Latest news with #ElizabethTaylor
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
New countdown on Taylor Swift's website points to 2 p.m. ET. What could it mean?
Taylor Swift is starting off the week with another countdown sending fans into an excited whirlwind. The shimmering purple, four hour countdown popped up at 10 a.m. ET. The color reflects her "It's Rapturous" variant of her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl." While nothing has been confirmed, the countdown could be leading to the first lead single announcement of her diamond-dripping, Elizabeth Taylor era. Or maybe a music video? What about a documentary announcement? The timing of 2 p.m. ET on a Monday could also signal a dazzling merchandise drop. Taylor Swift 'New Heights' updates: Eras Tour inspired new album, no extra tracks, more 'The Life of a Showgirl' The pop icon made her much-anticipated two hour appearance as a guest on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's "New Heights" podcast on Aug. 13. Moments after the episode dropped, her official website unveiled the cover of her next project, an image of Swift submerged in bathwater wearing a bejeweled corset. "The Life of a Showgirl" will have 12 tracks, a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter and a release date of Oct. 3. Four variations of the album were available for sale over the weekend: "Sweat and Vanilla Perfume," "It's Frightening," "It's Rapturous" and "It's Beautiful." Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat. Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Taylor Swift's new album: a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor that even her son approves
Elizabeth Taylor began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s. Singer Taylor Swift pays tribute to her in the upcoming album, "The Life of a Showgirl". Image: Instagram. Multi-award-winning pop singer, Taylor Swift, recently announced on her boyfriend's podcast that she will be dropping her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl", later this year. Swift made her debut on Travis Kelce's "New Heights" podcast last week, and since then, the episode has received more than 15 million views. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading After Swift revealed the track list which includes a song titled "Elizabeth Taylor", the legendary actress's son, Christopher Wilding, shared his thoughts. The 70-year-old approved of the name drop, telling an online site that he thinks Swift is a "rare, positive role model for young girls" and that he "admired her philanthropy and courage to stand up for what she believes". Wilding also noted that it would be "great" if Swift's song brings some revitalised respect to his late mother's name. "Elizabeth Taylor" is not the first time the singer has expressed interest in the old Hollywood star, who died in 2011. Swift previously compared herself to the "Cleopatra" star on her song, "...Ready For It?" saying her love interest in the song was Richard Burton, whom Taylor married twice in 1965 and again in 1975 after a brief divorce. The line reads: "And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor." Swift also gave a subtle nod to Taylor's aesthetic in her music video for "Wildest Dreams", in which she wears the actress's iconic sleek black hairstyle and, like Taylor and Burton, who met while working on "Cleopatra", falls in love with her co-star on the set of an old Hollywood film. Elizabeth Taylor (top) and Taylor Swift (bottom). Image: Instagram. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" hitmaker, Kylie Minogue, who knows a thing or two about the life of a showgirl, also reacted to Swift's upcoming album. Taking to Instagram, she posted a variety of pictures of her own showgirl days alongside the caption: "When all your friends start sending you your Showgirl mems!!! 😳🥺🙃 Awww. Showgirl life is 'a thing', multi-dimensional and so much more than feathers and dazzle. 💖, respect and admiration to all my fellow hard-working Showgirls 😘."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole while gushing over the Chiefs' TE
Taylor Swift accused of slyly shading Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole (Getty Images) Taylor Swift 's first appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce 's New Heights podcast gave fans everything they wanted — album news, romantic confessions, and just enough subtlety to fuel speculation about whether she was taking a playful swipe at Kelce's ex, Kayla Nicole. The bracelet story that has Swifties convinced there was more than romance in the air During the episode, Swift revealed how Kelce's attempt to give her a friendship bracelet during her 2023 Eras Tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium never worked out. 