Saturday, December 20, 2025

Texas progressive country pioneer Joe Ely, who collaborated with The Clash, dead at 78

Joe Ely, a central figure in Texas’ progressive country scene during the 1970s, has died aged 78.  His representative...

Kylie Minogue tops UK Christmas charts

Kylie Minogue has achieved her first-ever Christmas number one. The 57-year-old pop star has topped the Christmas charts in...

Guitarist Gem Archer reveals Oasis Live ’25 tour setlist was ‘amended’

The Oasis Live ’25 tour setlist went through some last‑minute trimming, leaving a few planned songs on the cutting‑room floor.

Addison Rae doesn’t want to be seen as just a ‘pop star’

Addison Rae says she doesn’t “really care about being a pop star” — she just wants to be a “star”.

Måneskin enjoying the ‘space to experiment’ before regrouping

Måneskin have every intention of getting back in the studio together, but for now, they’re relishing the chance to experiment individually.

Latest Articles

Simon Cowell: Sinitta is a great godmother


Simon Cowell says Sinitta is a "great" godmother to his son Eric.
The 54-year-old music mogul has enlisted his long time pal and former flame as one of his eight-week-old tot's godparents and she has already spoiled him with lots of gifts.
Speaking at the launch of the new series of 'Britain's Got Talent' in London yesterday (09.04.14), Simon told BANG Showbiz: "She's great. She's bought loads of presents round. She's been great, she loves kids."
Simon - whose girlfriend Lauren Silverman gave birth to Eric on Valentine's Day (14.02.14) - revealed he has got a shortlist of other potential godparents to join the 'So Macho' singer, but won't name names until they've been asked.
He added: "I've got a few ideas, but I've got to ask them first of all."
'The X Factor' star also paid tribute to late socialite Peaches Geldof, who tragically passed away at the age of 25 on Monday (07.04.14).
He said: "I met her a few times - in fact, she came down to the show, and she was a sweet, fun girl. What that family's had to go through over the years, it's unbearable. What can you say in a situation like that? It's very sad."

Matt Damon to be The Martian

Matt Damon is set to star in 'The Martian'. The 'Monuments Men' actor is reportedly considering the lead role in the sci-fi drama, which is based on an e-book by Any Weir and described as a cross between 'Apollo 13' and 'Cast Away', with an American s...

Lucy Mecklenburgh: Chloe Sims be careful about Mario Falcone


Lucy Mecklenburgh has warned Chloe Sims to "be careful" over her relationship with Mario Falcone.
The former 'The Only Way Is Essex' star has opened up about her on-again-off-again relationship with the heartthrob and confessed that while his feelings for his best pal Charlie Sim's older sister may be real, she doesn't know whether he can change his ways.
She said: "I actually think his romance with Chloe is genuine - they seem pretty into each other. I'd be careful if I was Chloe. All I can say is, remember he cheated on me."
The 22-year-old beauty - who tricked her Twitter followers into thinking she'd gotten engaged while in Las Vegas last week - has admitted that prior to her holiday she was considering rekindling her romance with her former fiancé.
In her new! magazine column, she said: "I admit that before I went to Vegas I did think about giving things another go. But then I found out apparently he was seeing Chloe and texting another girl while at the same time telling me he would like to try things again.
"It's a shame things haven't changed."

Jermain Jackman: ‘Kylie Minogue is fantastic coach’


'The Voice' winner Jermain Jackman wants Kylie Minogue to continue as a coach on the show.
The 19-year-old singer, from London, who triumphed on the show on Saturday night (05.04.14), beating acts Sally Barker, Christina Marie and Jamie Johnson, would like to see her on another series of the talent show.
He told BANG Showbiz: "I like Kylie. She is a fantastic coach. But it comes down to her and her decision whether she wants to stay or not."
The soulful singer and Labour party activist, who was coached by will.i.am on the BBC One talent show, is trying to persuade the Black Eyed Peas star to give him one of his new futuristic mobile phone watches, which he debuted on Alan Carr's chat show.
Jermain said: "I want one of those futuristic watches. I can remember in rehearsals he was flicking his watch and I was like, 'What's that?', he was like, 'Just my phone'. He made a call on it, I was like, 'Oh my goodness, can I have one of them?' I think it's still in the post."
Jermain is now planning his debut album and hopes to have a successful music career after landing a recording contract with Universal.
And despite people getting him confused with 'X Factor' star Jermaine Douglas and Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson, he insists he isn't about to change his name.
He said: "I have never thought about changing my name, I get mistaken for Jermaine Jackson and Jahmene Douglas, but I don't want to change it. If it had an 'e' at the end I would maybe have called my album just 'Jermaine', but I like it how it is."

