Tag: Beyonce

  • Beyonce releases new single ‘Break My Soul’ 

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES:  Pop star Beyonce has dropped the first track, “Break My Soul”, from her upcoming album ‘Renaissance’.

    The Grammy-winning star had unveiled the new album last week and announced that it will debut on July 29. On Monday night, the song was released on music streaming service Tidal, along with a lyrical video on YouTube.

    Beyonce teased the new song by updating her social media bios to “6. BREAK MY SOUL”, indicating that “Break My Soul” is also the album’s sixth track. ‘Renaissance’ is Beyonce’s seventh solo album, following 2016’s ‘Lemonade’.

    Her previous albums were ‘Dangerously in Love’ (2003), ‘B’Day’ (2006), ‘I Am Sasha Fierce’ (2008), ‘4’ (2011), and ‘Beyonce’ (2013).

    Since her last solo album, Beyonce has released a collaborative album “Everything Is Love” with her husband JAY-Z in 2018, as well as the soundtracks for “The Lion King: The Gift” and “Homecoming: The Live Album” in 2019.

    She also recorded “Be Alive” for Hollywood star Will Smith’s Academy Award-winning film “King Richard”.

  • Oscars 2022: Will Smith, Jessica Chastain wins Best actor, Best actress; ‘CODA’ wins Best picture

    By AFP

    HOLLYWOOD: Deaf family drama “CODA” won best picture honors at the Oscars Sunday, the first ever triumph for a streamer, in a ceremony that was overshadowed by best actor-winner Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife.

    Tinseltown’s biggest night began with a performance by pop megastar Beyonce, and touched on politics with a moment of silence over the Ukraine crisis.

    But before the final awards were handed out, the shocking Smith-Rock altercation went viral, and changed the mood of the night.

    “CODA”, a feel-good indie drama starring deaf actors in lead roles, had been presumed a longshot for Hollywood’s biggest prize until very recently, but pulled off a remarkable late surge to emerge triumphant. 

    The film bagged the historic prize for Apple TV+, a relative newcomer in a streaming market dominated by rivals like Netflix.

    “Thank you to the Academy for letting our ‘CODA’ make history tonight,” said producer Philippe Rousselet.

    Taking its title from the acronym for child of deaf adult, the movie also won for best adapted screenplay, and best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who plays the father of a teenage girl who can hear and wants to pursue a career in music.

    Kotsur dedicated his golden statuette to the deaf and disabled communities. “This is our moment,” he said.

    Jessica Chastain won best actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” in which she played a real-life televangelist who became an unlikely champion for the LGBTQ community.

    “We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country… in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love,” she said.

     ‘Art imitates life’ But Hollywood’s biggest night was dominated by a shocking moment in which Smith — who won best actor for his work on “King Richard” — slapped Rock on stage, before returning to his seat alongside his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and shouting profanities.

    “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” yelled Smith, forcing the producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast in the United States.

    Rock, presenting the best documentary prize, had compared Jada’s tightly cropped hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the film “G.I. Jane.” Jada suffers from alopecia, a condition causing hair loss. The moment left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or genuine. 

    But when he returned to the stage to accept his award, a tearful Smith lamented “people disrespecting you” in Hollywood, and apologized to the Academy “and all my fellow nominees.”

    Smith, who plays the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams in “King Richard,” added: “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams.”

     ‘Diverse characters’ Until recently it had appeared that dark, psychological Western “The Power of the Dog” was fated to earn Netflix its much-coveted first best picture statuette.

    As it turned out, the film won only best director for Jane Campion. She is only the third woman to do so in Oscars history, just a year after Chloe Zhao became the second (“Nomadland”). Kathryn Bigelow was the first for “The Hurt Locker.”

    Kenneth Branagh’s childhood-inspired “Belfast” — another presumed best picture frontrunner — triumphed for best original screenplay.

    Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for playing Anita in “West Side Story,” and Disney’s “Encanto” was named best animated feature.

