Choir Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor When Daft Punk launched its fourth and presumably final mission statement, “Random Access Memories,” into the atmosphere 10 long years ago, it was greeted with the kind of genre- and generation-spanning adulation that’s rare in any genre. At the time of its release, the supernova of cool around Daft Punk was so pervasive — and the hits from the album, particularly “Get Lucky,” were so ubiquitous — that it topped album charts all over the world, won four Grammys (including album of the year and best-engineered album) and got a whopping 8.8 score from Pitchfork, a publication that played no small role in the duo’s rise. Yet it was a drastic about-face for the pioneering duo, whose electronic and dance music of the previous 15-odd years had spawned countless influences and whose world-shaking 2006-7 tour basically spawned EDM. Fans expecting another electronic masterpiece instead they got a deliberately retro album that intentionally used the technology and recording techniques of the ‘70s and ‘80s to evoke the pristine, perfectionist grooves of Michael Jackson, Chic, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac and others — and even unfurled a yacht-rock flag on “Fragments of Time.” It has orchestras, choirs and a battery of top-notch musicians including pioneering funk guitarist Nile Rodgers, virtuoso bassist Nathan East, pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz and powerhouse drummer Omar Hakim. There are guitar solos, tinkling electric pianos, ‘70s funk bass, piledriving drums and even acoustic guitars. Bored with electronics, the duo “wanted to do what we used to do with machines and samplers, but with people,” said the duo’s Thomas Bangalter.

The BBC’s content chief has warned that employees face a moment of “great jeopardy” as the British broadcaster wrestles with funding pressures and fierce competition from U.S. streamers.

It had a rich musical history. A famous composer was a choirboy there and some of its congregation sang in an episode of Coronation Street in the 1960s.

A.D. Amorosi Johan Lenox, Variety’s Hitmaker of the Month, is known for the supple grandeur he brings to different projects as a producer, arranger and/or composer. These range from the sublime, stringed swell of “Creepin’,” Metro Boomin’s current top 10 smash with the Weeknd and 21 Savage, to the epic orchestral and choral arrangements of Travis Scott’s “Astroworld” and Nas’ “Nasir” (both produced by Mike Dean), and tracks for Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes and Machine Gun Kelly. Lenox’s background is as a classical music prodigy (by 18, his compositions were heard at Boston’s Symphony Hall and New York’s Alice Tully Hall) and as a musical theater composer (his 2012 off-Broadway musical “Independents” was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick). But he exists in his own lane, one that’s expanded greatly with the release of solo projects such as his 2022 chamber-pop-hop vocal album debut, “WDYWTBWYGU.”

According to a friend of Meghan Markle, the Duchess did not attend King Charles' Coronation because she "didn't feel comfortable or welcome enough".

While the newly-crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla might have seemed slightly puzzled by Miss Piggy and Kermit The Frog's appearance on stage during the Coronation concert, Princess Charlotte and Prince George were over the moon by their arrival.

Lending a hand! Prince William and Princess Kate‘s children volunteered for The Big Help Out following King Charles III‘s coronation — marking Prince Louis‘ first official royal engagement.

Lionel Richie confused viewers with his 'unrecognisable' voice as he took to the stage for the Coronation Concert. The 73-year-old singing superstar was one of the big names performing for the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

The King's lavish Coronation service yesterday will be followed by a concert tonight, Sunday, May 7. The show will take place in front of around 20,000 at Windsor Castle and will be attended by the newly-crowned King and Queen.

A subtle nod? King Charles III‘s coronation ceremony featured a performance by members of the same choir that sang at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s royal wedding.

It has been 70 years since the last British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was officially crowned. With Elizabeth's son, King Charles III, set to be crowned on May 6, people are recalling his mother's coronation, which was the last time the British public witnessed the ritual. "The whole of London was sort of a cauldron of people rushing to the area to look at what was happening," said James Wilkinson, then an 11-year-old member of the Westminster Abbey choir, which sang during the ceremony.

Anna Faris gets animated as she appears to be singing on a boat while filming for the My Spy sequel on Tuesday (May 2) in Venice, Italy.

Matty Healy and Taylor Swift are rumoured to be dating, and the Loose Women panel are already planning a collaboration with the American A-Lister.

King Charles’ Coronation will bring us together at what has indisputably been a tough time for the country, with royal experts predicting it will provide just the tonic we need.The 6 May ceremony at Westminster Abbey kicks off a special three-day Bank Holiday extravaganza that will see Britons and members of the Commonwealth salute the crowning of our new King. And while the coronation itself will undoubtedly be a time to toast the monarch, the following day, 7 May, is when the nation will really let its collective hair down.The Coronation Big Lunch – organised by the Eden Project – will see neighbours and communities across the country throw street parties and share food together in what’s being described as “a nationwide act of celebration and friendship”.

