Beyoncé couldn’t hide her excitement as she spoke about her daughter, Blue Ivy, joining her in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King. Blue Ivy lends her voice to Kiara, the young cub of Simba and Nala, in this highly anticipated prequel set to hit theatres on December 20.
In a heartfelt behind-the-scenes video shared on Good Morning America, Beyoncé became emotional while praising Blue Ivy’s performance.
Blue Ivy also expressed her joy, saying being part of Mufasa felt like a dream come true.
“If I, like told my younger self that I was in a movie, I’d never be myself. It’s just a really amazing experience, and I feel like everybody that’s a part of this is so helpful and supportive,“ she said.
In addition to her emotional moment, Beyoncé returns to voice Nala in the new film, having previously lent her voice to the lioness in “The Lion King,” alongside Donald Glover, who reprises his role as Simba in both films.
Also in celebration of the film, Disney is supporting the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund, an initiative aimed at protecting lion populations and their habitats.
By partnering with this important organisation, Disney hopes to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and inspire audiences to take action.
Beyoncé has confirmed she’ll headline theNFL’s Christmas Dayhalf-time show, marking a major highlight of the festive season.
The superstar is set to perform as the Houston Texans face off against the Baltimore Ravens, one of two highly anticipated games scheduled for December 25. The other matchup features the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers, with both games available for streaming on Netflix.
This performance will be Beyoncé’s first time showcasing tracks from her latest album, Cowboy Carter, which debuted in March after she teased it during February’s Super Bowl. Fans were treated to the singles Texas Hold ’Em and 16 Carriages immediately following her Super Bowl appearance.
A bold venture into country music, Cowboy Carter includes collaborations with Miley Cyrus and Post Malone and is part of a planned trilogy that began with Renaissance.
The album has been nominated for Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys, where Beyoncé has also secured 10 other nominations, including Best Country Album and Song of the Year for Texas Hold ’Em.
Beyoncé broke the news on her social media with a captivating image of herself catching a football while standing on a vintage car adorned with roses, wearing her iconic cowboy hat.
Netflix hinted at surprises for the event, suggesting the star might bring a few collaborators from her latest album to join her on stage.
This isn’t Beyoncé’s first half-time performance. She headlinedthe Super Bowl in 2013 and made a memorable appearance with Coldplay and Bruno Mars in 2016, a performance that remains the most-watched half-time show in history.
Vice President Kamala Harrismade a grand entrance during her first official visit to her campaign headquarters on Monday evening, stepping out to Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.”
A source close to Harris informed CNN that her team received approval from Beyoncé’s representatives to use the song throughout her presidential campaign.
Despite Beyoncé’s strict clearance guidelines for her music, she swiftly approved Harris’ campaign’s request to use “Freedom” just hours before Harris walked out to the song on Monday, according to the source.
While Beyoncé has not formally endorsed Harris since President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term, granting permission to use “Freedom” as a campaign song suggests Harris has the superstar’s support.
Neither the Harris campaign nor a representative for Beyoncé responded to CNN’s requests for comment.
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, endorsed Harris on Sunday, shortly after Biden’s announcement.
“New, Youthful, Sharp , energy !!!!” Knowles posted on her Instagram with a photo of herself alongside Harris. “Putting personal Ego, power, and fame aside.
That is the definition of a great leader, Thank you, President Biden, for your service and your leadership. Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go”
Beyoncé has a history of endorsing Democratic candidates. In 2013, she sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
In 2016, Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z headlined a pre-election concert for Clinton in Cleveland, Ohio, with her backup dancers dressed in blue pantsuits to honor the woman who could have been the first female president.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman lead our country and knowing that her possibilities are limitless,” Beyoncé said at the time. “And that’s why I am with her.”
In 2020, Beyoncé endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket, posting on her Instagram to encourage her followers to vote.
“Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, debuted onBeyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade.” The Grammy-nominated song became an anthem in many demonstrations following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
American musician Beyonce Knowles-Carter fans, known collectively as the Beyhive, are renowned for their unwavering devotion to the music icon, and a recent incident in Toronto highlights just how far they’ll go to celebrate their idol.
The story revolves around Shannon Burns, a well-known figure as the midday host of Virgin Radio and an iHeartRadio correspondent.
Burns, seizing an opportunity to cater to Beyoncé enthusiasts, put up for sale what she claimed to be “high-quality” air from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
This particular air purportedly captured the essence of Beyoncé’s moment while accepting her Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 1.