    DeBose, who first made her name on Broadway, celebrated her historic win for “an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina.” Yvett Merino, producer of Colombia-set “Encanto,” said she was “so proud to be a part of a film that put beautiful, diverse characters in front and center.”

    “Summer of Soul” won best documentary for musician Questlove’s first movie about the huge “Black Woodstock” festival that took place in 1969 Harlem.

    Japan’s “Drive My Car,” a Japanese arthouse film based on a short story of the same name by Haruki Murakami, was named best international film.

    Powerhouse music Beyonce began the televised broadcast with her nominated tune from “King Richard,” from the Compton courts where Serena and Venus trained as girls. But the award for best original song went to Billie Eilish for her James Bond theme song “No Time to Die.”

    In another musical highlight, viral sensation “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was performed live, with Megan Thee Stallion adding an Oscars-themed verse to the “Encanto” hit song.

    Hosts Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall kicked off proceedings inside the Dolby Theatre — where the Oscars returned after a year away due to the pandemic — with an opening skit that poked fun at everything from sexism in Hollywood to Florida’s “Don’t say gay” bill.

    “This year, the Academy hired three women to host because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” said Schumer.

    Sykes added: “We’re going to have a great night tonight. And for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.”

    Sci-fi epic “Dune” ended the night with the most wins, earning six in craft and technical categories — best sound, score, editing, production design, visual effects and cinematography.

    Devastation The annual “in memoriam” paid tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot dead by Alec Baldwin in a tragic accident on the set of Western “Rust” last year.

    Recently deceased Hollywood greats also honored in the segment included Sidney Poitier — the first, and for many decades, the only Black man to win best actor.

    The gala held a moment’s silence for Ukraine, while presenter Mila Kunis — who was born in the country — said it was “impossible not to be moved” by the resilience of “those facing such devastation.” Several attendees wore blue ribbons reading #WithRefugees.

  • Oscars 2022: Will Smith, Jessica Chastain win Best Actor, Best Actress; ‘CODA’ wins Best Picture

    By AFP

    HOLLYWOOD: Deaf family drama “CODA” won best picture honors at the Oscars Sunday, the first ever triumph for a streamer, in a ceremony that was overshadowed by best actor-winner Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife.

    Tinseltown’s biggest night began with a performance by pop megastar Beyonce, and touched on politics with a moment of silence over the Ukraine crisis.

    But before the final awards were handed out, the shocking Smith-Rock altercation went viral, and changed the mood of the night.

    “CODA”, a feel-good indie drama starring deaf actors in lead roles, had been presumed a longshot for Hollywood’s biggest prize until very recently, but pulled off a remarkable late surge to emerge triumphant. 

    The film bagged the historic prize for Apple TV+, a relative newcomer in a streaming market dominated by rivals like Netflix.

    “Thank you to the Academy for letting our ‘CODA’ make history tonight,” said producer Philippe Rousselet.

    Taking its title from the acronym for child of deaf adult, the movie also won for best adapted screenplay, and best supporting actor for Troy Kotsur, who plays the father of a teenage girl who can hear and wants to pursue a career in music.

    Kotsur dedicated his golden statuette to the deaf and disabled communities. “This is our moment,” he said.

    Jessica Chastain won best actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” in which she played a real-life televangelist who became an unlikely champion for the LGBTQ community.

    “We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country… in times like this, I think of Tammy and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love,” she said.

     ‘Art imitates life’ But Hollywood’s biggest night was dominated by a shocking moment in which Smith — who won best actor for his work on “King Richard” — slapped Rock on stage, before returning to his seat alongside his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and shouting profanities.

    “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” yelled Smith, forcing the producers to bleep out several seconds of audio from the televised broadcast in the United States.

    Rock, presenting the best documentary prize, had compared Jada’s tightly cropped hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the film “G.I. Jane.” Jada suffers from alopecia, a condition causing hair loss. The moment left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or genuine. 

    But when he returned to the stage to accept his award, a tearful Smith lamented “people disrespecting you” in Hollywood, and apologized to the Academy “and all my fellow nominees.”

