Of all the notable names who have wined and dined at Tavern on the Green — one caused the most chaos. Jim Caiola, co-owner of the famed Central Park eatery, dished that in his dozen years running the joint one young actress wreaked “Wicked” havoc. “Ariana Grande . . . That’s the most paparazzi we’ve … Read more
Twenty years ago, Jennifer Hudson had hit bottom. As in the bottom three of “American Idol” — where she was shockingly up for elimination on the third season of the singing competition with fellow presumptive front-runners Fantasia Barrino and LaToya London. After her powerful pipes had carried her through with covers of Aretha Franklin, Elton … Read more
It’s the second weekend of Pride Month — my favorite time of the year — so we got a whole lotta shaking and celebrating to do before the end of June. So let’s get this party started with my Pride Realness Playlist: Diana Ross, “I’m Coming Out” Diana Ross Getty Images You know, we gay … Read more
Pete Davidson revealed he was high on ketamine — the drug that was in Matthew Perry’s system at the time of his death — while attending Aretha Franklin’s 2018 funeral. Davidson, who attended the Queen of Soul’s service with his then-fiancée Ariana Grande, recalled the experience in his new Netflix special “Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli,” … Read more
Aretha Franklin’s sons are learning what R-E-S-P-E-C-T means to her. Five years after her death, Franklin’s final wishes are still unresolved. Next Monday, July 10, a trial is set to start with the aim of settling which of her two handwritten wills — one of which was found in a couch cushion — will determine … Read more
There’s no getting through Grammy night without one or two crises in need of management, but for veteran show producer Ken Ehrlich, the 1998 awards ceremony stands out as particularly chaotic. Ol’ Dirty Bastard bum-rushed the stage when Shawn Colvin won Song of the Year for “Sunny Came Home.” A shirtless party crasher — “Soy … Read more
Turns out a supposed transgender “activist” group may not have a problem with Aretha Franklin after all. Last week, an alleged-Norway based LGBTQ rights group called the Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance took to Twitter to condemn Aretha Franklin’s hit 1968 song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” They labeled the song’s lyrics offensive and … Read more
They’re saying a little prayer. One activist group in Norway is calling for Aretha Franklin’s hit 1968 song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to be removed from both Apple Music and Spotify after they deemed its lyrics offensive. The Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance took to Twitter last week to condemn the ballad, … Read more
As more than 1,000 people began arriving for the noon service at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Lexington Avenue and East 54th Street, they couldn’t help but see the sign at the entrance. “Soul is the feeling of depth, the ability to reach someone. It’s being part of what today is all about . . … Read more