International pop star and LGBTQ ally Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance at Pride Live’s Stonewall Day Concert on Friday afternoon.
Taking the stage in front of thousands of celebrants from around the world who gathered for WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Gaga told the exuberant crowd, “Happy 50th anniversary of Stonewall! This is a historic day. You should be so, so proud of yourself.”
Continuing, she said:
“Look around you. Look at what you have done. You are the definition of courage, do you know that? … This community has fought, and continued to fight, a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance — and the most relentless bravery."
"You are the definition of courage, do you know that? This is a celebration of all of you in every single way. I really, really hope you celebrate every inch of who you are today.”
Also appearing at the event were Alicia Keys, who performed Cyndi Lauper's “True Colors,” Bob the Drag Queen, Wilson Cruz, Whoopi Goldberg, Chelsea Clinton, Donatella Versace, Geena Rocera, and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Lady Gaga speaking at her concert Monday night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem:
“So it’s Pride Week. I wish it could exist 365 days of the year, but I’ll take a f–ing global week.
"Wow on Friday, the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Yeah, that was when our community said enough is enough. And all hail to so many, including miss Marsha P. Johnson. What bravery, what courage. In the spirit of acceptance, the spirit of tolerance, the spirit of courage to be seen as you see yourself.
"I have learned so much over the years from all my fans. I feel so blessed, thank you for showing me and teaching me. And I’ve learned something very important to those people now, and I wish to share this with everyone who’s listening, not just in this theater, but around the world.
"Ask the question: ‘What. is. your. pronoun.’ Because for a lot of people, it’s really hard, and their pronouns aren’t respected or they’re not asked, and for me I’ve grown and changed over the years in a lot of different ways — I’ve felt misunderstood in different ways.
"All our hardships are different; I don’t mean to compare; I just mean to say we’re in this together, and I’ve had a million reasons to want to give up, and sometimes if you’re lucky you just need one good reason to stick around.”
• Prosecutors plan to seek a sentence of four to 10 months’ jail time for actress Felicity Huffman for her role in the college admissions scandal.
• This year's Time 100 - the 100 most influential people of 2019 - includes Lady Gaga, Indya Moore, Ryan Murphy, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
• Folks were wondering why queer rapper Lizzo performed at Coachella Music Festival this past weekend when it came to light owner Philip Anschutz has given his money to anti-LGBTQ organizations.
Lizzo explained:
"Whether we like it or not most major organizations are run by bigoted millionaires that donate to bigoted organizations. I realize my activism is to disrupt those spaces and spread my message to thousands of ppl."
"Y’all may not agree w it and that’s ok. But know that I’m doing what I gotta do to make sure my big black ass voice is heard. Can’t wait to dismantle the hate that funds this country… but until then, imma be putting big, black, femme, lgbtq+ bodies on stages and telling our stories."
Here's Lizzo's latest music video "Juice" featuring a whole bunch of RuPaul's Drag Race queens for added fun. Her new albumCuz I Love You drops Friday.
One of THE highlights of the Academy Awards this past Sunday was Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s stunning performance of the (now) Oscar-winning song, “Shallow.”
While Cooper had announced in advance that he would not be singing as his character from A Star is Born, “Jackson Maine,” there was still some intense romantical connection between the two stars during the performance.
So much so, that social media began to wonder if the duo were becoming an item?
I should note that while Gaga recently called off her engagement with longtime beau, Christian Carino, Cooper is in a relationship with model Irina Shayk.
In case you missed it, here's the performance:
During an appearance Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, Kimmel asked about the sparks that flew during the song.
“You had such a connection with Bradley that, instantly - and I guess this is a compliment - people started saying, ‘Oh, they must be in love,'” said Kimmel.
Will a roll of her eyes, Gaga shot down the rumors.
“First of all, social media, quite frankly, is the toilet of the Internet,” said the newly-minted Oscar winner. “And what it has done to pop culture is abysmal.”
“People saw love, and guess what, that’s what we wanted you to see,” she added in a triumphant note.
“This is a love song, ‘Shallow,’ the movie A Star Is Born is a love movie,” explained Gaga. “We worked so hard all week on that performance.”
The pop diva credited Cooper with coming up with the concept and staging of the Oscar performance from their entrance from the audience to lighting the audience during the song to the intimacy they projected.
Gaga added that she’s had a lot of experience with love songs.
“Look, I’ve had my arms wrapped around Tony Bennett for three years touring the world,” said the 'Bad Romance' singer. “When you’re singing love songs, that’s what you want people to feel.”
“I’m an artist,and I guess we did a good job,” she added. “Fooled ya!”
The Oscars are promising a virtual homo-goulash of LGBTQ music artists and favorites when the 91st annual Academy Awards take place on Sunday, February 24.
This morning, the Academy announced that iconic rock band Queen, fronted by out singer Adam Lambert, will stage to the stage at the 2019 Oscars.
The Academy paired the lyric, “Is this real life? Is this just fantasy?,” with video footage of Lambert and Queen performing “We Will Rock You” in a post on Twitter Monday morning.