    Smith, who plays the father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams in “King Richard,” added: “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams.”

     ‘Diverse characters’ Until recently it had appeared that dark, psychological Western “The Power of the Dog” was fated to earn Netflix its much-coveted first best picture statuette.

    As it turned out, the film won only best director for Jane Campion. She is only the third woman to do so in Oscars history, just a year after Chloe Zhao became the second (“Nomadland”). Kathryn Bigelow was the first for “The Hurt Locker.”

    Kenneth Branagh’s childhood-inspired “Belfast” — another presumed best picture frontrunner — triumphed for best original screenplay.

    Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for playing Anita in “West Side Story,” and Disney’s “Encanto” was named best animated feature.

    DeBose, who first made her name on Broadway, celebrated her historic win for “an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina.” Yvett Merino, producer of Colombia-set “Encanto,” said she was “so proud to be a part of a film that put beautiful, diverse characters in front and center.”

    “Summer of Soul” won best documentary for musician Questlove’s first movie about the huge “Black Woodstock” festival that took place in 1969 Harlem.

    Japan’s “Drive My Car,” a Japanese arthouse film based on a short story of the same name by Haruki Murakami, was named best international film.

    Powerhouse music Beyonce began the televised broadcast with her nominated tune from “King Richard,” from the Compton courts where Serena and Venus trained as girls. But the award for best original song went to Billie Eilish for her James Bond theme song “No Time to Die.”

    In another musical highlight, viral sensation “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” was performed live, with Megan Thee Stallion adding an Oscars-themed verse to the “Encanto” hit song.

    Hosts Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall kicked off proceedings inside the Dolby Theatre — where the Oscars returned after a year away due to the pandemic — with an opening skit that poked fun at everything from sexism in Hollywood to Florida’s “Don’t say gay” bill.

    “This year, the Academy hired three women to host because it’s cheaper than hiring one man,” said Schumer.

    Sykes added: “We’re going to have a great night tonight. And for you people in Florida, we’re going to have a gay night.”

    Sci-fi epic “Dune” ended the night with the most wins, earning six in craft and technical categories — best sound, score, editing, production design, visual effects and cinematography.

    Devastation The annual “in memoriam” paid tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was shot dead by Alec Baldwin in a tragic accident on the set of Western “Rust” last year.

    Recently deceased Hollywood greats also honored in the segment included Sidney Poitier — the first, and for many decades, the only Black man to win best actor.

    The gala held a moment’s silence for Ukraine, while presenter Mila Kunis — who was born in the country — said it was “impossible not to be moved” by the resilience of “those facing such devastation.” Several attendees wore blue ribbons reading #WithRefugees.

  • Beyonce confirmed to perform at Oscars 2022

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: After several reports suggested that Beyonce might perform at this year’s Oscars, the singer has now been officially confirmed to take the stage at the ceremony.

    As per Variety, apart from Beyonce, the other celebrities slated to take the stage include her Best Original Song nominees.

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday that Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Reba McEntire, and Sebastian Yatra have been tapped to perform four of the five original songs nominated for Oscars this year.

    Beyonce will perform ‘Be Alive’ from ‘King Richard’, a song for which she is nominated alongside her co-writer Dixson. This would be her first live performance in almost two years.

    Beyonce hasn’t taken the stage for live performance since February 2020 when she performed ‘XO’ and ‘Halo’ at Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s A Celebration of Life. Two months later, amid the pandemic, she remotely joined other singing stars on Zoom for The Disney Family Singalong in April 2020 where she sang ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’.

    Her last performance on an award show stage was at the 2017 Grammy Awards where she sang ‘Love Drought’ and ‘Sandcastles’ off her sixth studio album ‘Lemonade’.

    Eilish and her brother Finneas will perform ‘No Time To Die’ from the Bond film of the same name. The pair are also nominees, having written the music and lyrics to the titular track.

