Metallica, John Legend to perform at Grammys

This file photo taken on September 24, 2016 shows Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica performing at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park to end extreme poverty by 2030 at Central Park in New York. Chart-topping singer John Legend and metal legends Metallica will be among the performers at this year's Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced on January 18, 2017.The music industry's signature gala takes place in Los Angeles on February 12, with Beyonce leading nominations. Metallica, one of the most influential groups in heavy metal, in November released its first album in eight years which, like Legend's latest, came out too late for Grammy eligibility.AFP/Angela Weiss.

 

 

Chart-topping singer John Legend and metal legends Metallica will be among the performers at this year’s Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy announced Wednesday.The music industry’s signature gala takes place in Los Angeles on February 12, with Beyonce leading nominations.
Legend, who is best known for his ballad “All of Me,” is a favorite of the Grammys. The 38-year-old has won 10 awards and has performed each year since 2014.
Metallica, one of the most influential groups in heavy metal, in November released its first album in eight years which, like Legend’s latest, came out too late for Grammy eligibility.
The Recording Academy, which plans to announce further performers later, will also give the ceremony a country music flavor with two of the genre’s top stars to play — Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.
The Grammys determine winners by polling music professionals rather than looking at sales charts, but network CBS also seeks a wide television audience for its broadcast.
The host of this year’s ceremony will be British comedian James Corden, who has amassed a fan base for his late-night CBS show in part through his running “Carpool Karaoke” segment with famous singers.
Corden replaces rapper LL Cool J who led the show for five straight years.

Broadway star Jennifer Holliday pulls out of Trump concert

Broadway star Jennifer Holliday.

 Facing fan backlash, Broadway star Jennifer Holliday has backed out of performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration concert, the singer said in an open letter posted Saturday.
Trump’s inaugural committee had announced Friday that Holliday, a Tony award winner who is black, would perform in a concert at the Lincoln Memorial on the eve of the tycoon’s inauguration, joining a lineup featuring country stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood.
But disgruntled fans — including many from the LGBT community — took to Twitter to denounce Holliday’s slated participation.
“#JenniferHolliday singing at Trump’s inauguration is a betrayal of our diverse arts community,” wrote one Twitter user. “Reconsider — it’s not worth selling out!”
The inauguration would have had a rare African American performer in Holliday, who has sung for Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and both Bush presidents.
She said that in accepting the invitation to sing for Trump she was simply “keeping in my tradition of being a ‘bipartisan songbird.’”
But in her letter published by TheWrap entertainment news site, Holliday said she decided to pull out of the concert after reading any essay published by the Daily Beast titled “Jennifer Holliday will perform at Trump’s inauguration, which is heartbreaking to gay fans.”
“My only choice must now be to stand with the LGBT community and to state unequivocally that I WILL NOT PERFORM FOR THE WELCOME CONCERT OR FOR ANY OF THE INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES!” Holliday wrote.
“I sincerely apologize for my lapse of judgment, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history and for causing such dismay and heartbreak to my fans.”
Holliday said she was “deeply indebted” to the LGBT community, noting that its members were “mostly responsible for birthing my career.”
Holliday won a Tony Award in 1982 for the original Broadway musical “Dreamgirls,” later turned into a movie with Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson.
The Trump team has struggled to recruit prominent artists for the looming inauguration, with the American arts and entertainment community broadly backing his opponent Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The inauguration lineup pales in comparison to the star power amassed by Barack Obama.
A similar inauguration-eve concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 2009 drew Beyonce, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Stevie Wonder, as well as country superstar Garth Brooks.

Calabar Carnival is melting pot of Africa’s hospitality – Ayade

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has described the annual Calabar Carnival as the melting pot of Africa’s hospitality.
Ayade said this on Wednesday in Calabar while opening the grand finale of the 2016 Calabar Carnival.
He said that the carnival, which had gained international recognition over the years had continue to grow bigger, better and bolder.
According to him, the carnival represents the true vitality, unity and harmony that signify the growth of Africa.
“The flag off of the grand finale of the 2016 Calabar Carnival represents the true beginning of African enjoyment.
“As we have started today, this is the beginning of a new dawn in Africa. Calabar Carnival remains the largest street party in Africa.
“As a government, we will continue to promote and sustain the hospitality and tourism that the state is known for,’’ he said.
The theme for the 2016 Calabar Carnival is `Climate Change’.
The five carnival bands – Seagull, Master Blasta, Passion 4, Freedom and Bayside were colourfully dressed in different costumes to reflect the colour of their bands.
Mr Gab Onah, the Chairman of Calabar Carnival Commission, said that 13 countries were in attendance for the street party.
According to Onah, some of the countries included Brazil, Croatia, Turkey, UK, Spain, Kenya, Ghana and others.
He said that the carnival, the 12th edition in a row had united the state and Nigeria in general.
“We have in Cross River today 13 countries worldwide. The attention of the world is in Cross River today.
“We are going to hit the street today with different dance steps and different displays.
“Today is the grand finale of the 2016 Calabar carnival, the largest street party ever; the greatest show in Africa,’’ he said.
Neurite Mendes, Miss Africa, who was in attendance, said that the carnival had gone beyond borders due to its sustained organisation by the state government.
“It is an honour to come from my country Angola to represent the African beauty in the carnival.
“The theme of the carnival is climate change. We need to let the world know that together we can combat the effect of climate change.
“This carnival is definitely bigger and better; I am happy to be in attendance at the grand finale of the 2016 Calabar carnival,’’ she said.
Dignitaries at the event include, Mr Donald Duke, former Cross River governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, Nollywood actors and actresses, captain of industries, among others.
There was heavy presence of security personnel including the Police, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration and others.