'I've never seen the original,' she teased, as Kelce admitted he was 'butt hurt' about the missed chance. — Miss_AshG (@Miss_AshG) Swift then likened the gesture to something 'out of an '80s John Hughes movie,' adding: 'It was also like we kind of live in this day and age where it's like the most romantic gesture that anybody makes towards a girl is usually like their picture, DM them, whatever... but this kind of felt more like I was in an 80s John Hughes movie." Fans quickly connected dots to Kelce's previous relationship with Nicole, which reportedly began through Instagram interactions. Whether coincidence or intentional, the parallel didn't go unnoticed. Swift's own takeaway? 'If this guy isn't crazy, this is exactly what I've been writing about since I was a teenager.' Kelce, in turn, recalled being 'mesmerized' by her performance that night and feeling an instant spark. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo The Noodle Box Undo Brittany Mahomes joins in with her reaction to Taylor Swift's big album reveal Swift also used the podcast to announce her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop October 3. The 12-track record includes titles like Elizabeth Taylor, Father Figure, and Ruin the Friendship, with the final song being a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. Kansas City Chiefs WAG Brittany Mahomes wasted no time showing her support, commenting on Instagram: 'This is SO GOOD.' Kelce hyped the project as '12 bangers,' while Jason Kelce offered his own unfiltered review — 'f****** bangers.' Also Read: 'Myopic and rigid sports fans': Colin Cowherd blasts NFL fans for backlash over Taylor Swift cheering for Travis Kelce Between playful banter, possible subtle shade, and major album buzz, Swift's podcast debut proved why she and Kelce remain one of pop culture's most magnetic duos. Whether the Kayla Nicole link was intentional or fan imagination, the love story and new music announcement have cemented this episode as a Swiftie favorite. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Inside The Business Of Luxury Dining At Hotel Bel-Air
Hotel Bel-Air has never been in the business of chasing the new. Its market position has always been about constancy: a place that can command the loyalty of high-net-worth regulars while still holding enough cultural cachet to attract the city's cyclical cast of celebrities. And boy, have they. Marilyn Monroe's final magazine shoot took place here. Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned here. Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Howard Hughes—the guest list reads like a condensed history of 20th-century glamour. But, as many-a-shuttered Old Hollywood institution can attest to, legacy alone isn't enough to keep a property at the top of Los Angeles' fiercely competitive luxury landscape. And the Dorchester Collection knows it. Since the operator took over management in 2008, the strategy has been to preserve the hotel's history while methodically modernising its most public-facing spaces. The latest example is The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air, its all-day dining room and terrace, which has just emerged from a targeted revamp under culinary director Joe Garcia. The design changes are subtle to the casual eye, but calculated. The hotel's signature pale pink palette (or, as they'd call it, 'blush') now extends across the terrace, connecting the indoor and outdoor areas. Alcove seating has also been reconfigured for privacy—a priceless commodity in La La Land—while a new marble bar draws guests in earlier, keeps them later and increases bar spend without needing to upsell a second entrée. With that said, the food has had a phenomenal little facelift of its own. For Garcia, who joined in 2022, the mission was to modernize carefully and slowly, as opposed to a scattergun embrace of trends. 'I take inspiration from the Spanish Colonial architecture and the hotel's legacy,' he says. 'I want to reinterpret classic dishes and flavor combinations with modern equipment, contemporary techniques, and locally-sourced ingredients.' That philosophy has translated into a menu that is smaller, more focused, and, in my personal opinion, faultless. The loup de mer is crisp-skinned over eggplant caviar, roasted sweet peppers, tomato confit, and basil, finished with a saffron bouillon poured to order. Elegant without tipping into impractical ceremony. The sweetcorn Agnolotti, with butter-poached Maine lobster, preserved lemon, and compressed French tarragon, has the richness to justify the price point but the acidity to keep guests coming back to repeat tastes. The Onion Dip, a play on the retro party food classic, is the very definition of culinary indulgence; a blend of sweet, caramelised Vidalia onions and crème fraîche, garnished with pickled pearl onions, crispy onions, chives, and caviar (of course). What Garcia doesn't do is create highly-orchestrated Instaplates designed to succeed in a single edited image, which can't survive a 50-cover dinner service. 'That's not how a real kitchen with real customers operates,' he says. 'I'd rather remain timeless and let the ingredients we spend so much time sourcing speak for themselves.' With that said, he knows looks are paramount—especially in Bel-Air. 