    ‘Dos Oruguitas’ from the Disney movie ‘Encanto’ will be performed by Yatra. Music and lyrics for the song are by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is nominated this year for a second time following his 2017 nod for the song ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from ‘Moana’.

    McEntire will sing ‘Somehow You Do’ from the drama ‘Four Good Days’, starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis. The song was written and composed by Diane Warren, who is enjoying a whopping 13th nomination in the Best Original Song category at the Oscars this year.

    The fifth song nominated in the category is ‘Down To Joy’ from Belfast, with music and lyric by Van Morrison. However, due to his tour schedule, Morrison will not be able to attend the telecast, and his song will not be performed.

    This year’s ceremony, produced by Will Packer and Shayla Cowan, will be held on March 27 at the Dolby Theatre and will air live on ABC at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT. The award show will be hosted by Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes. 

  • Beyonce and Zendaya in talks for ‘Imitation of Life’ remake

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Singers Beyonce and Zendaya are said to be in talks to star in a remake of the movie ‘Imitation of Life’. The drama film was first released in 1934, based on Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel of the same name, and then remade in 1959, starring Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, John Gavin and Sandra Dee, reports femalefirst.co.uk.It is thought if Zendaya does sign up for the remake of the classic film, which dealt with issues of race, class and gender, it could take her movie stock “to the next level”. An insider said: “‘Imitation of Life’ is renowned in the film world because of the issues it tackled and they seem more relevant than ever right now.”Everyone wants Zendaya in their films at the moment, but it feels like this could be the movie to take her to the next level and really get some awards buzz.” Beyonce is said to be keen to “really sink her teeth into” a juicy role.The insider added to The Sun newspaper’s bizarre column: “Beyonce has dipped her toe in a few projects like Disney’s ‘Lion King’, voicing the part of lioness Nala.”But now she wants a project she can really sink her teeth into, so she is very interested.” Should Beyonce and Zendaya team up for the film, it wouldn’t be the first time they have joined forces.’Spider-Man: No Way Home’ star Zendaya starred in Beyonce’s ‘All Night’ music video in 2016, and she previously admitted to being a huge fan of the ‘Single Ladies’ hitmaker. During a 2017 discussion about the stars who inspire her, Zendaya said: “Beyonce. She took it to the next level with ‘Lemonade’. She’s got twins, and she’s banging. She’s killing it.”In 2016, Zendaya said: “I’m just obsessed with Beyonce and have been since my birth. Just to be there and really learn from her and see how amazing she is, how detail-oriented, it was cool to just sit back and watch.”

  • Beyonce, Jay-Z and Grande in Oscars race as shortlists unveiled

    By AFP

    Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ariana Grande are all in the running for the best original song Oscar, but French shock-fest “Titane” did not make the shortlist for best foreign film, as the Academy unveiled its annual shortlists Tuesday ahead of the formal nominations.

    Pop superstar Beyonce’s ballad “Be Alive”, penned for the tennis biopic “King Richard,” about the father of Serena and Venus Williams (played by Will Smith), was on a list of 15 tracks, which will be whittled down to a final five before March’s Oscars.

    She will compete against her husband Jay-Z, who produced Netflix Western “The Harder They Fall,” and teamed up with Kid Cudi for the movie’s track “Guns Go Bang.”

    Grande appears in satire “Don’t Look Up,” in which her pop star character sings “Just Look Up” to implore the public to take seriously the impending threat of a comet plummeting towards Earth.

    Billie Eilish’s 007 theme song “No Time To Die” also made the list.

    So did “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney’s animated film “Encanto,” a song composed by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who only needs an Oscar to complete the coveted EGOT collection of awards — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony.

    Fifteen contenders were unveiled for the international feature film Academy Award, from among 92 eligible movies. Each country is only permitted to submit one film.

    France boasts the most foreign film nominations of any country in Oscars history, but will watch from the sidelines this year after its selection, Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning body-horror “Titane,” failed to make the cut.

    The ultra-violent movie about a female serial killer who has sex with automobiles, before tricking a firefighter into believing she is his long-lost son, may have proven too controversial for Academy voters.