The listing, initially priced at $5, comes with a caveat: only “serious inquiries” need apply.
Burns went the extra mile by including an image she snapped from her seat at the awards show, adding credibility to her unusual offering.
As of now, the listing remains active on Facebook Marketplace, awaiting a dedicated fan to seize this unique memorabilia before it’s gone.
This isn’t the first time such an eccentric sale has graced Toronto’s online platforms; in a similar vein, a local once attempted to sell bags of air from a milestone New York Yankees game at the Rogers Centre.
For Beyoncé devotees eager to own a piece of her aura, this sale might just be the ticket to “Blow” away their fellow fans.
A captivating photo shared by Beyoncé on social media has set the internet abuzz, drawing attention to an uncanny resemblance to Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari.
Fans and social media users are now engaged in lively comparisons between the two, with Nadia Buari receiving accolades for the striking similarity.
Beyoncé’s recent picture, showcasing her beauty and a hairstyle remarkably reminiscent of Nadia’s, has sparked a playful yet fervent discussion among Ghanaians.
Some witty netizens have taken to trolling Beyoncé, humorously dubbing her a “Nadia wannabe,” while others have expressed their preference, with comments like, “She wants to be Nadia Buari so bad 😭.” The online banter has further fueled the comparison, leading to amusing remarks such as, “Nadia is actually prettier than Beyoncé.”
As social media users continue to share their hilarious reactions, the unexpected likeness between the international superstar and the Ghanaian actress has become a trending topic, captivating audiences across platforms.
Kezia,who is from Derby, thinks that Beyoncé’s music can be enjoyed by everyone.
“Ifind it funny that a lot of people will think Beyoncé came up with this all by herself. “
“But if it can attract a lot of people of the same age, then it will be really great. “
Beyoncé recently announced her new project,shortly after Lana Del Rey confirmed that she is working on her first country album, Lasso, back in February.
UK artist Jess Thristan believes that it is important for female artists to release country music in order to help the genre grow,especially for women trying to make it in the industry.
Taylor Swift’s music album Fearless, released in 2008,helped make country pop music more understandable and enjoyable for young people.
Her new version of Fearless,called Fearless (Taylor’s Version), is currently the most popular country album in the UK. But Jess generally feels that the country music genre is mostly controlled by men and has a lot of stereotypes.
“In the UK, we have a great lineup of new female country singers. “
“I believe we are trying to change the idea of what male country artists are like, and to show people all the greatthings women are doing in the industry. “
Jess from Halifax says if you’re feeling inspired by Beyoncé and Lana’s new songs, go to a country show in the UK.
‘The dream is to be accepted. ‘
Roisin O’Connor, who works at The Independent with music, believes that Beyonce’s new music could change country music a lot.
“Since Beyonce is one of the most popular artists in the world, this could really get the UK excited,” she says.
I think you could call it the last place where things are discovered. It’s the one type of music that people in the UK don’t really understand yet.
“Many people in the UK like country music, but it’s not played as often on the radio compared to other types of music. “
Roisin thinks country music has had problems with being “closed off” to new ideas.
The radio station in Oklahoma didn’t want to play Beyoncé’s new songs at first, but now they have changed their mind and will play them.
“Roisin says the industry has a long history of not accepting or recognizing black artists. “
“It has also had some issues with women and creating narrow ideas about what a female country artist should be like. “
For me, this is Beyoncé asserting her position. She was raised in a place where country music is popular [Houston, Texas], so she has the same right as anyone else to make a country album.
Kezia thinks it would be really great if people in the UK accepted her type of music.
She said that people have a bad habit of saying “country and UK country. “
“It’s not the UK. “There is no music from the UK in the pop or jazz genre. It’s only music like jazz, pop, and country.
“Sometimes people think it’s just about line dancing and cowboys, but that’s not true. ” It’s not true, it’s a story.
I believe being accepted means we can perform at festivals instead of just performing on a country stage. “toonly be on the main stages,” she says.
At just 41 years old, Blitz Bazawule, the director of the latest film adaptation of Alice Walker’s acclaimed novel, The Color Purple, is a true renaissance man.
Hailing from Ghana, Bazawule has left an indelible mark on the creative landscape, having co-directed a film for Beyoncé, authored a novel, showcased his musical talents globally, and even set a record on Netflix.
His most recent venture takes on the formidable task of translating the powerful, Pulitzer Prize-winning narrative of The Color Purple into a musical film.