'I'll never forget one of the first lessons I learned as a young cook when I heard that 'the eye eats first.' I always keep this in mind and make sure that there is plenty of color on the plate. It is very rare to go to a restaurant in LA these days and not see people at times spend more time taking pictures of the food than they do eating it, so it's my job to make sure that the food is being presented in an elegant but not overly opulent way.' His Pommes Lyonnaise is a perfect example. 'Knowing what the traditional Pommes Lyonnaise consists of, combined with an understanding of the traditional cooking method and how it is usually served, empowers you to take liberties such as deciding what type of fat you use to cook the potatoes. 'What kind of allium would you like to use? The dish is traditionally made with onions—but why can't shallots be used? Or Leeks? Would you like to use duck fat? What about clarified butter? Why not brown butter? What about dry-aged beef tallow? Can I add black truffles? The innovative possibilities are endless.' Beyond his core menu, Garcia and his team have also put a huge amount of effort into the pastry cart, appearing each morning carrying almond croissants, cream puffs, cinnamon rolls—all from The Patisserie. 'We are very proud of the work and research and development that was required to get our Viennoserie to the point where it is now,' Garcia says. 'It is really a showcase of the hard work and dedication that our bakery team puts in on a daily basis.' Like every tweak, the cart serves multiple purposes: it drives visibility for the pastry team, creates a secondary sales channel, and allows the kitchen to test items in front of a captive audience before committing to production-scale rollout. Programming has been recalibrated to encourage local loyalty. The Sunday Night Dinner series—held on the first Sunday of each month—offers family-style menus that change with the season, filling a gap in LA's luxury weekday-power-lunch dining calendar. September's End-of-Summer Barbecue will be the opposite: a one-day, $350-per-head event with chefs like Burt Bakman, Saw Naing, Jackson Kalb, Ray Garcia, Jeremy Fox, and Ashley James, backed by sponsors including Louis XIII and Telmont. Of course, the competitive set for The Restaurant isn't every high-end dining room in LA, but other hotel restaurants with comparable brand equity: The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel (thankfully, also a Dorchester Collection gem), Jean-Georges at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, The Belvedere at The Peninsula, et al. Each certainly has its draw, but Hotel Bel-Air's undeniable advantage is discretion, a guest list that doesn't leak, a property layout that lets dining feel genuinely separate from the rest of the city, and that all-important no-picture protocol. That's one of the many reason why the redesign works. The cosmetic updates are not just for aesthetis—they drive dwell time, boost beverage revenue, and improve the experience for both locals and in-house guests. The programming serves both audiences without cannibalising either. And the hotel's history only goes to bolster their five-star efforts. Though some may try to accuse them of it, The Restaurant isn't betting on nostalgia. It's betting that in a city addicted to it, there's still a market for precision, privacy, and a product that knows exactly what it is. The harder—and more valuable—way to secure a restaurant a legacy of its very own.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Taylor Swift fans defend singer amid The Life of a Showgirl cover backlash
Taylor Swift has unveiled details of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, set for release on 3 October 3. The project will feature 12 tracks, including a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, and production from Max Martin, Shellback and Swift herself. Sharing the cover art, tracklist and release date on Instagram, Swift captioned the post: 'And, baby, that's show business for you.' Photo: Taylor Swift instagram The announcement, which received more than nine million likes, also revealed songs such as The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, Father Figure and the title track featuring Carpenter. Following the reveal, some social media users criticised Swift's outfits in the album imagery, with comments suggesting she was imitating other artists or lowering her standards. Remarks included comparisons to Britney Spears' Circus era and references to Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Chappell Roan and Kylie Minogue. Others urged her to 'put some clothes on' or questioned her suitability as a role model. Fans responded on platforms including Reddit, defending the singer's creative choices and challenging expectations placed on her image. One user wrote: 'Celebrities are not meant to be your children's role models. Be a parent and explain bodily autonomy.' Others noted that Swift, 35, is a seasoned artist with the right to evolve her style. Supporters online praised her reunion with Martin and Shellback, with one fan posting: 'This is about to be a pop masterpiece for the ages.' Another wrote: 'So so so excited for this new era! Thank you for sharing your words and your feelings with us.'
