Latest news with #TheEssentials
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Prince Royce runs on 'old-school' workouts, video games and action TV
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. As far as Prince Royce is concerned, the mark of a great song is that it "lasts a lifetime." The multiplatinum Latin pop star, who broke out in the early 2010s with his charming bilingual rendition of the Ben E. King classic "Stand by Me," is tipping his hat to the greats once more on his latest album "Eterno" (out now). The singer reimagines pop standards from the likes of Elvis Presley, the Bee Gees, Backstreet Boys and others with his signature bachata style. But for Royce, it's about more than just throwback jams: "As an artist ... you want to put out music that could go through generations and that can fit in other genres and rhythms and hopefully can just cross the globe." Royce, who grew up in a Dominican family in New York City, says these tropical-infused covers not only "show love and respect" to the original hits but also allow him to share a slice of his bicultural heritage with fans of varying backgrounds. "I grew up listening to American music, but I also grew up listening to Latin music in Spanish and English, and that's just my upbringing, all these rhythms in one place," Royce, 36, says. "And I kind of can bring that mix of my upbringing to (Dominican Republic), to American people, to people who know both languages." Music isn't the only esencial in Royce's life. The singer dishes on some of his beloved staples, from video games and daily workouts to action-packed TV. Prince Royce stays fit with 'old-school' workouts, 'sweet' dog Ruby Who needs a gym buddy when you have man's best friend? Royce stays in shape with a series of daily workouts that span "old-school" weight training with metal free weights to outdoor runs and golfing. As for warming up, the singer gets his blood pumping with morning walks with his Belgian Malinois dog Ruby. "The physical aspect just forces me to be healthier, to wake up early," says Royce of his exercise regimen. "Subconsciously, I wouldn't stay out drinking all night because I know I got to walk my dog and go to the gym, get up early and grind." Royce, who's "never really been that much of a dog person," gushes about his canine pal. "It's like a military dog," he says with a laugh. "She's like 70 pounds. It's my first big dog, but she's a sweet girl." "Originally, it was more like, 'let's get a dog to protect the house' type of vibe," Royce adds. "We kind of got lucky. … We read all these things online that said Belgian Malinois are crazy and they'll eat up everything in the house, but she's been good so far." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Prince Royce is all about the action for gaming, TV faves Royce doesn't play when it comes to his screen time. A self-described "big gamer," Royce often turns to video games as a travel pastime during long flights and hotel stays. Some of his favorites include the action franchises Call of Duty ("It's always the game that never ends") and Assassin's Creed. The singer's love of gaming extends beyond the console. When it comes to TV, Royce has been watching video game adaptations such as "The Last of Us" and "Fallout," with the latter blowing him away with its faithfulness to the game. "The way that they would play classical music while they're blowing something up and people are getting shot up, that's how the game actually was,' he says. "Those things kind of hype me up." Additionally, the Prime Video series' canine protagonist CX404, a Belgian Malinois, was the catalyst for Royce getting his dog Ruby. "It's also the same dog from 'John Wick,' and I like 'John Wick,' too. So then when I saw it in 'Fallout,' I'm like, 'That's it. I'm getting the badass dog.'" Prince Royce is grooving to deep house and this Drake album For Royce, there doesn't have to be a party to keep the beat going. The "Stuck on a Feeling" hitmaker has been listening to the pulsating grooves of deep house, a subgenre of house music known for its ambient and soul influences. "I've always liked it," Royce says, adding that the genre is perfect for "chilling by the pool on a Sunday or on a boat or just at home." "It's kind of chill vibes but still up-tempo." Royce's playlist is also bumping with Bad Bunny's reggaeton banger "Velda," taken from his latest album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," as well as the Drake and PartyNextDoor collaboration record "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U." "I'm a big Drake fan in general," he says. "That album was pretty cool." Prince Royce nerds out with self-help books, documentaries Royce isn't one for passive entertainment, whether it's the pages of a book or his channel-surfing destinations. The Latin Grammy-nominated singer recently finished reading "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee" by Shannon Lee, a self-help biography he says he appreciated for its "motivational" exploration of the late martial arts icon's Zen philosophy: "You put water in a cup, and it just transforms into whatever shape of that cup. It kind of molds into whatever situation." "If I'm going to listen to something, or if I'm going to read something, I really hope that I'm reading something that can make me a better person or better my business or family," Royce says. Royce's thirst for knowledge also influences his viewing choices, citing documentaries as a favorite film genre. "I like learning something," he says. "I'll watch random animal documentaries on the History Channel or something, and those things sometimes interest me more than regular movies."
