Latest news with #SimonCowell
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Usher on Channeling Frank Sinatra for New Ralph Lauren Fragrance Campaign: It's a ‘Grand Moment for Me'
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Usher is now a brand ambassador for Ralph Lauren Fragrances. The Grammy-winning artist who has brought many iconic hits over the years such as 'Yeah!,' 'U Got It Bad,' 'My Boo' and 'Confessions,' is now the face of Ralph's Club New York Eau de Parfum. This new partnership surprisingly serves as Usher's first fragrance campaign and Ralph Lauren Fragrances' first partnership with a major award-winning music artist. More from Billboard 'AGT' Contestant Had No Idea Her Mom Signed Her Up to Audition, But She Still Blew Simon Cowell Away ATEEZ Launches Official In Your Fantasy Tour Merch on Amazon So You'll Be Concert Ready in No Time Ashlee Simpson's Las Vegas Residency at The Venetian: How to Buy Affordable Tickets Online Shop Ralph's Club New York Eau de Parfum here Similar to Ralph's timeless appeal, the new campaign aims to capture the glamour of Manhattan's golden age, celebrating the city's modern energy, authenticity and enduring excellence. Usher, who's known for his Southern upbringing, has always been inspired by the city that never sleeps, which played a major role in the singer's career early on. The Atlanta native recorded his first album in NYC in 1997, while Ralph Lauren founded his brand in Manhattan 30 years earlier in 1967, making it appropriate for both men to celebrate the Big Apple. 'I have the greatest respect and admiration for what Mr. Lauren has accomplished and I could not be more happy and proud to join Ralph Lauren Fragrances,' Usher said in a statement. 'This is a brand that represents the best of who I want to be as an entrepreneur, a creator, and a man. I'm inspired and energized — this partnership feels like coming home.' The campaign sees the 'Yeah!' singer as the face for Ralph's Club New York Eau de Parfum. Starting at $110, the fragrance debuted Wednesday (July 16), and is available to shop online on the brand's site, as well as in store at Macy's. The fragrance channels the same confident spirit that Usher has long embodied both on and off the stage. With notes of lavender and bourbon and a grounding base of sandalwood, the fragrance is both classic and unexpected. 'We creating something that was a bit more sweet, with black currant being a very high note, and bergamot being something that you smelled at the top, and then lavender and sandalwood being something that was grounding the bottom,' Usher tells Billboard. 'This is a very unique scent that would allow you to feel comfortable wherever you are.' Ralph's Club New York Eau de Parfum $135 Buy Now on ralph lauren To bring the campaign to life, Usher set out to compose an original song to accompany the fragrance, an effort inspired by the sophistication and spirit of Frank Sinatra's iconic 'Theme From New York, New York,' which peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1980. Speaking with Billboard, Usher opens up his love for New York City, reimagining Sinatra's iconic song, picking out fragrances and what drew him to Ralph Lauren. From fashion shows to the recent Met Gala to this Ralph Club New York campaign, can you explain your relationship with the Ralph Lauren brand? If you're from the South, you know, being polo down is obviously an expression of culture. We were all borrowing this idea based off of the cultural relevance of polo sport. I can remember the first time I bought a puffy vest, or if you had a skull cap and the goggles up on the right side of your hat, these were all things that we saw in terms of marketing, but also understanding the imprint of Ralph Lauren at that time. Fast forward, wearing double RL, going to a ton of tennis events and seeing some of that swag, getting prepared for a formal event, you always look to purple label or Ralph to make certain that you got it right. Whether it was for summer, resort wear, all of those things, he was always there to accommodate something that you wanted to be immersed in. Even going to the stores, nine times out of 10, you feel as though you were immersed in this world. You don't even have to necessarily purchase anything. You can literally go to the store, just to have a coffee and actually feel as though you were in the the idea of his thought. So to organically now make this moment happen and be a part of now the family and an ambassador of this fragrance, I'm very happy. This is a very bold chapter of my life, but also a very bold chapter in the history and the legacy that Ralph has made. And Ralph Club New York is that introduction. Can you explain the significance that the city of New York has played throughout your career? You either get lost in New York, or you find yourself in New York. It is the birthplace of so many cultural moments, rather contemporary, musical, style, architecture, all of these things you find in the melting pot that is New York City. It's the kind of the place where all cultures are accepted and all ideas can fly. My career started in New York City, even though I'm not originally from New York. Even