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Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here Are the Performers for the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala
Susanna Hoffs, Muni Long and more have been added to the lineup for the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame gala, presented jointly by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. The event is set for Friday (May 16) at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. – the site of the first Grammy Awards ceremony in 1959. Performances will pay tribute to the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings, which were announced on Feb. 13. More from Billboard Recordings by Jay-Z, Santana, Miami Sound Machine and More Inducted Into Grammy Hall of Fame: Full List Andy Bell Confirms His Place in Reunited Oasis Lineup Snoop Dogg Drops 'Iz It a Crime' Album Featuring Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa & Pharrell: Stream It Now Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles will perform Cat Stevens' 'Wild World' from the singer-songwriter's 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. Emmylou Harris, her producer Daniel Lanois, and jazz drummer Brian Blade will perform selections from Harris' 1995 album Wrecking Ball. Leslie Odom Jr. will perform the title track from Luther Vandross' 1981 album, Never Too Much. Ledisi will perform Clara Ward's 1951 song 'How I Got Over.' Latin Grammy nominee Leslie Grace will deliver Miami Sound Machine's 1985 breakthrough hit, 'Conga.' Percussionist Cindy Blackman and guitarist Orianthi, joined by longtime Santana band member Andy Vargas, will perform Santana's 'Smooth' from the band's 1999 album Supernatural; Blackman is married to Carlos Santana. Eddie Floyd and Jody Stephens, drummer of iconic power-pop band Big Star will perform Floyd's 1966 hit 'Knock on Wood.' Stephens is also expected to perform a track from Big Star's 1972 album #1 Record. The other five 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings are: J.D. Crowe & The New South's J.D. Crowe & The New South; Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt; Fela Kuti & Afrika 70's Zombie; Linda Martell's 'Color Him Father';and Geeshie Wiley's 'Last Kind Words Blues.' In addition, John Mellencamp, Conan Gray and Long will perform as part of a tribute to this year's label honoree, Republic Records. Atlantic Records was the initial label honoree at last year's gala, which marked the first time there was a stand-alone event to honor the inducted recordings. Last year's gala was held at the Novo Theatre at L.A. Live. Jon Batiste, the inaugural recipient of the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, will also perform. This new annual honor, created in partnership with The Ray Charles Foundation, recognizes an artist whose creative legacy reflects the visionary innovation of Ray Charles. Returning as host is CBS News journalist Anthony Mason. The show will again be produced by Ken Ehrlich, alongside Ron Basile, Lindsay Saunders Carl and Lynne Sheridan. Ehrlich produced or executive produced the annual Grammy Awards telecast for 40 years. Cheche Alara, a Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer, producer and conductor, will serve as musical director for the event. This year's additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame meet the main requirements – they exhibit 'qualitative or historical significance' and are at least 25 years old. Eligible artist(s), producer(s), engineer(s), and mixer(s) of these 13 recordings will receive a certificate from the Recording Academy. The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's national trustees in 1973. Inducted recordings are selected annually by a member committee drawn from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the academy's national board of trustees. Counting these 13 new titles, the Grammy Hall of Fame totals 1,165 inducted recordings. The full list of past inducted recordings can be found here. The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala serves as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum's national education programs. It includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and concert program. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $1,250. For more information, visit this site. An online auction is currently underway, featuring a collection of guitars signed by such artists as Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Chris Martin, Sabrina Carpenter, and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars. They are also auctioning off platinum tickets to the 68th Grammy Awards and more. Proceeds will benefit the Grammy Museum's education programs. For more information, visit this site. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cass County home school kids dance the night away during prom
Home school kids know how to party. Friday night, April 11, over 50 home school students gathered together inside the Cass County 4-H Fairgrounds Community Center to celebrate prom. The event was planned by the Fountain of Life Home School Support Group with input and help from the students and other home school parents. Students were treated to a large pasta dinner and afterwards, at approximately 6 p.m., the lights went down in the community center and the dancing began. Whether it was forming a circling conga line for the Miami Sound Machine or getting down to Taylor Swift's sick beat, the kids were lightening on their feet Friday night. Only a month ago, Logansport High School students milled around the dance floor during their prom, sporadically bursting into dance throughout the night. Cass County's home school kids could teach them a lesson. As of now, the county home schoolers are in first place for best area prom. Up next is Pioneer on May 3. Options and flexibility 'People think home schoolers are weird and yes, we are weird,' Cara Mills, one of the parents who helped organize the prom, laughed. 