    The shortlist includes frontrunners such as Paolo Sorrentino’s coming-of-age drama “The Hand of God” (Italy) and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” (Japan), based on a Haruki Murakami short story.

    Iran’s Asghar Farhadi — among a select group of auteurs to have won multiple foreign film Oscars previously with “A Separation” and “The Salesman” — again makes the cut with morality drama “A Hero.”

    The tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan is a step closer to its first Oscar nomination with “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom,” a comic drama about a reluctant young teacher who is sent to work in the world’s most isolated school.

    Denmark, which won the foreign film Oscar last year for “Another Round,” again has a strong contender in the form of “Flee,” which chronicles a gay Afghan refugee’s perilous journey to Europe.

    The animated film was also included in the shortlist for best documentary, which was also unveiled Tuesday.

    “The Rescue,” about the headline-grabbing 2018 race to save a Thai soccer team trapped in a cave, and Questlove’s “Summer of Soul,” about the huge but largely forgotten “Black Woodstock” festival that took place in 1969 Harlem, also made the cut.

    The final list of Oscar nominations will be revealed on February 8, and the awards will be handed out on March 27.

  • ‘The Masked Singer’, Beyonce’s ‘Black Is King’ among juried Emmy Award winners

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: While the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards are still a few weeks away, the trophies have already begun rolling out for some of the past year’s biggest shows.

    Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’, ‘The Masked Singer’, ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Love, Death and Robots’ are among early winners for this year’s Emmy Awards, as the Television Academy announced juried category honourees in the fields of animation, costume, interactive programming and motion design, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

    Juried categories are decided by a panel of professionals in the appropriate peer groups with the possibility of one, more than one or no entry being awarded an Emmy. There are no nominees but a one-step evaluation and voting procedure with open discussions of each piece of work.

    Outstanding individual achievement in animation was awarded to ‘Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal’ (David Krentz, storyboard artist); ‘The Simpsons’ (Nik Ranieri, lead character layout artist); and four recognitions for Netflix’s ‘Love, Death + Robots’ (Robert Valley, production designer; Patricio Betteo, background artist; Dan Gill, stop motion animator; Laurent Nicolas, character designer).

    Costumes for a variety, nonfiction or reality program went to ‘Black is King’ (Zerina Akers, costume designer; Timothy White, costume supervisor); ‘The Masked Singer’ (Marina Toybina, costume designer; Grainne O’Sullivan, costume supervisor; Gabrielle Letamendi, assistant costume designer; Lucia Maldonado, assistant costume designer); and ‘Sherman’s Showcase Black History Month Spectacular’ (Ariyela Wald-Cohain, costume designer; Patty Malkin, costume supervisor; Erica Schwartz, assistant costume supervisor).

    Innovation in interactive programming was given to Apple’s ‘For All Mankind’, and motion design went to ‘Calls’, also from the tech giant.

    The juried awards will be presented at the 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which take place in Los Angeles on September 11 and 12. An edited presentation of the ceremonies will be broadcast on FXX on September 18.

    The Primetime Emmy Awards will follow on September 19, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer with a limited in-person audience in downtown Los Angeles. 

  • Beyonce wishes her twins Rumi, Sir a happy birthday

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: Singer-songwriter Beyonce is celebrating her kids as they mark another trip around the sun.

    The 28-time Grammy Award winner wished her twins Rumi and Sir Carter a happy fourth birthday on Sunday on her website. “What’s better than 1 gift… 2,” she wrote on the homepage. “Happy birthday Rumi and Sir,” the songstress added.

    She and her husband Jay-Z, who also share daughter Blue Ivy, welcomed daughter Rumi and son Sir on June 13, 2017.

    “Rumi is our favorite poet, so it was for our daughter,” Jay-Z explained their names later that year, reported People magazine.

    “Sir was like, man, come out the gate. He carries himself like that. He just came out, like, Sir,” he added.