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The Jonas Brothers reflect on the band's longevity and reveal their backstage essentials
In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. NEW YORK – The Jonas Brothers still know how to strike an emotional chord. The band's latest love song, "When You Know," has the group in its feels. "There's that feeling when things are either right or wrong, when it's time to stay (or) when it's time to go," Joe Jonas, 35, tells USA TODAY of the song. "If there's that one person that's always gonna have your heart. It's hopefully something people can relate to. It's probably the most emotional song on this album." It's a similar emotion to when the group performs their "Little Bird," which perhaps walked so "When You Know" could fly. The middle brother of the group, Jonas is no stranger to getting personal through music. Jonas previously told USA TODAY that the group would be "fighting back tears" when they performed father/daughter bond ballad "Little Bird," off 2023's "The Album." He released a solo LP, "Music for People Who Believe in Love," in May, after his split from ex Sophie Turner. The new track will appear on the Jonas Brothers' seventh studio LP, "Greetings from Your Hometown," out Aug. 8. Ahead of its release, the three brothers chat with USA TODAY about personal moments with fans, receiving a blessing from the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and their go-to lunch while on tour. The Jonas Brothers surprise fans with personal performance Equally as personal for the group is how family bonds can be tested. The Jonas Brothers' father, Kevin Sr., was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017. The group feels fortunate that he's now been cancer-free "for many years," and his health journey served as part of the backdrop of their latest love letter to fans. The Jonas Brothers surprised a group of fans and their loved ones that have also felt that impact of the disease, partnering with Mastercard to support the nonprofit Stand Up To Cancer. The fans were unaware that they would meet the Jonas Brothers and hear the first ever live performance of the band's new song "I Can't Lose." "We have fans that started out as the same age as us; their parents brought them to the shows and now (those fans are) bringing their children to the shows," Kevin Jonas, 37, says of how the band has grown up with its audience over the last two decades. "We're giving what we can to (our fans) and they do the same with us by keeping on this journey." The song's music video, which was filmed during the surprise, will air during the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15. The Jonas Brothers' unlikely Bee Gees collaboration The Jonas Brothers' next album includes "I Can't Lose" as well as a rather unlikely collaboration with a fellow band of brothers. Nick Jonas says that "about seven years ago" he started working on a song that would eventually be titled, "No Time To Talk," which interpolates the classic 1977 Bee Gees' hit "Stayin' Alive." But Jonas didn't make time to finish it because he assumed it wouldn't "get cleared." By the time Nick played the unfinished song for his brothers last year, Jonas had appeared in HBO documentary "The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart." The brothers had also met Barry Gibb, the last living founding member of the group, when he attended their concert in Miami with his family. 'I just want the music to live': Barry Gibb reflects on the Bee Gees' new HBO documentary "So we knew that there was a warmth there," Nick, 32, recalls of the band's relationship with Gibb, but he thought "there's no chance" the Bee Gees singer would allows the use of the song's lyrics and melody to be included in the song. "But he ended up clearing it," Jonas continues. "It's pretty amazing to look at the credits and see that we technically have a credit with the Bee Gees." Jonas Brothers' diet includes this tour snack The Jonas Brothers will mark the band's 20th anniversary this year with the release of "Greetings" followed by a 52-date tour across North America. The trek commences at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, the band's hometown venue, on Aug. 10 and wraps at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Nov. 14. While the supporting acts and venue sizes will vary from city to city, there will be one consistent besides the Jonas Brothers' biggest hits: a snack affectionately known as ants on a log. "We revert back to our childhood, basically," Nick says of the snack, which is his go-to lunch while on tour. Ants on a log typically consists of peanut butter and raisins spread out on a celery stick. In Nick's version, almond butter is substituted. Childhood game the Jonas Brothers always go back to Joe chimes in that the brothers also relive their childhood by setting up a Spikeball net backstage and bringing along their gaming systems. Kevin adds that the guys "find ways to make games everywhere we go." Video games, childhood snacks, Spikeball ... Sure, the Jonas Brothers are all fathers of their own children now, but some things never change. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kristin Cavallari is open to talking about anything or anyone – except this one person
