over for David Letterman in 2015 But "Stephen Colbert" was left behind and the real Stephen Colbert emerged in 2014, as CBS announced that David Letterman would be retiring from his desk at "The Late Show," which he had manned on the network since 1993. The former Comedy Central star made the move to network TV in 2015, when the first episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" aired on Sept. 8. Colbert's version of the show was, unsurprising to anyone who had followed his career, far more overtly political than Letterman's iteration. While the original "Late Show" host had a fascination with celebrity and Hollywood, Colbert kept his monologues largely focused on Washington and world events, though his guests were mostly the usual parade of actors, musicians and directors hawking their latest projects. He was able to wrangle far more politicians, lawmakers and newscasters to his couch, including Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who was a guest on the July 17 episode in which Colbert announced the fateful cancelation news. Colbert's political slant was often a boon to ratings and publicity for CBS, which frequently gave the host special live shows and specials on the network and sister premium network Showtime coinciding with big political events, including the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and election nights. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colbert remained an active host, initially for surreal audience-less episodes at the Ed Sullivan Theater, and then from his home. Colbert's personal life has included grief, love and faith Colbert, who was born the youngest of 11 children from a devout Roman Catholic household, has been open about his faith throughout his time behind the desk. He met and married his wife of 31 years, Evelyn "Evie" McGee Colbert in 1993, and the pair share three children: Madeleine, Peter and John. Evelyn has been a feature on "Late Night," particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and around major holidays. The comedian lost two of his older brothers and his father in plane crash when he was just 10. The 1974 accident killed over 70 passengers. "There's this big break in the cable of my memory at their death. Everything before that has got an odd, ghostly tone," Colbert told Anderson Cooper in 2019. What does 'The Late Show' cancelation mean for Colbert's future? Colbert himself had very little to say about the decision by CBS and its parent company, Paramount. "It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of 'The Late Show' on CBS. I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away," he said after audible boos from his in-studio audience, going on to thank the audience and many people involved in making the show. "Let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it, and it's a job that I'm looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months. It's going to be fun!" He has not, as of yet, offered any details about what his next steps are, beyond finishing the last 10 months of "Late Show." Contributing: Anna Kaufman
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News fact-checks the story of her own engagement: ‘True'
Jacqui Heinrich, senior White House correspondent for Fox News, just vetted the story of her own engagement to U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick on Tuesday. The verdict? It ain't fake news. The Pennsylvania Republican asked Heinrich for her hand in marriage in a lavender field in Provence, France, according to People. Promoting that story, the journalist wrote on X, "Fact check: true." Then she tacked on a couple of appropriately lovey emojis. "The cooking was the dealmaker. Congrats Jacqui!" Fox News contributor Joe Concha said in comments. Chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst chimed in with, "Love this news," while Jessica Tarlov, who speaks for Democrats on "The Five," wrote, "Ahhhhhh congratulations!!!" Fitzpatrick popped the question on June 29, People reported, before he had to hustle back to vote on the just-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. His inspiration came from something Heinrich told the Boston Globe last summer, ahead of the 2024 election: "I've always dreamed of eating my way through the French Riviera and Provence, with sun-drenched days at the lavender fields punctuated by crisp wines and salty butter." So Fitzpatrick, 51, booked a summer trip to France as a birthday gift for Heinrich, who turns 37 in November. But the journalist was concerned, she told the celebrity outlet, that her beau would have to cut the trip short to vote against Trump's bill, which the president signed into law on July 4. Did Fitzpatrick want to postpone the trip, she wondered? "He was like, 'We are going. We're going to the lavender fields. All I want is to see the lavender fields at sunrise,'" she told People. "All the time I've known this man, he has never been desperate to see a field of flowers at dawn. So I had a feeling that [a proposal] was the goal." What was supposed to be a 10-day trip was whittled down to only a couple of days. After arriving in Nice, France, they drove two hours in darkness to catch the sunrise in the town of Valensole, known for its lavender and truffles. The town is built into a hill overlooking a small river valley, and a lavender festival is held there annually on the third Sunday in July. But the OBBBA waited for no sweet-smelling shrub, so attending the festival was definitely out. Fitzpatrick had