The story revolves around a young black woman navigating the challenges of racism and patriarchy in America. Scheduled for release in the US on Christmas Day, Bazawule’s adaptation follows the 1985 film that earned Whoopi Goldberg a Golden Globe and the Broadway musical that premiered in 2005.
Bazawule, now based in Atlanta, brings a wealth of experience and credentials to this high-pressure endeavor. Born Samuel Bazawule in Accra, Ghana, he exhibited a passion for drawing from an early age. Music also played a significant role in his life, with a diverse range of influences, including jazz, Ghanaian highlife, Motown, and Afrobeat. However, it was hip-hop, especially Public Enemy’s 1988 album “It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back,” that left an enduring impact on Bazawule’s creative journey.
“I had never heard young black people express themselves in that way before,” Bazawule said on the website of his now defunct artist development company, Embassy MVMT.
Motivated by the influential sound of Public Enemy, Blitz Bazawule, after leaving Accra for his studies at Kent State University in the US, produced several mixtapes. Post-graduation, Bazawule relocated to New York, the heartland of hip-hop, to further his music career.
Under the moniker Blitz the Ambassador, he has launched four studio albums, showcasing his linguistic versatility by rapping in English, Twi (a Ghanaian language), and West African Pidgin. His music often features collaborations with renowned African artists like Seun Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, and Nneka. In a nod to his inspiration, Chuck D from Public Enemy made a guest appearance on Bazawule’s 2011 album, “Native Sun.”
Years later, leveraging the financial gains from his music performances, Bazawule ventured into filmmaking. This led to the creation of his debut feature film, “The Burial of Kojo,” which garnered critical acclaim.
“I realised no investor was interested in financing an African film that didn’t revolve around the narrow clichés of war and disease. Self-funding was my only option,” Bazawule wrote on crowdfunding site Kickstarter, as he attempted to raise more money for post-production.
The Burial of Kojo is a magical realism story about a young girl who goes missing while working in a gold mine in Ghana and sets out to find her father. The majority of the cast, who are locals, spoke Twi during the countryside filming.
Bazawule composed and performed the score for The Burial of Kojo, telling the BBC after the film’s 2018 premiere: “Making film is, I believe, the quintessential mix of all creative endeavours – you get to be a bit of a writer, you get to be a bit of a visual artist, you get to be a bit of a musician, all in one.”
Lacking formal training and conventional funding, Blitz Bazawule’s first film, “The Burial of Kojo,” captured the attention of renowned Hollywood director Ava DuVernay, known for her work on “Selma” and “When They See Us.” DuVernay’s company, Array, acquired the distribution rights for the film, marking it as the first Ghanaian-produced film to be featured on Netflix.
The film garnered widespread critical acclaim, with the New York Times lauding it as “a near-virtuoso work, a feast of emotion, nuance and beauty, and a startling feature directing debut.” The praise wasn’t just from film critics; Bazawule mentions that it was his work on “The Burial of Kojo” that led Beyoncé to invite him to collaborate on her project, “Black Is King.”
Released in 2020, “Black Is King” serves as a visual album complementing Beyoncé’s soundtrack for the 2019 “Lion King” remake. The film is a celebration of black identity and female empowerment, featuring a rich tapestry of African talent and culture. For his contributions to this project, Bazawule earned a Grammy nomination.
Branching out into literature, Bazawule’s 2022 novel “The Scent of Burnt Flowers” narrates the story of a couple seeking asylum in Ghana from 1960s America. This novel is on its way to becoming a six-episode TV series, with Bazawule at the helm as writer, director, and producer.
In his adaptation of “The Color Purple,” Bazawule focuses on the central character, Celie, and her vivid imagination, portraying it as a key element in her journey to overcome abuse and trauma.
“She’s working in her head to liberate herself,” he said in an interview in the run-up to the film’s release.
One half of Les Twins, Beyoncé’s backup dance duo, Laurent Bourgeois, has responded to a woman who had accused him on TikTok of fathering 37 children and leaving them behind.
In a Sunday Instagram Live speech to his fans, he refuted the accusations and said the woman should “find another target.”
“My image is way too clean,” 34-year-old Bourgeois said. “If you find my 37 kids, tell them I love them so much. If they need a daddy, I’m here.”
“Give me the baby mama’s names. Where they at? I wanna see the babies,” he continued. “I wanna see what they look like, but I need you guys to understand — let’s do 10 babies. That’s a lot! 37?!… You guys are crazy. This is where I realized the world is nuts. Now, I understand why people and big artists talk less online.”