Kristin Cavallari is open to talking about anything or anyone – except this one person In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. NEW YORK – Kristin Cavallari describes her life as "peaceful," something she's "worked really hard for." But maintaining that peace is the main reason why she has no interest in returning to reality television on a full-time basis. "A reality show does not offer any peace whatsoever," Cavallari tells USA TODAY while promoting… well, a reality show. The podcaster and business owner, 38, says her life isn't the right "recipe right now for a good reality show." "Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour" (Wednesdays, 10 p.m. ET/9 CT, on E! and streaming on Peacock) gives her fans a behind-the-scenes look at the star's first ever live podcast tour. "I don't think my life is actually that interesting," she says. "My day-to-day is pretty normal, pretty boring. (My) podcast tour was great; lent itself to great storyline. But I don't have that in my day-to-day life." Kristin Cavallari reveals the one person she's done talking about Kristin Cavallari chats with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about her show "Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour" and the one topic that's off limits. Kristen Cavallari explains how she deals with headlines, anxiety Cavallari admits that since launching her podcast, "Let's Be Honest," she's the "most open I've ever been" when it comes to sharing her life with others. Over the past eight months, Cavallari has made headlines for topics ranging from a past fling with Glen Powell to her strained relationship with her father. Despite the recent news, the former "Laguna Beach" star says some of these "new" stories actually date back to over two decades ago. "Some of the things that have popped up are so old, but I'm having to live them as though they just happened," she says. "Headlines have been a part of my life since I was 17 and I wish I had a better way of handling it. They still stress me out. They still give me anxiety." Cavallari's coping mechanism is detachment, she says, and she does her best not to read headlines or comments on social media. "What people are saying about me actually has nothing to do with me," she says. "I think when you can finally get that place and understand that, it's a really freeing thing. And I think that comes with maturity and age." Cavallari has been dealing with headlines and pubic interest in personal life since she rose to fame in 2004 as a cast member of MTV's hit reality show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County," followed by its spinoff "The Hills." "My dating life has been the one thing that people have always really latched onto," Cavallari says, referencing "Laguna Beach" and her ex-boyfriend, Stephen Colletti. "I'm sure that's because I came into the world on reality TV with my boyfriend at the time, so people have felt like they're entitled to know what's going on in my dating life. Cavallari says that when she separated from her ex-husband, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, it was initially hard to wrap her head around the idea that people were once again interested in her dating life. Public debut for private Kristin Cavallari's kids The series marks the on-camera debut for Cavallari's children: Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Saylor, 9. She shares all three with Cutler. "I want to keep my kids, kids," she continues. "Me putting them in a couple of scenes (of the show) does not change that." This topic is off-limits for Kristin Cavallari The podcast host says she's also keeping her life peaceful by focusing on what matters the most to her: family and friends. And the one topic she's done talking about is her ex-husband. "I'm not going to talk about the legal stuff with their dad," Cavallari responds when asked about any conversations she had with Cutler regarding their kids' onscreen debut. The two married in 2013; Cavallari announced her split from Cutler on Instagram in April 2020. "I would prefer not to talk about my ex, you know what I mean?" she continues. "It's been over five years. I kind of wish that everyone would just move on." As for Cavallari's current dating life, that's not off-limits, although the Uncommon James founder doesn't have much to report on that front. "I haven't dated at all this year," she reveals. "I did that intentionally leading up to the podcast tour. I didn't want any distractions. (Dating is) not on my priority list right now. Between work and my kids, I'm kind of maxed out."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Patterson says latest release may be 'the most important book I've done by far'