this campaign for me was my love letter to New York and all of what it has offered me and has meant to me as an observer in history and times. New York is a city that welcomes the entire world with open arms. I remember as a kid finding out so much about life being in this melting pot and understanding the daily hustle, as well as, the nightlife and what it offers and what it creates in terms of a cultural imprint that many cities all around the world try to adopt. How does it feel to be able to reimagine an iconic song like 'New York, New York' by Frank Sinatra? This is a very iconic anthem that Frank Sinatra did before I was even born in 1977, which immortalizes this kind of concept that, if you make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. It is the very idea that that embodies a very bold spirit that is about a city that never sleeps. But it also gave us a song that is about this ambitious goal to be innovative and reinvent yourself, and make it big, man. So for me, to be able to have Frank Sinatra spirit in the middle of all of what I'm creating, and look at even some of the photographs when we were creating it, and then reimagine it in my own way. Pun intended 'my way.' I had this opportunity to re-engineer this idea with the energy of something that is timeless and classic, honoring him, honoring Ralph. What do you look for when picking out your scent? How does a fragrance stand out to you? Well, many people approach fragrance and their selection differently. For me, it all starts with the fragrance. Most people would look at a fragrance as an accessory. How I feel starts with the way I smell. So, when I get out of the shower and I did all the things that I needed to do to get myself ready. I spray this. It now puts me in a certain mindset, and now I go and I create from that place. I think that they wanted to create something by way of the design of the bottle, to create something that was masculine and sophisticated. In terms of the scent, Ralph wanted to create something that was timelessly elegant, that was bold, but had a modern spirit. Ralph's Club New York Eau de Parfum $135 Buy Now on ralph lauren What would you like for fans to take away from this campaign? I hope that fans are ready to take a journey. I think that that's the one thing that you look forward to with Ralph Lauren, that you feel as though you were immersed in an idea and you're brought to a different place. Well, that place is New York. That place is club New York. Us being able to work in the short amount of time that we did, with a very incredible group of people to create memorable, creative, iconic photographs, as well as a video piece that is a commercial. For me, it is a next chapter. It's a next chapter of my season, and it's the next chapter in my story. I feel like this is a really, really grand moment for me in terms of where I am, iconically and fashionably, it is something that feels very special in terms of the collaboration between myself and Ralph.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Amanda Holden makes jaw-dropping comment about nemesis Sharon Osbourne's 'Ozempic face' as she reignites THAT feud and says: 'I'd choose my face over my waistline'
has reignited her long-standing feud with Sharon Osbourne by making a jaw-dropping comment about her 'Ozempic face.' The TV and radio presenter, 54, told me 'she would always choose her face over her waistline' as she opened up about weight loss jabs. Former X Factor judge Sharon, 72, has been open about how the weight loss drug had an adverse effect on her appearance after she lost four stone in three months. While sitting down for a chat with me in London hotel Claridge's, Amanda, who famously fell out with Sharon in a disagreement over Simon Cowell giggled, 'I would choose my face over my waist any day'. 'Obviously, yeah, with Sharon....', she paused... 'It is a crazy time for those sort of jabs and things'. Former X Factor judge Sharon, 72, has been open about how the weight loss drug had an adverse effect on her appearance after she lost four stone in three months, (pictured in June) 'But I will always choose my a*** over my weight and my boobs. This is where the weight goes', she laughed while pointing to both areas. 'When I put on weight, my husband loves the summer holidays because I eat my body weight in cheese when we go to Greece and it goes to my boobs, bum. And he's like, "yes".' She added: 'We've seen some huge differences [with celebrities appearances] at some of the red carpets in Hollywood. 