On TikTok, the accuser is a woman going by the handle @Lil_Curvy_. She stated that she is expecting one of the twins, but she is unsure which twin is carrying the weight. She claims that whenever the twins go out on a date, they trade places.
“I’m gonna let people ‘blah blah’ as much as they want to because I love my life so much,” Bourgeois said in his video Sunday. “And guess what? With or without the crazy things you guys said, my life would not change at all. At all. Not even a second. I’m doing so well. But can you come back with something true? Something I care about.”
Larry, the other twin, has not yet commented on the rumors.
The CEO and founder of Caveman Watches, Anthony Dzamefe, a globally renowned Ghanaian bespoke timepiece maker, has dedicated his craftsmanship to create a custom BeeHive watch, not only for the iconic singer Beyoncé but also for her father, Mathew Knowles.
Mathew Knowles, the father of the international music sensation Beyoncé, served as a keynote speaker at the ‘To The Top Seminar 2023’ in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the Eat Drink Music Festival. During this event, he was presented with a stunning and unique Beyonce Caveman watch, intricately designed to honor the legendary artist.
Anthony Dzamefe revealed that he was entrusted with the task of crafting this masterpiece for both Beyonce and her father. The project, which demanded 504 hours (equivalent to three weeks) of dedicated craftsmanship, was aptly named the ‘Beyonce (BeeHive) Watch’ in tribute to her dedicated fanbase, known as the Beehive.
The unveiling of this remarkable project included a captivating video presentation of the watchmaking process, which brought immense joy to Mr. Knowles. Beyoncé was also made aware of the creation and expressed her excitement about the beautiful project. According to reports, she is eagerly awaiting the delivery of her watch, personally arranged by her father.
The intricate and visually stunning process of crafting Beyoncé’s Caveman Timepiece has been showcased on Caveman Watches’ platform and its founder, Anthony Dzamefe’s Twitter page. This exhibition highlights the remarkable artistry, meticulous attention to detail, and craftsmanship required to create such a unique timepiece.
The priceless Beyonce Caveman watch is a limited edition, paying tribute to the artist’s remarkable musical journey. It derives its inspiration from the name “Queen Bee” and her devoted fanbase, known as the Beehive. This bespoke timepiece features intricate designs and elements that capture the essence of Beyoncé’s iconic performances and style. The watch is a one-of-a-kind creation, with a handcrafted honeycomb-inspired 24k Rose Gold watch case housing a meticulously crafted watch dial made from 444 fallen Bee Wings, revealing a dancing tourbillon through an African Cutout.
Mr. Dzamefe emphasized that it comes with a Mink oiled, handmade original leather strap, making it a true masterpiece fit for a queen.
Mathew Knowles commended the craftsmanship and creativity behind Caveman Watches, expressing his fascination and admiration for the artistry and attention to detail in the Beyonce Caveman watch. He even went so far as to label the innovation “the best brand story he has ever seen” and referred to Anthony Dzamefe as “a Genius.”
American superstar Beyoncé arranges for her own toilet seats to be transported to every destination on her world tour, ensuring that she never uses a seat previously used by anyone else. Exclusive backstage images reveal a labeled container among her extensive luggage, reading “Beyoncé… toilet seats.”
According to a source, Beyoncé’s elevated status as a performer allows her to make specific requests, and her team goes to great lengths to provide her with personalized comforts, including her preference for a personal toilet seat.
“Her tour roadies have seen everything so it’s not a great deal for them, but it does raise a smile from people who happen to catch a glimpse of the branded container.”
Beyoncé, 41, also uses a customised golf buggy, which is covered in black sheets to hide her identity when she is transported around backstage.
And she has a VIP zone for her and her entourage featuring a huge dining area — but tour crew are not allowed within 50 metres of it and do not get any leftover grub.
Queen Bey has form for diva demands.
In 2013, she demanded all tour crew wore 100 per cent cotton clothing.
She also wanted her water chilled to -6C exactly and £700 titanium straws to drink it — plus hand-carved ice balls to cool her throat.
Her Renaissance tour is now back in the US after eight gigs here, including at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — which rival fans have claimed looks like a giant toilet seat.
Beyoncé, widely recognized as the Queen of Pop music, has been implicated as the cause behind an unanticipated surge in inflation that supposedly occurred in Sweden during the month of May 2023.