'We're just real comfortable in our skins and we enjoy what we do and we enjoy our families.' The John Hopkins University Institute for Education Policy reported that in 2022-23, 6.88% of K-12 students in Indiana were homeschooled, placing the state at 13th in the nation when it came to home schooling according to The number increased to 7.58% in the 2023-24 school year. Home school numbers appear to be increasing across the nation since COVID, according to data presented by the National Home Education Research Institute. For many families, the flexibility that comes with home schooling makes it an appealing choice. Home schooling looks different for each family. Parents with younger children may be more hands on while those with teens can depend on their children to manage more on their own. Mills has raised three of her four children through home schooling. Her youngest, Taylor, is now a junior. Mills said when her children were younger a typical day would begin at 8 a.m. and her children were normally finished with school work for the day by lunch. Then they would spend the afternoon on their chores and taking care of their animals and helping around the family farm. 'The nice thing about home schooling is the freedom that it provides,' Mills said. 'The kids had opportunities to do things that sometimes public schoolers don't have because they are tied to a desk.' Her oldest son, Thomas, attends a chiropractic school at Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri. Her other son, Jeffrey, completed welding certification classes through Ivy Tech and is now working on the family farm. Her daughter, Bailey, is a freshman studying nursing at IUK and is also the reigning Miss Oktoberfest queen. Taylor wants to be a licensed practical nurse and a massage therapist. She's currently taking dual-credit courses through Ivy Tech. 'There are a lot of opportunities (in home schooling) that people might not know about,' said Lara Speitel, one of the parents who helped prepare the prom dinner. 'There's a lot of flexibility. We can take vacations when others can't. We can take our spring break during a different week when things aren't as crowded. There are a lot of options in what classes we can teach as long as its similar education-wise to what they learn in public school.' When asked what their favorite thing about home schooling is, many of the parents say that it's the fact they get to spend more time with their children. 'I like that I get to be with my kids more,' said Speitel. 'See who they are, see their personalities.' Brittany Ely said that she home schools her children up until eighth grade and then they enroll in public school. A mother of four, she said because of that extra time with her children it felt emotionally easier when her son left to attend college at Indiana State to study professional flight for a career as a pilot. Mills said the lack of socialization opportunities for students is one of the biggest myths that circulates about home schooling. 'We are very, very social,' she said. 'We were part of a home school cooperative when the kids were younger. We were part of home school support groups that got together for field trips and parties. We're involved with 4-H and a lot of community organizations. And if the kids missed their friends we just said 'let's have a creek day' and their friends would come over and play in the creek and we would catch crawdads and minnows.' Once a month the students will meet at the YMCA and organize their own games and activities. Afterward, they might visit a local restaurant for food and to hang out with their friends longer. They might do things like go to the park or bowl. 'Obviously, as you can see, they are very socialized,' said Ely, sweeping her hand across a room full of home school students chatting and laughing together. 'We do gather often for social events. We don't just sit at home and lock the doors and stay away from people.' She said there would be a variety of personalities on display during the prom, that the kids didn't feel the pressure to conform to a certain way of behavior that public school kids might. 'I think that's probably the difference between home school and public schools,' she said. ' (Home school) kids don't feel so much that someone is going to make fun of them.' 'We're a little weird, a little dorky but it's something to be celebrated, I think,' said Mills. Shake it off There was no prom for Cara Mills when she was home schooled. She recalled being a little crushed. 'A lot of families in my home school group when I was growing up were rather conservative, a lot of German Baptists and they didn't think it was appropriate,' she said. For Mills, the prom is an opportunity to make sure her own children have the chance to dress up and dance the night away with their friends. The first dance was in 2019. It moved into the fairground community center in 2022. 'I think it's a great opportunity for them that they might not have otherwise,' said Speitel. 'The kids look forward to it all year. They enjoy seeing all their friends in one spot.' The theme of the prom was enchanted forest, voted on by the students over social media, and the community center was decorated in shades of greens. A ring of green and gold balloons stood in the back where the kids could take prom photos. As the prom approached Mills posted videos of different songs and the corresponding dances so that the students could learn learn them ahead of time and be ready for the big day. Music was provided by Kevin Price. Ely said that a lot of the kids that came to the prom just show up on their own or with friends. A few will ask a date to go with them. Bo Wiseley, 11, sat at a circular table, sparkling in his golden jacket, charming six young ladies. It was his first prom but he was already behaving like a pro. Was he going to dance with all of those girls? 'Possibly,' he shrugged. To have the confidence of an 11-year-old. Wisely was the coolest kid in Cass County Friday night. 'Having this opportunity to just dress nice, look all fancy, look like queens and kings, it's amazing,' said Taylor Mills. Students could vote for prom king and queen during the night. Since there are more age groups involved at the home school prom, there is a rule that winners can't compete again so that other students have a chance at the title. This year's prom king and queen were Dalton Lendman and Aryella Torkelson. 'I love this,' Bailey Mills said. 'My mom never got a prom when she was younger. She didn't want that for us but I think she just likes to see people come together and have fun and hang out.' The Mills sisters were front and center on the dance floor, often dancing on their own, making the moves up as they go. There were no tiny caterpillars clutching the community center walls hoping not to be noticed Friday night. They were all social butterflies, soaring and swirling and beautiful. 'I love how even the kids who are a little shy or a little afraid to dive into the mass and dance, even by the end they get into it and it's just a wonderful time of fellowship,' said Mills. 'We leave sweaty and disgusting and with big smiles on our faces.'