    Beyonce described the “extremely difficult pregnancy” with her twins in her 2019 Netflix documentary ‘Homecoming’, revealing she developed preeclampsia.

    “My body went through more than I knew it could,” she said, noting that it took a physical toll on her as she returned to work.

    “I would dance and go off to the trailer and breastfeed the babies, the days I could I would bring the children,” Beyonce remembered.

    She added, “I’m just trying to figure out how to balance being the mother of a 6-year-old and twins that need me and giving myself creativity. Physically, it was a lot to juggle. It’s like, before I could rehearse 15 hours straight. I have children, I have a husband, I have to take care of my body.”

    ‘The Black Is King’ artist also opened up about motherhood during an interview with Elle in December 2019.

    “I think the most stressful thing for me is balancing work and life,” she said at the time.

    She added, “Making sure I am present for my kids – dropping Blue off at school, taking Rumi and Sir to their activities, making time for date nights with my husband, and being home in time to have dinner with my family – all while running a company can be challenging.”

    The mother-of-three recently gave all of her children a shoutout at the Grammy Awards in March as she became the most-awarded female artist with her best R&B performance for ‘Black Parade’.

    She and Blue also won the best music video for ‘Brown Skin Girl’ that night, making it her eldest daughter’s first Grammy.

    “It’s such a magical night, thank you so much. I know my daughter is watching,” Beyonce said in her speech.

    “Two daughters and my son, they’re all watching. Blue, congratulations, she won a Grammy tonight. I’m so proud of you and I’m so honored to be your mommy, all of your mommy’s. Y’all are my babies, and I’m so proud of y’all. I love you so much, my rock,” she added in her speech.

  • Seth Rogen reveals he was ‘humiliated’ in failed attempt to meet Beyonce

    By ANI
    WASHINGTON: Hollywood actor Seth Rogen, who has one of the rarest distinctions of calling Beyonce a friend, recently admitted he didn’t get off on the right foot.

    According to People magazine, the two-time Golden Globe nominee recalled feeling “humiliated” after a run-in with Beyonce’s bodyguard during a failed encounter with the pop icon at a previous Grammy Awards.

    “I was at the Grammys, and I saw Beyonce with Gwyneth Paltrow actually and they were together,” he recounted on E! News’ Daily Pop.

    He continued, “And I charged over. Instinct took over. I was hit so hard by her security guard that I spilled a drink. I was drinking a screwdriver, which is a bad drink. I deserved what I got … I was humiliated and I didn’t get to meet Beyonce.”

    Then, Rogen had to take the stage to present a Grammy and held his arms in “a very weird position” to cover his spilled screwdriver. Rogen has also shared this awkward moment in his memoir Year Book.

    Rogen previously recounted the story on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2019, after he and Beyonce lent their voices to Disney’s 2019 live-action adaptation of ‘The Lion King’. “It was terrible,” he said, before explaining that he’d learned his lesson before officially meeting her at the movie’s premiere.

    Rogen said, “So I was wary of going near her because I look like someone who you would want to keep away from Beyonce in general. I waited for her to approach me, which they teach you. She was very nice and my beard actually got stuck in her sequin a little bit. If you look closely, you’ll see some gray hair on her shoulder.”

    Rogen and Beyonce co-starred in ‘The Lion King’ with Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, JD McCrary and Alfre Woodard.

    Also in 2019, Beyonce released ‘The Lion King: The Gift’, the soundtrack album for ‘The Lion Kin’g and and her visual album ‘Black Is King’.

    And at the recent Grammy Awards, her 9-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter won her first gold gramophone for best music video for ‘Brown Skin Girl’.

  • Who run the Grammys? Women. Beyoncé, Swift make history

    By Associated Press
    NEW YORK: Female performers including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift had a record-making night at the 2021 Grammy Awards, a jam-packed but socially distanced show highlighted by live music sorely absent during the pandemic era.

    Four women won the top four prizes Sunday, including Swift, who became the first female performer to win album of the year three times. Beyoncé — with her 28th win — became the most decorated woman in Grammy history.