According to experts and economists in Sweden, the superstar’s world tour in Sweden sky-rocketed the price of goods and services, especially the cost of hotels and restaurant services.
Sweden reported higher-than-expected inflation of 9.7% in May. Inflation in the hospitality industry increased the most.
Touching on the new development, Michael Grahn, a Swedish economist at Danske Bank said that Beyoncé helped drive the jump in hotel rates, she equally is a significant influence behind the unexpectedly strong uptick in recreation and culture prices, he said.
“I wouldn’t … blame Beyoncé for [the] high inflation print, but her performance and global demand to see her perform in Sweden apparently added a little to it,” he wrote in an email to the BBC.
The demand for hotel and restaurant services due to Beyoncé world tour is not exclusive to Sweden, in the UK, reports from the Cardiff Hotel reveal that over 60,000 people including foreign nationals from countries such as Lebanon, USA, and Australia have made demands for rooms tied to the singer’s concert in London. This unexpected situation has compelled local authorities to drive out some homeless families being housed in a hotel by the local council was reportedly booted to make way for her fans.
Beyoncé world tour, the first in seven years is expected to gross over £2bn by the time it ends in September.
The National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, a Dutch museum, has claimed that its archaeologists have been prohibited from conducting excavations at a significant Egyptian site due to an exhibition exploring the impact of ancient Egypt on black musicians.
The museum expressed its disappointment regarding the ban and deemed the accusation of “falsifying” history by Egyptian authorities as groundless.
No comments have been made by Egyptian officials regarding the issue. However, recent reports in Egyptian media mentioned the exhibition as a source of contention for a local expert in antiquities, who alleged that it supported “Afrocentric theory.”
In response, an Egyptian Member of Parliament raised concerns about the government’s actions to address what they referred to as the “distortion of Egyptian civilization.”
The museum also said that it had received comments via social media that were “racist or offensive in nature” since the exhibition opened.
The dispute comes only weeks after Egyptian authorities condemned a new Netflix docudrama series depicting Queen Cleopatra as a black African as a “falsification of history”.
The antiquities ministry insisted that Cleopatra had “Hellenistic (Greek) features”, including “light skin”.
Image caption,Erykah Badu wore a ring featuring a winged Egyptian goddess at the Soul Train Music Awards in 2016
The exhibition at the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) – entitled Kemet. Egypt in Hip Hop, jazz, soul & funk – aims to demonstrate how Ancient Egypt and Nubia have been “an undeniable source of inspiration for musicians of African descent for over 70 years”.
The artists have embraced the ancient cultures and employed the associated motifs “as symbols of resistance, empowerment and spiritual healing”, it says.
It features photographs and music videos showing how Beyoncé and Rihanna had both appeared as Queen Nefertiti; a modern sculpture of Nas based on the famous gold mask of King Tutankhamun; several of Sun Ra’s Egyptian-inspired costumes; and songs by artists ranging from Nina Simone and Fela Kuti to Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill.
The exhibition also looks at what scientific research has revealed about ancient Egypt and Nubia and discusses how they have been studied from Eurocentric and Afrocentric perspectives.
The RMO said in a statement on Wednesday that it was disappointed to be informed in a recent email from a senior Egyptian antiquities official that it was no longer allowed to excavate at the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo after almost 50 years of work there.
“The Egyptian authorities have every right to terminate a permit for an excavation; after all, it is their land and their heritage. However, the museum considers the underlying argument for this decision incorrect.”
It added: “The Egyptian authorities conclude that our current exhibition… is about ‘falsifying’ the ancient Egyptian history. This political argument is used to express the dissatisfaction with the exhibition and to ban our excavation.”
The RMO also expressed surprise that the argument was being made by “people who have not actually seen the exhibition”.
Following the passing of Tina Turner at the age of 83, celebrities and fans alike have come forward to pay heartfelt tributes to the soul star renowned for her chart-topping hits such as “The Best” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
Beyoncé, recognizing Turner’s unmatched prowess, described her as the “epitome of passion and power.” Sir Mick Jagger fondly remembered her as a “wonderful friend” and an incredibly talented performer.
Notable figures like Mariah Carey and Oprah Winfrey praised Turner’s resilience as a survivor who triumphed over years of domestic abuse. The Obamas expressed admiration for her ability to authentically convey her experiences of both joy and pain through her music.
Joining in commemorating Turner’s extraordinary legacy, President Joe Biden acknowledged her humble beginnings as a farmer’s daughter and hailed her as a “once-in-a-generation talent.”