'I think it's been very helpful for lots of people, I'm obviously not an advocate of somebody using it if they don't need to, just because we don't know what the implications are yet, but I think if people have used it for health reasons and for the right reasons, then it's great.' Amanda was in high spirits when I arrived at Claridge's to talk to her about her role as brand ambassador for Revive Collagen. When I arrived, a concierge showed me to the star's private suite and politely asked me to wait outside while she finished up another chat. Minutes later, Amanda came running down the 5-star hotel corridor, where she reassured me 'I'm filming a TikTok video, not running away', before introducing herself and giving me a hug. I was swiftly handed a Diet Coke and sat down across from the BBC star in the Revive Collagen branded room. Amanda joked that those on the weight loss jabs probably 'all have fitness videos coming out' before recommending the collagen product for those age 25 and over, as way of looking youthful. She added: 'Revive helps hair, skin and nails, and with rapid weight loss creates hair loss immediately. Your hair if you're not getting the right minerals and it can shock your body out of the right minerals because your body gives your hair what it needs.' It should come as little surprise that Amanda is no friend of Sharon's. Their fiery feud first started when the blonde beauty defended friend of 20 years Simon when former X Factor judge Sharon spoke about him on Celebrity Big Brother last year. Amanda defended the music mogul by calling Sharon and Louis Walsh, 71, 'bitter and pathetic' after they tore into him on the ITV show. And Sharon branded Amanda an 'ill-informed sycophantic.' In an acid-tongue letter posted on X, Sharon blasted Amanda after she said Simon had 'given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn't have had'. Taking a defiant stance against Sharon's statement, Amanda said last year that she stands by what she said, while acknowledging the X Factor judge's 'incredible' career. A spokesperson for the actress told MailOnline at the time: 'Amanda is aware of Sharon's incredible career but, just like her, Amanda will always defend those close to her.' Amanda had told the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine: 'I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon - he's the person who's given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn't have had. 'It's bitter and pathetic. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background - just stabby, stabby, stabby.' 12 hours later, Sharon took to Twitter to issue the presenter with a full statement and accused her of being an 'ill informed sycophantic'. Sharon's post began: 'Amanda, I am responding to your interview with the Daily Mail on April 12th, I respect the fact that you feel the need to defend your good friend and employer, Simon Cowell, who is also your husband's employer, or so I've read. 'However, a couple of your statements regarding myself are factually incorrect.' Sharon went on to list her incredible repertoire of achievements, as she savagely pointed out: 'Amanda, I think you're missing the point here, no disrespect to Simon Cowell, but he NEEDED ME for musical credibility on X Factor and I delivered for him and together all of us made a great team.' Sharon insisted: 'The truth is, you don't know me, Amanda or any of my close friends. You know nothing about my family history in the music industry, my achievements, the artists I have worked with, the shows that I've produced and my global celebrity. 'Unlike you, the brand of Sharon Osbourne is known worldwide. There are many countries that I could work in if I choose to, however, I don't have the ambition or time to do so.' Sharon went on to flaunt her wealth and luxurious lifestyle as she quipped: 'Our worlds are totally different. I have been blessed with an amazing lifestyle throughout my entire life. 'Before you were born, I was living in a mansion in Beverly Hills and continue to do so today and continue to have my country estate in England as well. 'But there is something you should know. I never discuss money, lifestyle or positions of power. I find it to be classless and crude. 'However you've now forced my hand to divulge these things to you and I honestly don't want to seem like I'm bragging, but the truth is my money and success were not due to doing a couple of Simon Cowell talent shows. 'Don't get me wrong I enjoyed doing them at the time as they were great fun. Yes, Simon paid me very well. Probably more than what you're receiving today, but all of that my darling went on a few handbags.' Listing her career accolades, Sharon continued: 'At the time that I worked on X Factor, I was the only judge who had global accomplishments with multiple million-selling artists, Grammy Award winner and arena and stadium headliners. 'I was also a very successful festival producer with Ozfest which ran for 24 years, as well as a best-selling author and producer of the hit show 'The Osbournes' for which I received an Emmy Award. 'Amanda, I think you're missing the point here, no disrespect to Simon Cowell, but he NEEDED ME for musical credibility on X Factor and I delivered for him and together all of us made a great team.' Not afraid to speak her mind and spill behind the scenes secrets about the showbiz industry, Sharon and Louis didn't hold back during their time on Celebrity Big Brother last year. During an episode, Sharon said she was 'furious' with Simon because she claimed he didn't renew her contract when she expected he would which meant she lost out on another major TV gig. Meanwhile, Louis revealed he no longer spoke to his former partner in crime despite once sharing the most talked about bromance in Britain. Speaking about the interaction, Amanda told the Daily Mail: 'I thought, "Oh my God, it's like watching a pantomime." I just think they look so nasty and awful. 