Lambert first met and performed with original Queen band members Roger Taylor and Brian May while competing on the talent competition American Idol in 2009. In 2012, the band invited Lambert to tour as frontman.
The appearance will clearly be a tribute to the Freddie Mercury musical biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, which is nominated in five categories on Sunday including Best Picture, Best Actor (front runner Rami Malek), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing.
The rockers will join previously announced performers Bette Midler, Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Hudson, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who will perform songs nominated for Best Original Song.
Midler , a two-time Oscar nominee (The Rose, For The Boys) tweeted her news this weekend, writing, “So, (drum roll) Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be chanteusing (that's singing) on the Oscars on Feb 24...the nominated song from ‘Mary Poppins’…’The Place Where Lost Things Go’ ...so excited!!”
So, (drum roll) Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be chanteusing (that's singing) on the Oscars on Feb 24...the nominated song from "Mary Poppins"..."The Place Where Lost Things Go" ...so excited!!
Gaga and Cooper will reprise the Grammy and Golden Globe-winning duet, “Shallow” from A Star is Born (a pretty sure bet to win the trophy); Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) will perform “I’ll Fight” from the documentary RBG; and nominees Rawlings & Welch will sing “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for the 91st Academy Awards on ABC.
It was a great night at the 2019 Grammy Awards as fans saw out artists and LGBTQ allies take home many awards.
Brandi Carlile, who went into the awards ceremony as the most-nominated woman of the night, took home 3 Grammys for best American Roots performance and best American Roots song for “The Joke,” and best Americana Album for By the Way, I Forgive You.
"Americana music is the island of misfit toys," said Carlile as she accepted one of her Grammys. "I came out of the closet at 15 years old, when I was in high school, and I can assure you that I was never invited to any parties. I never got to attend a dance."
"To be embraced by this enduring and loving community has been the dance of a lifetime," she added. "Thank you for being my island."
It (very unfortunately) may not have aired during the telecast, but here’s a stand-out moment from the night, in which singer @brandicarlile, who first came out publicly seventeen years ago, was awarded with Best American Roots Song at the 2019 #Grammys: pic.twitter.com/K4gEvypps7
Lady Gaga picked up three award last night beginning the evening's televised festivities with a win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Shallow," followed by Best Song Written for Visual Media ("Shallow") and Best Pop Solo Performance (for "Joanne").
In her acceptance speech, Mother Monster said she was proud that her hit movie, A Star is Born, addressed mental health issues. "If you see someone that’s hurting, don’t look away" said the openly bisexual artist.
The Oscar nominee also made an appearance near the beginning of the show with Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Jada Pinkett Smith and former First Lady Michelle Obama. And yes, the standing ovation was awesome.
Michelle Obama, to an entirely captive crowd at The Grammys: "Music helps us share ourselves." Via CBS pic.twitter.com/jQTfikBtX5
International out pop-star Ricky Martin opened the show performing alongside Camila Cabello, J Balvin and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.
Out rocker St. Vincent snagged two Grammys: for Best Rock Song for “Masseduction" and Best Recording Package.
Pansexual artist Janelle Monรกe, who was nominated for Album of the Year and also Best Music Video, brought down the house with her performance of "Make Me Feel."
Monรกe, who came out last year, dedicated her Grammy nominations to her "trans brothers and sisters."
"My trans brother and sisters, they do it every day. And they are shunned from these sorts of events. So this one is for them," she told Variety.
And longtime LGBTQ ally, Kacey Musgraves took home four trophies, including top honor “Album Of The Year."
She dropped the gorgeous and touching new music video for her song, "Rainbow," shortly before the Grammy festivities began. The video chronicles the everyday struggles of different people including a young queer teen coping with disapproving parents.
“I keep dreaming of the day when we have a gay country music icon, that is loud and proud and really, like, a hero for country music fans, especially in these small towns where [LGBTQ people] are terrified of being themselves and feel like they have to hide,” Musgraves told HuffPost last March.
Musgraves also scored for "Best Country Album," "Country Vocal Performance," and "Best Country Song."
Here's the list of folks who took home honors last night.
TELEVISED AWARDS
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - "Shallow," Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Song of the Year - "This is America," Childish Gambino
Best Country Album - Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
Best Rap Song - "God's Plan," Drake
Best R&B Album - H.E.R., H.E.R.
Best Rap Album - Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B
Record of the Year - "This is America," Childish Gambino
Album of the Year - Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
PRE-SHOW AWARDS
Best Recording Package - Masseduction, Willo Perron, art director St. Vincent
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media - Black Panther, Ludwig Goransson, Composer
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - The Greatest Showman
Best Song Written For Visual Media - “Shallow,” Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
Best American Roots Performance - “The Joke,” Brandi Carlile
Best American Roots Song - “The Joke,” Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
Best Americana Album - By The Way, I Forgive You, Brandi Carlile
Best Music Video - "This Is America," Childish Gambino, Hiro Murai, video director; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers
Best Country Solo Performance - “Butterflies,” Kacey Musgraves
Best Country Song - “Space Cowboy,” Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
Best Pop Solo Performance - “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?),” Lady Gaga
Best Pop Vocal Album - Sweetener, Ariana Grande
Best Urban Contemporary Album - Everything Is Love, The Carters
Bradley Cooper joins Lady Gaga onstage in Las Vegas for surprise performance
of 'Shallow' from A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga stunned her Las Vegas audience with a surprise guest during the finale of her Lady Gaga Enigma show at the Park Theater at Park MGM last night.