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Beyoncé performed with Turner at the 2008 Grammy Awards
On Wednesday, the publicist for the legendary singer confirmed her passing. While no specific cause was disclosed, it was known that she had encountered various health challenges in recent years, including a stroke and kidney disease.
Recognized as the Queen of Rock and Roll, she commanded the stage with a fiery presence and left an indelible mark as an extraordinary vocalist of her era.
Her journey in the music industry began in the 1950s, gaining prominence as part of the Ike Turner Revue, and later achieving newfound success as a solo artist in the 1980s.
US singer Gloria Gaynor said Turner “paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white”.
“She did with great dignity and success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music. “
Another contemporary, Diana Ross, said she was “shocked” and “saddened” by Turner’s death; while Dionne Warwick remembered her as an “eternal ball of energy”.
Mick Jagger, who often collaborated with Turner, wrote on Twitter: “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner.
“She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
Image caption,Turner and Jagger performed together at Live Aid in 1985
Sir Elton John called Turner a “total legend on record and on stage”.
He said: “We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers… She was untouchable.”
Welsh star Dame Shirley Bassey recalled how Turner “really gave it her everything and was a fantastic performer”.
Born in Tennessee and raised in the church, Turner basically elbowed her way into rock ‘n’ roll and rose to fame in the 1960s.
When Ike Turner refused to give her an audition, she waited for the intermission in his show, grabbed a drummer’s microphone and let rip.
She sang with the band for the rest of the night, and soon got equal billing with Ike – later marrying her co-star.
“When Ike heard me, he said, ‘My God!’” she told People magazine in 1981. “He couldn’t believe that voice coming out of this frail little body.”
They became one of the most watchable, combustible bands on the soul circuit; and many of their hits were covers of other people’s material.
From Proud Mary to Get Back, via Whole Lotta Love, Turner made the songs her own, bringing an unforgettable rasp and a powerful female perspective to those rock and roll standards.
John Fogerty, the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman who wrote Proud Mary, tweeted: “So deeply sad to hear about Tina Turner’s passing… I loved her version of Proud Mary! It was different and fantastic. I was also so happy because she chose my song and it was her breakthrough record.”
The star was left penniless after divorcing Ike Turner in the 1970s, but she went on to achieve even greater success as a solo artist, with hits including What’s Love Got To Do With It, Let’s Stay Together, The Best Steamy Windows, Private Dancer and James Bond theme GoldenEye.
A number of Wednesday night’s tributes referred to her escape from her husband’s abuse.
The charity Women’s Aid was among those to quote one of Turner’s songs, saying: “She will always be simply the best.”
TV presenter Oprah Winfrey cited Turner’s “courage”, adding: “Her life became a clarion call for triumph.”
In an effusive message, singer Mariah Carey called Turner not only an “incredible performer” but also a “survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere”.
Image caption,Tributes are being paid around the world
Beyoncé, another younger star who was influenced by Turner, wrote on her website: “My beloved queen. I love you endlessly.
“I am so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of passion and power.
“We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”
Singer PP Arnold – who performed alongside Turner – told the BBC that the two women’s relationship had “changed my life” and saved her from an abusive teen marriage.
Numerous other musicians including Janelle Monáe, Dolly Parton, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Sir Tom Jones were quick to hail the late performer’s achievements.
She won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a solo artist, having earlier been inducted alongside Ike.
Dancehall musician, Shatta Wale, has disclosed why he discontinued his GOG album.
Fans have since been looking forward to the release of that particular album after it was announced in 2022.
However, Shatta Wale, said after working on the project for the past three years, he has been compelled to squash it.
In a new twist to events, Shatta, who has been suffering trolls on social media over the album’s delay said the project was saddled with some challenges.
Recounting the said challenges in a viral audio from a Twitter space, the Shatta Movement boss said his inability to secure some international collaborations killed his zeal to pull through.
“I couldn’t get some of the features and that was a problem. I was trying my possible best and that is why I’m saying when White people come and exploit us, that’s what the table looks like.
“For Instance, when Beyoncé wanted to feature me, I swear to God I didn’t want to continue that process again. You know why? Because a Ghanaian was coordinating for that thing and it went all wrong. Beyonce and her team actually wanted me to fly from Ghana with the crew.”
“Ghanaians with their pressure forced me to feature Beyoncé, now I’m getting problems, now the same Ghanaian can’t even get me that feature and that was the thing that got me pissed with the whole album,” he said.