Robbie Williams reveals tour inspiration


Robbie Williams' forthcoming tour is inspired by "classic old musicals".
The 'Candy' hitmaker's 'Swing Both Ways Live' shows kick off in Budapest in two weeks time, and he has promised something "very special" for the 46 European shows.
He said: "This 'Swings Both Ways' tour is very different from any previous Robbie Williams tour, and I think it's going to be very special.
"When I was young the television companies in the UK saw fit to broadcast replay after replay after replay of all the classic old musicals. I think most kids my age were bored and turned off by things like that, but I wasn't. I was engrossed in it all, lost in the magic of the glamour, and entranced by the craftsmanship of those times."
And the 40-year-old singer went on to suggest the shows will have a "variety" feel to them.
He added: "I want this to be a show that gives you the same feeling that I used to have at my grandma's on a Saturday night, watching the 'Morecambe & Wise Show' on TV: a show with variety and lots of showbusiness moments. I know my jazz hands are going to be so tired after this tour. I intend to do my very best to ensure that every one of you is heavily entertained."
The shows will see Robbie perform tracks from last year's 'Swing Both Ways' album and 2001's 'Swing When You're Winning' backed by a classic big band and eight dancers, and joined by a number of special guests, including his father Pete Conway.
The 'Let Me Entertain You' hitmaker has also enlisted West End choreographer Alistair David to work alongside his longtime show producer Lee Lodge to help put the gigs together.

Gwyneth Paltrow wanted to keep split secret


Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly wanted to keep her marriage breakdown secret.
The 'Iron Man 3' actress - who announced last month she and Chris Martin were separating after 10 years of marriage - was said to have been keen to allow people to believe they had no problems, but the Coldplay frontman felt it was "wrong" to pretend everything was fine.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: "It was his idea to announce the split. They had drifted apart, and there was no chance they'd get back together, so he felt it was wrong to keep pretending."
The former couple - who have children Apple, nine, and Moses, eight, together - have been holidaying in the Bahamas since news of their separation was announced.
They broke the news with a statement on Gwyneth's lifestyle website GOOP in a post titled "Conscious Uncoupling".
They wrote: "It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate.
"We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate.
"We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been."
Appealing for privacy because they are "parents first and foremost," they added: "We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and co-parent, we will be able to continue in the same manner. Love, Gwyneth & Chris."

Peaches Geldof’s sober ‘struggle’


Peaches Geldof "struggled" to stay off drugs, a friend has claimed.
Jonny Makeup has paid an emotional tribute to his "courageous" late pal - who was found dead at the home she shared with husband Thomas Cohen and their sons Astala, 23 months, and Phaedra, 11 months, on Monday (07.04.14) - but also admitted she was battling some problems.
Jonny - whose real name is Jon Henry Szymanski - told The Sun newspaper: "Losing a friend -- forever -- is one of the worst things that can happen.
"Being a recovering addict myself, I know she struggled to be and stay clean -- like all of us with addictions do. I don't know if this had anything to do with her death. But I just hope she was at peace.
"My life changed when I met Peaches. I've always thought of myself as courageous and spontaneous but in Peaches I found the most fearless and uninhibited person I have ever met.
She is also the smartest person I ever met, sometimes too smart!
"I can say with the most certainty that her everlasting love for the underdogs and outcasts of the world is what bonded us so close."
Yesterday (09.04.14) it was announced a post-mortem examination on the 25-year-old star's body was "inconclusive" and it could take weeks for toxicology results to help establish the cause of death. Police are still searching Peaches' home for evidence, but no drugs or suicide note have been found and her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Meanwhile, a previous unpublished interview with the blonde star has revealed doctors warned her she needed to overhaul her diet as she was at risk of health problems.
Speaking in 2011, Peaches said: "I had cholesterol and the doctors said stop eating s**t. So I did. If you stop eating pizza and chips you then don't look like you used to.
"I used to eat s**t every single day. I used to wake up with my boyfriend and eat crap. I had the heart of a 90-year-old gangster."

Chris Evans searches for another film to helm


Chris Evans will direct another film in August.
The 32-year-old actor made his directorial debut with '1:30 Train' which is currently in post-production and is planning on stepping behind the camera in the near future but hasn't decided what kind of project he wants to take on.
He told collider.com: "I will do another movie in August and I just don't know what it is yet. I got a couple [of scripts] that I'm reading and I told my team just send me everything. Because I've got the whole movie of 'Avengers', I'm literally going to London and I'm just going to be reading scripts. I'm going to find something else and I'm going to do it."
The 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' star admitted he likes human dramas which "aren't too fantastical" yet people are able to relate to the characters.
Evans added: "I like stories about brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, mothers, daughters, boyfriends, girlfriends. Human stories, like Terms of Endearment. Ordinary People. Just dramas- drama, but things that are just relatable. Things that aren't too fantastical. It doesn't have to be about wild drug dealers and car chases and bank robberies. Just simple stories that can resonate on a profound level."