'There was a friendship there and an opportunity. So however the business ends, you should have respect for the opportunity that was given to you and the pay cheque that was given to you. Just be gracious. There was none of that and I can't bear it.' Snapping back, Sharon explained that none of her success was down to Simon and instead due to her own work and that of her husbands. She continued: 'It was only after several seasons of X Factor that Simon started to build his music empire and I give him much kudos for what he built. When I met my husband I was already very well established in the music industry. 'Having worked with bands like Electric Light Orchestra, Motorhead, Smashing Pumpkins, Gary Moore, The Move , Roy Woods, Wizzard, Linsey de Paul, Breitt Ekland and Black Sabbath to name a few. Sharon took to Twitter to issue the presenter with a full statement and accused her of being an 'ill informed sycophantic' 'I think you must have forgotten my husband is a music icon who has sold 170million albums, won multiple Grammy Awards, and is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. 'We have been together for 44 years and he has spoiled me from the first day we met, he has given me more than any man could, all of this before I ever knew who Simon Cowell was.' Signing off, Sharon concluded: 'In closing I must say whenever I have seen you on TV I always thought you were very beautiful and talented. However, never make comments about my lifestyle given to me by Simon Cowell. 'It's demeaning to me and my husband and all the achievements I have made in my life as you're making yourself look like an ill informed sycophantic. 'Sincerely, Sharon Osbourne'.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
21-year-old 'America's Got Talent' audience member brought to tears as mom surprise-nominates her to audition
There's nothing like the strength of a mother's love to bring everyone to tears. On America's Got Talent on Tuesday, a mom brought on the waterworks when she nominated her 21-year-old daughter to audition on the show — completely unbeknownst to her daughter, Anna Wilson. Partway through the episode of the talent competition show, a producer could be heard explaining the situation to host Terry Crews, who gamely played along. The mother, who said her name is Carrie, then went up on stage, much to the shock of her daughter. "I'm actually here surprising my daughter," the mother began from the stage, when Simon Cowell asked who she is. The camera panned to Wilson, who was shown wiping tears from her face. "She thinks we're here for a VIP experience in the audience, but I nominated Anna to audition here today." Anna started visibly sobbing, as the audience started loudly screaming their support. "Good thing she looks so happy," Cowell joked. As Anna walked to the stage, panelists Mel B and Sofia Vergara kept it real, with Mel joking, "I'd be so mad at my mom," and Vergara quipping, "I'd kill her." Carrie and Anna hugged, and then Anna told the panel she really had no idea her mom was going to nominate her and she felt "confused" in the moment. Cowell kindly told her to go backstage, "throttle your mom," and then take a few minutes to prepare something to perform. An hour later, after telling Crews that she "feels good" and was ready to go, Anna went back out onstage. Creating a "full circle moment," she told the panel she would be performing a song she always dedicates to her mom, "Make You Feel My Love." Part way through the performance, of course, Cowell had to ruin the moment, and cut her off because the song "was a bit boring," which prompted boos from the audience. Luckily, she had a second song in mind, Maren Morris' "My Church." After gathering herself, Anna nailed it, much to the delight of the audience and the panel. Vergara told her, "That was beautiful. Simon always is right. I know it was nerve-wracking to be stopped in the middle of a song, but usually when he does that it's because he knows there is potential, and you definitely, definitely have potential." In the end, Howie Mandel, Vergara, and Cowell voted to give her another chance, and it all made for one of the most dramatic and emotional moments on the show's landmark 20th season so far. Watch the full spectacle in the video clip, above. Elsewhere in the episode, a girl group delighted the audience so much they insisted the group get a golden buzzer, and Crews came out onstage to oblige. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Simon Cowell wears sunglasses to tackle issue affecting 6 million