Recalling another factor, Shatta asserted that his songs were leaked after trusting some Ghanaian distributors with it.
“I got some distributors to also get me a deal in Nigeria and everything was going on properly. They were supposed to give me a paper to sign so that they can give me an amount of money to shoot my videos and TG Omori was supposed to shoot my videos.”
“I don’t know what happened but I gave them a list to just test them on how they can keep my songs and I just wanted to see what will happen but they just leaked those ones which means, the person that connected me to those Nigerians and stuff did it. That person is in Ghana and as I’m talking to you now, his house papers I have them. Me I don’t play like that and I told him that I don’t want to go to court,” He added.
On March 30, Shatta Wale compensated fans with a different album titled M.A.A.L.I
The 10-track album featured top Jamaican musician, Vybz Kartel.
In 2019, Shatta Wale became the first Ghanaian artist to collaborate with American music superstar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter on a song for her album “The Lion King,” marking a significant milestone in his career.
The collaboration did the magic for Shatta Wale, however, this was not without stress.
The Dancehall music has opened up about how a Ghanaian who was coordinating things between himself and Beyonce’s team complicated the process when in the natural sense, could have been made easier.
“When Beyonce wanted to feature me, I swear to God I didn’t want to continue the process again. Do you know why? The Ghanaian that followed and was coordinating for that thing went all wrong about the situation.
“It was this and that…I told him to shut up, don’t tell me that, don’t shout that. He was like, she said she will come next week, we have to shoot the video now. You see all those things, it doesn’t move me,” Shatta disclosed in his Twitter Space on May 14.
Despite the challenges, Shatta pulled through to record the monster hit ‘Already’ and shoot the music video with Beyoncé which later became a favourite of many.
“I did it because I love the fans, that is why I stressed myself. Beyonce and her team actually wanted me to fly with my crew like the way I travel with 16, 12 people but our Ghanaians with their pressure forced me. Now I want to feature Beyonce and I am getting problems. Now the same Ghanaian person can’t even get that feature,” he expressed his disappointment on Sunday during an interaction with his fans.
Shatta Wale has hinted at producing a second album, KONEKT which will purely be made for Afrobeat lovers just months after the release of his ‘MAALI’ album.
On Thursday, the social media behemoth started deleting the formerly-desired blue tick verification from thousands of accounts.
Elon Musk, the owner, is overhauling the social media company in an effort to make a profit.
Users must spend $84 (£67) per year to subscribe to Twitter Blue in order to keep the check next to their name.
Others kept their ticks while some lost theirs. Despite saying he would not pay to be verified, LeBron James still has a blue tick which is a “complimentary subscription” gifted by Elon Musk.
The billionaire confirmed Stephen King and William Shatner also got the same deal.
Elon Musk reveals he is ‘personally paying’ the Twitter Blue subscriptions of some celebrities to keep their checkmark, such as Lebron James and Stephen King. pic.twitter.com/ulLvwOyLIn
“The fact that we’re even discussing Blue check marks is a Sad moment in society,” he posted.
The company first introduced the verification feature in 2009, after a former professional baseball player sued the social media giant over imposter accounts.
The blue check became a status symbol and a sign of authority. But in the new Twitter-verse, Mr Musk wants users to pay to be verified.
The decision to monetise verification could usher in a massive cultural and power shift on the platform.
In the days before verification, Kanye West, Shaq and Ewan McGregor were among the first celebrities to speak out about being impersonated on Twitter. Now that the badges are gone, a celebrity’s follower count may become the only way to tell the difference between someone famous and an imposter.
Within a few hours of losing verification, an account posing as Hillary Clinton, complete with the same profile picture as the former US Senator, “announced” she would again run for the presidency.
Under Twitter’s new verification scheme, gold, grey and blue badges are meant to provide more context to how an account was verified.
But the lack of verification is already causing confusion. In New York City, a new handle has claimed to be the “authentic Twitter account” representing the government.
Experts warn these are the kind of tweets that could lead to the spread of misinformation.
Mr Musk has tried to frame the decision to do away with verification as a way to democratise content on the site. But critics have argued the move will amplify disinformation as Twitter Blue subscribers will get prioritised rankings – Mr Musk has said that only verified accounts will appear in the site’s prominent For You stream.
Social media monitors and experts fear the rise in paid verification will lead to an amplification of misinformation on the site. If that were to happen, it could scare off yet more advertisers – and undermine any extra revenue Twitter is getting from its verification subscription model.
