Review: A joyous encounter between musical legends lives on

Ellise Shafer In a speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden called for the ban of assault weapons in the United States following several recent mass shootings, including those in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, N.Y.On May 24, the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two children. Just 10 days before, a shooting at a Buffalo grocery store killed 10 people. And on Wednesday, five people were killed at a hospital in Tulsa, Okla.

Alan Light If Leonard Cohen built a tower of just one song, it was “Hallelujah” — the subject of a film that hits theaters in July,  “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song.” That documentary is inspired by music journalist Alan Light’s much-acclaimed book, “The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & the Unlikely Ascent of ‘Hallelujah’,” originally published in 2012 and being reissued June 7 with substantial additions that have Light bringing the history of one of the 20th century’s most remarkably enduring songs forward into its arguably most impactful years yet.In this excerpt from the afterward, exclusive to Variety, Light explores some of the unlikely lives that “Hallelujah” has taken on in recent years — starting with its adaptation into a country song, and especially focusing on how it’s become a favorite pick for singers to include on their Christmas albums, as a holiday hymn… quite a contrast to the more carnal connotations that many associate with the original lyrics. (Pre-order the new edition of Light’s book here.) Our excerpt has Light picking up the song’s story in the 2010s:“Hallelujah” continued making inroads into other genres of music.

Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Sunday visited Robb Elementary School, the site of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last week that resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two adults. Mr. Biden and the first lady laid flowers at the front of the school, and Jill Biden touched the photograph of each student at a memorial set up in front of the school. Protesters who called for Texas Gov.

On the front page of the NY Times Sunday Review, a simple sentence repeats 15 times on a black background: “Authorities said the gunman was able to obtain the weapon legally.” Beneath each sentence is the body count and location of a mass shooting that has taken place in the past decade. America is still reeling from yet another mass shooting with 19 children and two adults dead in an elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas.

Kelly Ripa is opening up about the grim reality of being a parent in a country with such little gun control.ALSO: HELLO! launches Jubilee T-shirt collection to celebrate Queen Elizabeth in styleThe star, joined by Ryan Seacrest on Live! With Kelly and Ryan, gave an impassioned statement on the morning show following the news that 19 children and two adults had been killed by an 18-year-old gunman.Kelly put it plain and simple, saying: "I have not slept yet, because I am enraged, again, and again, and again."WATCH: CBS' Tony Dokoupil reports from Robb Elementary SchoolMORE: Kelly Ripa's son Joaquin twins with dad Mark Consuelos during night out in New YorkShe reminded viewers of the stark contrast between the amount of shootings abroad versus in the United States, saying: "In case you are keeping score, there have been thirty school shootings this year."The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School marked the 212th mass shooting in 2022 alone, just ten days after another gunman opened fire at a Buffalo, New York supermarket, killing ten Black people.The talk show host continued her heartbreaking statement with the unfortunate realization that: "There's a whole bunch we haven't even heard about, that didn't even make the news."The heartbreaking conversationShe pleaded with viewers: "So what are we doing? And who are we as a society?"MORE: Kelly Ripa plays matchmaker for son Joaquin with surprising dateMORE: Kelly Ripa's son Michael's throwback photo will leave you doing a double takeRyan went on to mention his sister, who has a three-year-old, and Kelly endearingly revealed that she was one of the first people she thought about when she first learned about the shooting, knowing the dread all parents of school-aged children

For the second time in less than two weeks, President Joe Biden will personally go to the site of a fatal mass shooting in America.

US President Joe Biden delivered an emotional call for new restrictions on firearms after a gunman killed at least 18 children and three adults at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.

dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the AP reported. Public figures are using their platforms to once again sound the call for gun control in America and condemn anti-gun control politicians and lobbyists.Only a week and a half has transpired since 10 people were murdered and three were injured by a white supremacist gunman in Buffalo, New York. The Texas tragedy marks the largest mass shooting at an elementary school after the Sandy Hook in 2012.

New Music Friday! It's every audiophile's favorite day of the week, and some of our favorite artists from all different genres have blessed us with new tunes.Harry Styles kicked off his new era with his third solo studio album, led by the smash single «As It Was.» The singer celebrated his new album with a series of  pop-up shops around the world — with locations in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, and Toronto. The shops give fans a chance to experience and celebrate live with special activations and exclusive merchandise designs only available at these locations.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticWhen I watch a movie by the writer-director James Gray, I often have the sensation that I’m seeing two films in one: the story being told and the one hovering offscreen — the one that’s all about his aspiration to be something larger than a mere storyteller. Early Gray films like “The Yards” (2000) and “We Own the Night” (2007) were modest tales suffused with his desire to be making “a ’70s movie.” “Ad Astra” (2019) was a lavishly scaled outer-space thriller suffused with his desire to be making “2001: A Space Odyssey.”“Armageddon Time,” Gray’s eighth feature, marks a break from most of what he has done before.

A family affair! While Christina Hall (née Haack), was busy building houses on her and ex-husband Tarek El Moussa’s hit HGTV show, Flip or Flop, she was also creating a home in real life — one made up of a lot of love … and a lot of moving parts.

In the wake of the racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY, the IATSE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is urging Congress and the Joe Biden administration “to take decisive federal action to combat the rise of racial violence in America.”

Jessica Szohr is engaged!

The country music community gathered today at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to remember one of their own. As it might be expected, the best way to honor and memorialize one of the genre’s greatest hitmakers was found in song.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticOne of pop culture’s most famous mother figures got a sendoff from her community at the Mother Church of country music Sunday, as Wynonna and Ashley Judd welcomed country stars and other celebrities to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for “Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration,” a tribute that was broadcast live on CMT.A frequently heaven-looking Wynonna, who with her late mother was half of the country duo the Judds, sang “River of Time” early in the ceremony, then closed it joined by her local Christ Church choir for what was the pair’s final hit, “Love Will Build a Bridge.” She also participated in a recreation of the mother/daughter harmonies by pairing up with Brandi Carlile for a duet of “The Rose,” preceded by a video testimonial by Bette Midler. Pure magic on stage tonight ✨ @Wynonna @brandicarlile pic.twitter.com/5XmUe8EdGA— CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022“It’s so strange to be here, but natural at the same time,” said Wynonna.

, which aired on May 13. looked incredibly cool in a head-to-toe purple ensemble by Raisa Vanessa, featuring a shimmery off-the-shoulder top with feathered trim and a pair of high-waisted, skin-tight pants.

The stars are stepping out for the season four premiere of Stranger Things!