Top 8 Nollywood Stars That Died In 2016

 

The Nigerian Film Industry was not spared from the turbulence that rocked the ship of 2016. The industry witnessed several deaths of top rated artistes, that graced local and international scenes. Some of which are:

1. Bukky Ajayi (82): Veteran Nollywood actress Bukky Ajayi died on July 6, 2016 after an unsuccessful battle with heart-related issues. Her big break into Nollywood was her role in the Village Headmaster in the 70s. In March 2016, the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) awarded her with the 2016 ‘Industry Merit Award’.


2. Veteran Actor, Festus Aguebor. Festus Aguebor, died on February 23, 2016. His cause of death was undisclosed and was a shock to all his fans. He was known for his roles in Igbodo and Family contract. He is believed to have been in his 70s.

3. Actor, Fred Ebhoria Ekata: Fred died on May 17, 2016 from a kidney related disease which plagued him for a year and left him bed-ridden. He loved to play elderly roles in Nollywood films.

4. Actress, Henrietta Kosoko (53): Actress Henrietta Kosoko, wife of veteran actor Prince Jide Kosoko died in June, 2016. She died in R-Jolad Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos. She became famous after her lead role in the Nollywood film, Omolade which was produced by her husband.

5. Yoruba actor, Abdul-Lateef Titilope Ashimiyu aka Alfa Lateef:
Nollywood Yoruba actor, Abdul-Lateef Titilope Ashimiyu aka Alfa Lateef died in June, 2016. He was known for his roles in Odunlade Adekola’s movies. He died as a result of Malaria. He was buried in at his family house in Ile Egbaunta, Agunpopo area of Oyo town.

6. Actor, Isiaka Adewale Najeem. Actor Isiaka Adewale Najeem died on August 7, 2016 at a church Lagos. His cause of death is still a mystery and he was buried the same day.

7. Elder Maya Martins Njubuigbo: On September 30, beloved veteran Nollywood actor Elder Maya passed away after months of battling with a liver illness. His death was announced by fellow actor Yomi Fabiyi was the first to reveal it on Instagram.

8. Mulikat Adegbola: Veteran Actress, Mulikat Adegbola popularly known by her stage name Ashabi Iya Adinni passed away on December 3, 2016 after a brief illness.

Robert Redford Says He Is 'Getting Tired Of Acting'

Robert Redford Says He Is 'Getting Tired Of Acting'
Veteran star Robert Redford has said he is "getting tired of acting" and that he intends to focus on directing after completing his next two projects.
"Once they're done I'm going to say, 'Okay, that's goodbye to all that,'" he said in an interview with his grandson.
"At this point in my life, age 80, it'd give me more satisfaction."
The actor and director, known for such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, was recently seen in a remake of Disney film Pete's Dragon.
The Oscar-winning star of The Sting and Out of Africa is also known for founding the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Speaking to his grandson Dylan, Redford said he was "an impatient person" who found it hard "to sit around and do take after take after take".
The actor, who once studied as an artist in Paris, also revealed he was considering "going back to sketching" as he entered his ninth decade.
Redford said he had a pair of acting projects in the pipeline - "a love story for older people" and "a lighter piece".
The two films - Our Souls at Night co-starring Jane Fonda and The Old Man and the Gun co-starring Casey Affleck - will be released in 2017.
Redford's last directorial feature was The Company You Keep, a 2012 thriller in which he also appeared.

Katy Perry Cancels Performance In China After Trump Wins Election.

Katy Perry Cancels Performance In China After Trump Wins Election.

Katy Perry just bailed on millions of Chinese fans.
The singer -- beloved in China, where fans call her "Fruit Sister" because of her colorful outfits -- canceled a headliner performance that would have kicked off Singles Day, a 24-hour shopping blitz made famous by tech giant Alibaba (BABA, Tech30).
Perry pulled out early Thursday morning local time citing a family emergency, according to Alibaba.
"Regretfully, I must cancel my appearance ... due to a family emergency. I am very sorry to disappoint my fans and look forward to seeing you in China soon," Perry wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The American pop star is not having a great week: She is a fervent supporter of Hillary Clinton, having appeared at numerous rallies for the Democratic candidate during the presidential race.

Three days before voters went to the polls, Perry performed at a Clinton rally in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. She wore a blue cape emblazoned with the words "I'm with Madam President" during her set.
As Clinton's chances of defeating Donald Trump dimmed, Perry tweeted "Gonna cry my false eye lashes off tonight."
Singles Day is a huge online shopping event in China. Last year, gross merchandise volume settled through Alibaba's payment service, Alipay, hit $14.3 billion -- more than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. Billions more were spent with other retailers.
Alibaba named Perry a "global ambassador" in October, and she was set to appear alongside former NBA star Kobe Bryant and the band OneRepublic at the company's gala.
While the "Fireworks" star will not be attending Alibaba's event in Shenzhen, she has continued to speak out about the election results. She's even changed her Twitter profile picture and header photo to simple black designs.
"WE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED", she wrote on Twitter. And as anti-Trump protests spread across the U.S. on Wednesday night, she urged followers to protest peacefully.