But Mr Musk said pain is a part of change.
“I feel like we’re headed to a good place,” he told BBC News. “Overall, I think the trend is very good.”
The co-founder of DWP Academy, Quables, has disclosed that their biggest pay cheque ever came from American singer Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter.
Back in July 2020, Ghanaians sent congratulatory messages to the dance academy when some members, including Dancegod Lloyd, featured in the music video of ‘Already’ a song by Beyoncé and Dancehall singer, Shatta Wale.
According to Quables, artistes and brands who have worked with DWP understand the value and the impact they have on their projects.
Speaking to Elsie Lamar on GhanaWeb TV’s Talkertainment, the talent manager, who was slow to disclose the amount of money Beyoncé paid them, hammered home that their pay remains the biggest contract to date.
“It is Beyoncé, I’ll not even lie…I can’t give a range, but it came from Beyoncé,” he said.
After being pressed to disclose the actual amount of money DWP Academy received, Quables hammered home that the singer’s worth meant they were not underpaid.
“Come on it’s Beyoncé...if I say it is Beyoncé, you have to understand that. That is Jay-Z’s wife, so (laughs)…our work with Usher was also very good.
“Anybody that works with us knows that we give you value for whatever you pay for. We’ve made songs go global. I can mention ‘Overdose’ because we created that choreography. The song ‘Down Flat’ blew up because of the dance and what the artiste is going to get back is millions,” the co-founder of DWP told GhanaWeb.
It’s been quite a year for music, from Beyoncé’s unbreakable soul and Adele’s “Easy” listening to Bad Bunny’s hot-boy Verano and Harry Style’s House party. But now we finally know who’ll need a U-Haul to take home all their trophies from the 65th annual Grammy Awards.
Bey went in with the most nominations (nine) and wound up breaking the record for the most Grammy wins by a single artist ever: a staggering 32. But if she scooped up several awards at the ceremony, she failed to net three of the biggest: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year, the last of which many (including EW) thought she had in, well, her bag.
Those wins, which were announced in the final hour of the show, would surprise even the artists who won them. Visibly stunned veteran singer-songwriter (and now 13-time winner) Bonnie Raitt snagged the award for Song of the Year for her track “Just Like That,” the first song written by a solo songwriter to take the prize since Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” 15 years ago.
Record of the Year went to an equally shocked Lizzo for her feel-good anthem “About Damn Time.” She dedicated her golden gramophone to her idols, including Prince and Bey. “Beyoncé, in the fifth grade I skipped school to see you perform,” she said. “You changed my life… So thank you so much. You clearly are the artist of our lives. I love you!”
And then there was the night’s most coveted trophy — Album of the Year — a category that once again pitted Adele (for 30) against Beyoncé (for Renaissance). But neither diva would snatch the statch (nor would Bad Bunny, ABBA, Mary J. Blige, Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, or Coldplay). The award instead went to Harry Styles for Harry’s House. Like Lizzo, the “As It Was” singer used his acceptance speech to praise his fellow nominees. “Man, I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me,” he said. “And I think on nights like tonight it’s so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music. I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions based on what is going to get us one of these.”
Trevor Noah returned for his third year as host of the proceedings, having left his day job at The Daily Show. “Sometimes when you’re doing a live award show you can focus so much on the production of it that you forget what’s happening right in front of your eyes. And that is, some of the greatest talents of a generation are performing live in front of you,” Noah told EW’s Awardist podcast. “It’s just this live volcano that’s erupting in front of our eyes, and it’s beautiful to be a part of.”
Harry Styles pulled up the biggest surprise at the Grammys 2023 after winning the coveted album of the year award
The former One Direction singer fended off competition from music heavyweights such as Beyonce, Adele and Kendrick Lamar to scoop the grand prize of the night for his critically acclaimed and chart-topping album Harry’s House, released last summer.
As Grammys host Trevor Noah announced his name, Harry clutched his face and hugged Lizzo before giving a warm embrace to a very special superfan from Ontario, Canada 78-year-old grandmother Reina who got the chance to present him with the award on-stage.
He then said in his acceptance speech: ‘Man, I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me. A lot of different times in my life, I listened to everyone in this category when I’m alone.
‘I feel like on nights like tonight, there is no such thing as “best in music”. I don’t think any of us sit in the studio making decisions based on what’s gonna get us one of these.’
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Beyoncé performed with Turner at the 2008 Grammy Awards