an agenda. He stopped at one particular lavender field and suggested Heinrich go for a stroll while he took some photos of her, she told People. As she took in the view, a photographer and a drone appeared, she said, and Fitzpatrick was asking her to marry him and presenting a ring he had procured from her family's longtime jeweler. The photos, as seen on the outlet's website, are lovely. Heinrich, who has been dating Fitzpatrick since the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors, said yes. "I love his brain," Heinrich told People of her fiance, a five-term congressman who was previously an FBI special agent and federal prosecutor. Fitzpatrick was also embedded with U.S. Special Forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to his biography. "I love the way he approaches problem-solving and solving complex issues. He's strong and a man of faith, who brings me closer to God.," Heinrich said. "He's sweet and gentle and kind - all of the easy qualities in a person that just make him a joy to be around and life brighter." There's also a handy little bonus in this pairing, as revealed on the congressman's website: Should Heinrich find herself in need of an attorney, a certified public accountant or an emergency medical technician, she's definitely covered, because Fitzpatrick is licensed as all three. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jacqui Heinrich of Fox News fact-checks the story of her own engagement: 'True'
Jacqui Heinrich, senior White House correspondent for Fox News, just vetted the story of her own engagement to U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick on Tuesday. The verdict? It ain't fake news. The Pennsylvania Republican asked Heinrich for her hand in marriage in a lavender field in Provence, France, according to People. Promoting that story, the journalist wrote on X, "Fact check: true." Then she tacked on a couple of appropriately lovey emojis. Read more: Kayleigh McEnany of Fox News has a new baby. Big sis is thrilled; big bro not so much "The cooking was the dealmaker. Congrats Jacqui!" Fox News contributor Joe Concha said in comments. Chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst chimed in with, "Love this news," while Jessica Tarlov, who speaks for Democrats on "The Five," wrote, "Ahhhhhh congratulations!!!" Fitzpatrick popped the question on June 29, People reported, before he had to hustle back to vote on the just-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. His inspiration came from something Heinrich told the Boston Globe last summer, ahead of the 2024 election: "I've always dreamed of eating my way through the French Riviera and Provence, with sun-drenched days at the lavender fields punctuated by crisp wines and salty butter." So Fitzpatrick, 51, booked a summer trip to France as a birthday gift for Heinrich, who turns 37 in November. But the journalist was concerned, she told the celebrity outlet, that her beau would have to cut the trip short to vote against Trump's bill, which the president signed into law on July 4. Did Fitzpatrick want to postpone the trip, she wondered? "He was like, 'We are going. We're going to the lavender fields. All I want is to see the lavender fields at sunrise,'" she told People. "All the time I've known this man, he has never been desperate to see a field of flowers at dawn. So I had a feeling that [a proposal] was the goal." Read more: Chrisleys tell Lara Trump: Learning they had been pardoned wasn't as simple as all that What was supposed to be a 10-day trip was whittled down to only a couple of days. After arriving in Nice, France, they drove two hours in darkness to catch the sunrise in the town of Valensole, known for its lavender and truffles. The town is built into a hill overlooking a small river valley, and a lavender festival is held there annually on the third Sunday in July. But the OBBBA waited for no sweet-smelling shrub, so attending the festival was definitely out. Fitzpatrick had an agenda. He stopped at one particular lavender field and suggested Heinrich go for a stroll while he took some photos of her, she told People. As she took in the view, a photographer and a drone appeared, she said, and Fitzpatrick was asking her to marry him and presenting a ring he had procured from her family's longtime jeweler. The photos, as seen on the outlet's website, are lovely. Heinrich, who has been dating Fitzpatrick since the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors, said yes. Read more: Fox News' Kat Timpf returns from maternity leave to a warm bath of Greg Gutfeld's mockery "I love his brain," Heinrich told People of her fiance, a five-term congressman who was previously an FBI special agent and federal prosecutor. Fitzpatrick was also embedded with U.S. Special Forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to his biography. "I love the way he approaches problem-solving and solving complex issues. He's strong and a man of faith, who brings me closer to God.," Heinrich said. "He's sweet and gentle and kind — all of the easy qualities in a person that just make him a joy to be around and life brighter." There's also a handy little bonus in this pairing, as revealed on the congressman's website: Should Heinrich find herself in need of an attorney, a certified public accountant or an emergency medical technician, she's definitely covered, because Fitzpatrick is licensed as all three. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyone's talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