Miami Herald
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Surprise! Watch the crowd go wild as Will Smith sings classic hit ‘Miami' — in Miami
Talk about bringing down the house. Will Smith pulled off an unforgettable performance on Thursday night at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards at the Kaseya Center downtown. To say the 'Bad Boys' star did justice to his classic 1997 hit 'Miami' would be the understatement of the millennium. After a sizzling duet of his latest track 'First Love' with Spanish singer India Martínez, a breathless Smith began to take off his tuxedo. 'Where we at?' he asks DJ Khaled, who is off to the side of the stage. 'You know you can't come in the 305 and just give us one?' the local rap star shouts into the mic, adding his signature phrase, 'You gotta give us another one!' As the audience cheers, two dancers help put a guayabera festooned with palm trees on Smith. 'South Beach bringing the heat!' the 56 year old begins. 'Y'all feel that? Y'all feel that!?' Smith then starts strutting through the crowd, belting out the lyrics of the beloved track off his first solo album, 'Big Willie Style,' which samples Whisper's 'And the Beat Goes On.' Suddenly Thalia, in a sparkly silver dress, appears to bring an assist for the chorus, and Khaled tells everyone to 'put their hands up!' The unlikely trio shake their stuff as backup dancers in yellow gyrate and smoke machines blast to the rafters. The song closes out with a snippet of another unforgettable tune, Miami Sound Machine's 'Conga,' which turns 40 this year. 'C'mon, shake your body, baby do the conga,' a now hoarse Smith sings as fans go wild. 'I know you can't control yourself any longer.' Thalia posted a few pictures of the performance on her Instagram to rave reviews. Apparently, this triple threat ensemble was a collaboration no one know they needed. 'Spectacular.' 'Loved this.' 'So hot.'
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Will Smith joined by DJ Khaled, Thalía for electric Premio Lo Nuestro performance
Will Smith joined by DJ Khaled, Thalía for electric Premio Lo Nuestro performance Show Caption Hide Caption Will Smith poses in an all black look at the 2025 Grammys Will Smith is all smiles at the 2025 Grammys. Entertain This! Will Smith is back in Miami, and he's ready to ir de fiesta. The Oscar-winning actor and rapper, who's been readying his return to music this past year, embraced a Latin flavor for his performance at the 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro awards on Thursday night. Smith's performance opened with a tantalizing duet with Spanish singer India Martínez. Rapping over a stirring flamenco guitar track, Smith and Martínez performed their emotional collaboration "First Love," which was released on Valentine's Day. The "Miami" emcee was then joined by hip-hop peer DJ Khaled for a throwback performance of his 1998 hit. "You know you can't come to the 305 and just give us one. You're gonna have to give us another one," Khaled teased. After a quick wardrobe change, Smith strutted across Miami's Kaseya Center as he rapped the song's feel-good lyrics. "Here I am, in the place where I come let go/ In Miami the bass and the sunset low," Smith boasted. Smith and Khaled received a boost of star power when Latin pop star Thalía emerged onstage to close out the medley performance. The dynamic trio gyrated in unison for a quick salsa-style combination before launching into a spirited rendition of Miami Sound Machine's '80s hit "Conga." Earlier this week, the Grammy-winning rapper reflected on his musical rebirth during a surprise appearance at a "First Love" release party co-hosted by Neon16. "This is a really beautiful time for me as I'm starting to release new music," said Smith, according to footage shared on social media. "I've had a couple of years of really wonderful introspection, and I've had some beautiful revelations. I'm having a ball trying to express these things artistically." Will Smith announces new album: Actor previews pivot back to music Will Smith's year of soft-launching his next album Smith's performance comes as the rapper is gearing up for his first album release in 20 years. Smith revealed in January that "Based on a True Story," which follows 2005's "Lost and Found," is expected to drop in March. To complement the album announcement, Smith released "Beautiful Scars," a collaboration with fellow rapper Big Sean. A lengthy, reflective track that chronicles either man's journey to self-understanding, "Beautiful Scars" layers rap verses over an auto-tune heavy chorus. Smith has been soft launching his comeback for nearly a year, releasing several singles with high-profile collaborators. The album will include those tracks — "You Can Make it," "Work of Art" and "Tantrum" — made alongside rappers Russ, Joyner Lucas and Smith's son Jaden. Will Smith at BET Awards: Rapper performs uplifting track 'You Can Make It' "You Can Make It," which features Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, hit No. 1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay Chart in June. The last time Smith held a No. 1 spot was in 1997 with "Gettin' Jiggy With It." Smith performed the song at the 2024 BET Awards, one of a number of live performances and festivals that have also laid the groundwork for his pivot back to music. Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