James Patterson doesn't need any more money. He's the first to admit it. "I really don't," he says. "That's not why I wrote this book." The new book in question from the prolific gagillion-selling author of thrillers (OK, for the record, it's 319 books written and 450 million copies sold worldwide) is in fact not only a labor of love, but also a love letter to fellow fathers. "The #1 Dad Book: Be the Best Dad You Can Be – In 1 Hour!," out May 12 ($25, Little, Brown and Company), sounds a bit like it got its title from a late night infomercial. But there is some truth in that bold advertising. The slim volume actually can be read in about 60 minutes (that's what the "1 Hour" in the title refers to) and features short chapters with titles such as "Be Consistent, Consistently," a litany of dad-experience quotes from friends ("Sometimes you have to let them sink to learn how to swim"), and a breezy voice that eschews hectoring for cajoling ("You've probably figured out that not everyone is in love with the sound of your voice," Patterson writes. "But guess what? Your baby is.") For Patterson, proud father with wife Susan to son, Jack, 27, the book was a way to help guys who "just don't know how to talk about such things with other guys, but they need someone to talk to and I just figured I'd offer some advice, that's all." The Essentials: James Patterson spills his writing must-haves The author's own father might have benefited from this book, Patterson says. "The only time I got a hug from my father was on his death bed," Patterson tells USA TODAY. "That was just the era. He grew up in a poor house, he didn't have a father, didn't know how to be a father. He was a good guy in his own way, but you talk about distance. Anyway, that's still an issue for some dads today; dads who can't say I love you and don't hug." "The #1 Dad Book" tackles hugs, of course. In the chapter "You're Not A Hugger? You Will Be in a Minute," Patterson relates the short story of visiting a friend with two hulking football player sons. When the kids started to head out the door, their father called them back saying, "Where do you think you two are going?" And he gave them hugs. "And that's when that routine became a part of my life, and Jack's, because every night he got a hug," says Patterson, smiling. "Jack's a good kid, he calls us every day." Likely many fathers and fathers-to-be will recognize some familiar themes in the book. A few that Patterson highlights include being truly present (don't talk to your kid while you, or they, are half-looking at a phone) and growing up. Fast. In the chapter called "Tattoo This Behind Your Eyeballs," Patterson is blunt with dads. "We're pals now, right? So you can take it when I give you some bad news," he writes. "It's time to grow ... No more BASE jumping, no more treks to Burning Man, no more swimming with sharks," no more beer league softball tournaments or all-day golf outings (this from Patterson, an avid golfer). "It's just hugely important, because you're taking on a big new responsibility and you have to step up," Patterson says. "And hopefully you're cool with it." Patterson also encourages men to seek out male friends who are willing to talk about dad issues, instead of "just what's going on with the local sports team." He notes that these days, "it's often women that are the primary bread winners, and some guys are just lost as a result, they don't know what their role is, and sometimes there's a lot of anger which is not useful for anyone." So is there any advice he's doling out in "The #1 Dad Book" that he wishes he'd gotten years ago upon entering his first fatherhood years? Patterson mulls a bit. Turns out, for him it was paying closer attention to Jack. "I was always home and around for him, but I could have been more present," he says, noting that while he was writing at home he often was lost in his projects. "I was there, but I wasn't ... I could have done more trips I didn't want to do, like going to the Galapagos, things like that. I'm not big on it, but Jack, he would have liked that." With this book, which Patterson says cryptically he "won't make money on, they way I've structured it," he's hoping that perhaps wives and daughters will pick one up for "husbands and fathers and maybe those two knuckle-headed brothers." Patterson leans back in his office chair. "This honestly could be the most important book I've done by far," he says. "It doesn't matter if someone reads an Alex Cross book. I mean, of course it's nice, but you know." Then almost as a challenge to dads everywhere, he adds: "It's one hour, dude. One hour ... you can't improve your golf game in an hour but here, maybe you can learn a few things in that short amount of time that will make you a little bit better father, or partner. And that's a good thing." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The #1 Dad Book' is James Patterson's salute and challenge to fathers
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