The legend of The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent previously shared his struggles with a painful condition Simon Cowell often wears rose-tinted glasses on set - and it isn't a fashion statement. The tough Britain's Got Talent judge previously revealed a serious condition he faces, following rumours of a 'mystery illness'. "I just found out according to the internet, I have a 'mystery illness'," he said on Instagram last year, according to the Mirror. "For anyone concerned, I missed two auditions at the end of one day, two weeks ago, because I do get migraines after long days in the filming lights." Addressing his 2.6 million followers, he then added: "PS. This is why I wear these glasses!" Headaches and migraines are frequently mixed up, but migraines specifically describe intense, pulsating pain often concentrated on one side. Typically, this pain can persist anywhere from two hours up to three days. Some people endure migraines multiple times a week, whereas others encounter them less often. Further symptoms may include fatigue, food cravings, mood swings, and increased urination, although these tend to decrease in severity with age. The exact cause of migraines remains uncertain, but known triggers include anxiety, menstruation, unhealthy eating habits, and excessive caffeine intake. In a conversation with the NHS, TV Doctor Dawn Harper, once explained: " Migraine is an incredibly common problem that affects around six million people in the UK and two-thirds of those are women. I do see a lot of people who describe their headaches as migraine and, in fact, I think we have to be careful that as miserable as headaches are, they are not all migraines. "And migraines classically are one-sided headaches often associated with nausea, quite often actually make you sick. Usually, people feel they have to just lie down in a darkened room. "They don't like the lights and they feel, they really are severe headaches, which last for several hours. And then some poor folk will last for two or three days. A migraine can be very frightening." For anyone experiencing migraines, a GP might prescribe medication such as anti-nausea drugs and 'triptans' that alter how your brain perceives pain signals. However, trying some home remedies can also help manage the pain. Getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and limiting caffeine intake can help, along with lying down in a dark room and resting. NHS advice adds: "If your migraines are severe, you might be offered other things to help, such as learning relaxation techniques and acupuncture. "If these treatments do not manage your migraines, you may be offered a new type of medicine called a gepant. These work in a different way than other migraine medicines, so may be of more use to you. "If none of these treatments help your symptoms, or they're getting worse, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment."
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Xbox handheld prices accidentally leaked by Asus and they're super expensive
Microsoft's first range of Xbox handhelds look to be an expensive proposition, according to a leak from Asus itself. Last month's Xbox games showcase saw Microsoft officially announce two new handheld devices in collaboration with Asus, called the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. The handhelds are basically Xbox-branded variations on Asus's existing ROG Ally gaming devices, albeit with some improvements over the original models; namely a better processor (AMD Ryzen Z2 A) and improved battery life. Asus and Microsoft are yet to officially announce a price or release date for the ROG Xbox Ally, but it seems the former has been revealed early, and by a very reliable source. As spotted by Spanish gaming website 3DJuegos, the prices for the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X popped up in a localised Google search for the region, with two listings being pulled from an Asus store located in Barcelona. According to these listings, the cheaper ROG Xbox Ally will be priced at €599, while the ROG Xbox Ally X will be €899. The latter is the same price as the ROG Ally X in Europe, which launched last year, so if this price is true, the higher-end model will likely be £799 in the UK. That means the €599 price for the cheaper model would likely equate to £499, which is £100 less than the original ROG Ally. Although the original is currently on sale for £449 and, given it first launched in 2023, the release of the Xbox version may result in a blanket price cut to £499. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. These prices are yet to be confirmed but they line-up with a previous leak from insider eXtas1, although it remains to be seen if it could be priced higher in certain territories in the wake of US tariffs. More Trending As high as it is, the leaked price makes sense, as it doesn't undercut the current price for the ROG Ally X, which Asus wouldn't want to do. In comparison to the ROG Xbox Ally, the more expensive ROG Xbox Ally X comes with a better 'extreme' processor, 24GB over 16GB of memory, 1TB over 512GB of storage, improved battery life, and a Thunderbolt 4 compatible USB4 display port. According to previous leaks, Microsoft is looking to launch these devices in October, with pre-orders set to go live in August. This could mean we see some sort of announcement at Gamescom, which takes place in Cologne, Germany from 20-24 August. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Patapon 1+2 Replay review – a PSP classic comes to Nintendo Switch MORE: Competition does not drive innovation in video games, talent does – Reader's Feature MORE: X Factor star Simon Cowell and the Pope are both secret Pokémon fans