    H.E.R. won song of the year and Billie Eilish picked up her second consecutive record of the year honor, telling the audience that best new artist winner Megan Thee Stallion deserved the award.

    Though women have won all top four awards in the past – including Eilish’s sweep last year – it marked the first time four separate and solo women won the top four honors.

    “I feel like there’s been a lot of female empowerment and lots of women winning awards tonight. And so it’s been absolutely amazing to just be alongside all that, to feel that energy,” Dua Lipa, who won best pop vocal album, said backstage.

    Swift won the top prize with “folklore,” the folky, alternative album she released as a surprise last year. She previously won album of the year with “Fearless” and “1989.”

    Beyoncé walked into the show with 24 wins and picked up four honors, including best R&B performance for “Black Parade,” best music video for “Brown Skin Girl” as well as best rap performance and best rap song for “Savage,” with Megan Thee Stallion.

    “As an artist I believe it’s my job, and all of our jobs, to reflect time and it’s been such a difficult time,” Beyoncé said onstage as she won best R&B performance for “Black Parade,” which was released on Juneteenth.

    She went on to say she created the song to honor the “beautiful Black kings and queens” in the world.

    She added: “I have been working my whole life … This is such a magical night.”

    Beyoncé now ties producer and multi-instrumentalist Quincy Jones for second place among all Grammy winners. She is only behind the late conductor Georg Solti, who is the most decorated Grammy winner with 31 wins.

    But Beyoncé didn’t only make history, her whole family did. The royal family of music all won honors Sunday: Jay-Z picked up his 23rd Grammy, sharing the best rap song win with his wife since he co-wrote “Savage.” And 9-year-old Blue Ivy Carter — who won best music video alongside her mother — became the second youngest act to win a Grammy in the show’s 63-year history. Leah Peasall was 8 when The Peasall Sisters won album of the year at the 2002 show for their appearance on the T Bone Burnett-produced “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack.

    Megan Thee Stallion, who won three honors, also made history and became the first female rapper to win best rap song. She’s also the fifth rap-based act to win best new artist.

    Beyoncé was the night’s top contender with nine nominations. She didn’t perform but Swift did.

    She sang “cardigan” and “august” from “folklore,” as well as “willow” from “evermore,” and was joined by the collaborators who helped her make the albums, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, who both won album of the year with Swift.

    The Grammys featured pre-taped performances that helped the nearly four-hour show run seamlessly — a not-so-easy feat during a global pandemic. Host Trevor Noah told jokes about the pandemic and the year that was 2020, appearing live from downtown Los Angeles with attendees wearing masks and sitting, socially distanced, at small round tables.

    Silk Sonic, aka Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, also performed, bringing a throwback R&B vibe to the show with their smooth new single, “Leave the Door Open.” Lipa proved her pop star status with a performance of her hits “Don’t Start Now” and “Levitating,” where she was joined by DaBaby, who was an all-star during his own performance of his guitar-tinged rap hit “Rockstar,” flipping the song for an exceptional live rendition featuring R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a skilled violinist and background singers.

    Country singer Mickey Guyton – the first Black woman nominated for best country solo performance – gave a top notch performance of her song “Black Like Me,” which she released last year as police brutality continued to devastate Black families and the coronavirus ravished Black America disproportionately. Lil Baby, joined by Killer Mike and activist Tamika Mallory, gave a political performance that impressed.

    “Black Parade” joined a list of songs honoring the Black experience that won Sunday, including H.E.R.’s protest anthem “I Can’t Breathe” and Anderson Paak’s “Lockdown,” which was released on Juneteenth like “Black Parade.”

    Other performers Sunday included Eilish, Cardi B, Bad Bunny, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Harry Styles, who won best pop solo performance for the hit “Watermelon Sugar.”

    “To everyone who made this record with me, thank you so much,” said Styles, the first member of One Direction to win a Grammy.

    Double winners included H.E.R., Fiona Apple, Kaytranada and late performers John Prine and Chick Corea.