Tom Cruise has been confirmed as one of the stars to appear at the Coronation Concert on 7 May. The event, to crown the new King and Queen Consort, will take place in the grounds of Windsor Castle to round off the weekend's proceedings and is expected to be attended by 20,000 people. Cruise, Winnie the Pooh and Dame Joan Collins will appear in a series of pre-recorded sketches revealing little-known facts about the King.

Tom Cruise, Winnie the Pooh and Dame Joan Collins are a few of the acts who will feature during the Coronation Concert celebrating the crowning of the King and Queen Consort.

The world premiere of The Passion sung and spoken in Scots was a sell-out success in Dalry Parish Church on Easter Saturday.

The 2023 Tribeca Festival has announced its lineup of world premieres of new and returning television, including the world premieres of Steven Soderbergh’s Max series Full Circle about a botched kidnapping that reveals long-held secrets in present-day New York City, Prime Video’s Sweeney Todd-inspired The Horror of Dolores Roach and BET+’s Diarra From Detroit, a dark comedy executive produced by Kenya Barris that centers on a divorcing school teacher.

Preparations are well underway as the country is set to celebrate King Charles III's coronation this May.

Despite his heart problems, Paul O’Grady continued to "live life to the full" as his cause of death was confirmed today.

The line-up of stars performing at the King's coronation concert next month has finally been confirmed.

in the U.K., which is set to release its first part over Thanksgiving weekend in 2024. (“Wicked Part 2” will premiere in 2025 with a specific date to come).Meanwhile, Sanders and Jacobs are currently in post-production for the musical feature adaptation of “The Color Purple.”“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” itself is based on the Bible’s book of Genesis and originates from a cantata written for a school choir.

Amanda Holden will join a group of celebrity coaches mentoring a new choir ahead of their performance in front of the King and Queen Consort at the Coronation Concert.

The Jonas Brothers brought the house down with their performances on the April 8 episode of Saturday Night Live.

Murtada Elfadl In the pleasantly amusing “Praise This,” Chloe Bailey is the self professed nonreligious Sam, a musical artist in the making who finds her niche in Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir scene. Director Tina Gordon crafts a musical that’s carried through by a charming cast and highly entertaining ensemble performances. “Praise This” adds a mostly delightful entry to the genre, even if it doesn’t offer a unique take. More successfully it acts as a winning introductory calling card to the acting and musical talents of its rising star, the slightly-older sister of upcoming “The Little Mermaid” actor Halle Bailey and one-half of the sibling R&B duo Chloe x Halle. The story starts with Sam forced to leave Los Angeles by her dad because of some rebellious behavior. He entrusts her care to her aunt and uncle (Kendrick Cross and Janora McDuffie), but the person who takes full charge of Sam’s new life in Atlanta is her cousin Jess (Anjelika Washington). Immediately calling her a sister-cousin and introducing Sam to her life, friends and choir practice, Jess is the type of relative most people try to avoid, driven away by their too boisterous enthusiasm. Ever the smart person, it doesn’t take long for Sam to realize that joining Jess’ praise team in the lead-up to a national championship competition might be her way out of Atlanta and into a successful musical career. And so an odd-couple friendship is born.

attended the premiere of her new movie Praise This on April 3 in a stunning strapless yellow gown with an asymmetrical corseted bodice and thigh high slit skirt; Bailey stars as Sam, a church choir member who dreams of musical stardom and helps nudge her choir group toward cooler, more modern selections. Part of the bodice was slightly sheer to show a peek of Bailey's skin, as well as the corset boning. The skirt was intricately draped on one side to create subtle pleating to create a sweeping, dramatic waterfall as it cascaded into a sweeping train.

The members of Glee‘s New Directions are all grown up, and many of them have started families of their own since the show concluded in 2015.

A special event. King Charles III‘s coronation will be the first ceremony for a British monarch in the 21st century — but it will continue to follow royal tradition.

Paul O'Grady always knew he was at great risk after suffering a number of cardiac arrests and kidney failure across his life. At the age of 67, the beloved TV presenter "unexpectedly but peacefully" passed away at his home on Tuesday, surrounded by his pet dogs and husband Andre Portasio. But in an unearthed interview with The Mirror, Paul expected an early death, and told the publication: "I do count my blessings.