As she got ready for her finale, her A Star Is Born director and co-star - Bradley Cooper - appeared onstage for the first live performance of their film duet, "Shallow."
The song has already been honored at the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards.
The movie received 8 Oscar nominations this week, including two for Gaga (Best Actress and Best Original Song) and a Best Actor nod for Cooper.
Also making the Oscar list for A Star Is Born is Sam Elliott (Best Supporting Actor), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Picture.
Cooper was snubbed in the 'Best Director' category, which is appalling since the entire endeavor was his vision.
I enjoyed Gaga in the film, but I thought Cooper was sensational.
• In case you ever wonder why folks like to visit Madrid, Spain... Meet InstaHunk Diego Lozano :)
• Lady Gaga called out Vice President Mike Pence during her Las Vegas concert this weekend: "Mike Pence, who thinks it’s acceptable that his wife works at a school that bans LGBTQ — you’re wrong … You say we should not discriminate against Christianity. You are the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian.”
• There was some serious lip-lock action on the premiere of The CW's new reboot of Roswell last week.
The series follows three young aliens who live in secret in a small New Mexico town. It turns out one, Michael (played by Michael Vlamis) is bisexual, and got down smooching his former bf, Alex (Tyler Blackburn) at the end of the episode.
• The new book, Team of Vipers, by former Trump aide Cliff Sims looks to be quite the read. It's been described as, "Not a sycophantic portrayal of the president nor a blistering account written to settle scores."
• Bloomberg: The U.K. Labour Party is calling for a vote in Parliament that could pave the way to a second referendum, raising the possibility that Brexit could be reversed.
• Variety: The CW has released the first look at transgender actress Nicole Maines, playing a superhero named "Dreamer" on the January 27 episode of DC Comic’s Supergirl.
Maines plays the first ever transgender superhero on television in an episode that explores the source of Dreamer’s powers. Maines will appear again in a later episode airing Feb. 17.
Lady Gaga performed before a sold-out crowd Friday night at the opening of her residency at Park MGM’s intimate Park Theater, which will run through November 2019.
The six-time GRAMMY Award-winner, Golden Globe Award-winner and Academy Award-nominated superstar’s engagement consists of two separate shows: LADY GAGA ENIGMA, a never-before-seen journey through the star’s pop hits and LADY GAGA JAZZ & PIANO, debuting January 20, featuring stripped-down versions of her hits alongside music from the Great American Songbook.
Minutes before the start of the show, Gaga tweeted her fans:
About to step out. I can hear you. I’m so excited. I love you. Welcome to #ENIGMA
— ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฎ๐น (@LMonstersITA) December 29, 2018
(photo: MGM Resorts)
Last night’s opening also featured the first live performance of “Shallow,” the chart-topping song from the A Star Is Born soundtrack.
“I’m so proud to be your star,” Gaga told her little monsters before launching into the final encore. “But the truth is you gave birth to me.”
Singing “Shallow” at the piano, she paused, becoming emotional in the first verse as she sang, "In all the good times I find myself longing for change...," before moving on with the crowd singing along with their queen.
Not only does Lady Gaga have a big, hit movie with A Star Is Born as well as a newly-christened #1 album with the film’s soundtrack, she’s also shared the news that she’s engaged!
Addressing the audience at Elle’s 25th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration in Los Angeles Monday, the “Poker Face” singer casually dropped the news by thanking “my fiancรฉ Christian” during her speech.
“Christian” would be CAA talent agent Christian Carino, who’s clients include Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Simon Cowell.
InStyle reports that the couple may have been engaged back in the summer of 2017 but had not made the news public.
But back in January of 2017, the couple were seen being affectionate at a Kings of Leon concert, and were also spotted on the field of the Super Bowl that February.
Gaga was previously engaged to actor Taylor Kinney (Chicago Fire) after he popped the question on Valentine’s Day 2015, but the couple went their separate ways by July 2016 after five years together.
She may sing about a “Bad Romance,” but with Carino, Gaga appears to feel pretty safe.
“Christian is a good, grounding force and understands her career,” PEOPLE quotes a source close to the couple. “She’s in a great place now.”
“When I went backstage, Christian was by the stairs making sure I was okay,” Gaga told the New York Post’s Page Six back in September of 2017 after her concert at Citi Field. “The best part about being in love with someone is having them there to catch you if you fall.”
Other than in love, though, Gaga doesn’t appear to be “falling” anywhere.
Referencing the enormous success of A Star is Born at the Elle bash Monday, Gaga told the crowd, “Never within my wildest dreams would I think my life would become what it has.”
Mother Monster has fallen in love and it’s a “good romance!”