Dannii Minogue wasn’t maternal until she had son


Dannii Minogue didn't feel maternal until she had her son three years ago.
The 42-year-old star never imaged she'd be great with children until she fell pregnant in 2010 with Ethan - whom she shares with her ex-partner Kris Smith - and she has loved motherhood ever since.
She explained: "Before I had my son I didn't feel maternal. I was never, ever thinking about having kids. I was just working and enjoying work. Even when my brother Brendan had his two boys, [sister] Kylie would get on the floor and roll around with them but I was like 'Oh, I don't know how to hold them', and scared of everything.
"But now I love it."
Dannii, who resides in Australia, has noticed Ethan has picked up bits of the British accent because he's been splitting his time between the UK - where his father lives - and Down Under.
She explained to Stylist magazine: "He's just spent time with his paternal grandparents and he's started saying words with a Mancunian accent. And then there's the whole 'Is this yo-ghurt or yoghurt?' thing. We just called it yo-yo to get around that one."
Meanwhile, the brunette beauty has recently sparked rumours she's pregnant with her second child after she was spotted displaying a small baby bump.

Keira Knightley recycled wedding gown for memories


Keira Knightley wore her recycled Chanel dress on her wedding day because she'd had "brilliant" memories in it.
The 'Anna Karenina' star chose to marry her beau James Righton in the pale pink designer frock, which she first wore at the pre-BAFTA party in 2009, because she wanted to get hitched in a gown with sentimental value.
She said: "It was something old, something new, something borrow and something blue. I had something old, which was the dress. But it's a dress that I've always had a brilliant time in. Every time I've worn it they've been brilliant nights. I wanted to be able to dance the night away and you can definitely dance in that dress."
Keira accessorised the dress with a jacket, a few bits of jewellery and a flowery headband.
She added to Red magazine: "The shoes and jacket were very beautifully designed by Karl Lagerfeld and made especially for me, so they were very new! I had my friend's ring for something blue and another friend's necklace for something borrowed."

Courtney Love: My debut solo was black mark


Courtney Love claims her 2004 debut solo album 'American Sweetheart' was her "one really bad black mark" in her career.
The Hole singer, who will soon be back with new music and is planning to tour the UK next month as a solo artist, doesn't have many regrets when it comes to her previous records.
She told NME magazine: "I love 'Nobody's Daughter' [Hole's fourth album in 2010]. It might have only sold two copies but I don't give a sh*t, it's just a great, great record."
The 49-year-old singer claims her new material is for the "indie charts" and first track 'Wedding Day' is "like an old-school '90s alternative single."
She explained: "There aren't a lot of indie charts - there's 52 alternative stations left in the United States, I think - but it's not gonna cross over, because it's got too many 'f**ks and 'sh*ts' in it.
"At least I don't use the word wh**e, because I think I've used that word more in my oeuvre than anybody else, ever."
She added that she plans to record some more "pretty songs" to add to the new material, including a track written by Linda Perry called 'And We Drown'.
Courtney added: "She might give me it, she might not - this tune called 'Diamonds And Rolling Stones'. It's really good, so I'm gonna see if she'll let me use that."

Michelle Heaton worried about long-term effects on baby


Michelle Heaton is worried her baby son may suffer "physically or mentally" after contracting viral meningitis.
The Liberty X singer's five-week-old baby Aaron was released from hospital yesterday (09.04.14) after his condition improved, but the brunette beauty is concerned about the long-term complications he may develop.
She took to Twitter last night to share the news, writing:
"Our beautiful baby boy Aaron Jay Hanley is home now and we couldnt be happier. It has been hell, I'm not going lie, and only time will tell if Aaron has been physically or mentally effected with having had viral meningitis.
"But the chances are slight so we just pray he will be one of the lucky ones!"
The 34-year-old star, who also has two-year-old daughter Faith with her husband Hugh Hanley, was distraught when Aaron was rushed to hospital at the weekend and diagnosed with the killer infection and reflux disease.
She tweeted at the time: "The last 24 hours has been the worst and scariest in my life."
Michelle previously described Aaron as her "miracle" because she thought she couldn't have any more children after being diagnosed with a mutated BRCA2 gene, and decided to have a double mastectomy to alleviate her high risk of cancer.