ABC's Ginger Zee says this part of her morning routine is 'simplistic' but so essential
ABC's Ginger Zee says this part of her morning routine is 'simplistic' but so essential In USA TODAY's The Essentials, celebrities share what fuels their lives, whether it's at home, on set, or on the road. Ginger Zee, ABC News' chief meteorologist, is putting all of her necessities (aside from her husband, Ben Aaron, and their two sons, Adrian, 9, and Miles, 7) on your radar. Zee, an early riser for "Good Morning America," admits "I can't imagine having a leisurely morning. But I take it, and I make 3:45 a.m. feel as leisurely as possible." And on days when Zee's not heading into the studio, she could be chasing a storm, "driving to a tornado" and "doing my makeup in the car," she says. In either case, the 44-year-old is sharing all of her Essentials, from A to Zee. Ginger Zee reveals her daily essentials, from yoga to an ideal morning Ginger Zee on her daily essentials and how she spends her mornings. Ginger Zee wears a sleep ring: 'We don't put enough emphasis on' rest "I'm a scientist. I love data," Zee says, so she's delighted by the information she can gather from her sleep ring, a wearable health monitor and tracking device. Zee, who has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, finds it "empowering." "It's not like it's breaking news that alcohol changes and makes your sleep worse," Zee explains. "I knew that, but processed sugar and time of day that I have things, exercise, when I do it, when I sauna or massage or mostly hydration − honestly, that's the big one that I can tell a huge difference in my sleep. "My sleep is so critical. It's the foundation of my health, my mental health, my physical health, all of (ours)," she continues. "And we don't put enough emphasis on it." Her morning routine: Checking in and setting an intention "One of my favorite moments is just my wake-up and my moment of checking in with myself," Zee says. "I know that sounds very kind of easy and simplistic, but a lot of people don't do it. A lot of people rush right into whatever it is, and then they haven't really answered, 'How are you?' or 'What am I feeling?'" Next, Zee hops into the shower and helps set the tone of her day using her steamy shower glass as a writing board. "I make little fists that make little footprints on (the glass) and I put both my children's names," she says. "Then I put both my handprints for my husband and I," signifying, "this is the core of who I am. Then I write an intention for the day, like you do in yoga at the beginning of a practice." Zee identifies a goal for the day and writes that on the shower as well. Meditation: It 'should be used more and more every day' Zee does a guided meditation on her way into work. She likes the Calm app and recommends the meditations offered by Dan Harris, a former anchor for ABC News, and acknowledges the free options available as well. Know "you don't have to commit (to) 20 minutes," Zee says. "It can be a one-minute, a five-minute, a 10-minute" meditation, she says. "Meditation is just a moment of reflection, and a moment of groundedness and preparedness, and I think should be used more and more every day." Her on-the-road essentials: Reusable utensils and eye patches When Zee is reporting on the road, she brings reusable water bottles and utensils, which she washes after using. While she likes to avoid waste when she can, she relies on single-use eye patches. "Those are pretty necessary because a lot of times we've been up, we've been doing the other shows late and then we're waking up three hours, four hours later," Zee says. "So getting the de-puff is a pretty crucial essential for me." She adds with a laugh, "I'm not perfect." But she nixed face wipes eight years ago, she says, opting for coconut oil on a washcloth instead. Earth "has cared for us for so long," she says. "Something as simple as just looking around you and (asking), 'Where could I reduce waste?' That's something that is essential to me." The attitude required dealing with critics: 'Great empathy for these people' Years of criticism has taught Zee not to absorb the negativity of online trolls. In March, someone left a critical comment on an Instagram video. "You're not aging well," they wrote. Zee responded to the user that it is "a privilege to be aging in any manner – thanks for your opinion though." Derisive comments "usually says a lot about who they are and what's wrong with them," she says, adding she has "empathy for these people who are so sad or they need to get that out. And I take it that way and it's much easier to take when you start seeing that. "My first reaction (to the comment) was, 'Thank God I get to get older,'" she adds. "There (were) a lot of years in my 20s and teens where I was like − like a lot of other people – 'I don't even know if I'm worth it.' I'm so lucky to be alive, let alone aging. Good! Your opinion is that I'm not aging well, but the point is I'm aging. And I really meant that. I meant that it is a privilege to be able to be aging."
