When Amy Winehouse died tragically in 2011 at age 27, she was a global superstar, but Kelly Clarkson knew her before then.
On the May 16 episode of her talk show, Kelly interviewed Marisa Abela, who portrays Amy in the new biopic Back to Black, in theaters on May 17. During the chat, Kelly revealed she got to sing with Amy years before she was famous — during karaoke.
"It's funny, I actually saw her before she was who she was," Kelly said. "She was just coming over [to the U.S.] with her boyfriend, and it was while I was shooting this movie that I absolutely hate." She was referring to From Justin to Kelly, the 2003 movie that she was forced to film after winning American Idol.
"But anyway, we all did a karaoke night. And it was before she was her, and she almost sounded a little different as well," Kelly recalled. "It was, like, before she became 'Amy Winehouse.' I don't think she had a record deal or anything at that time. But we all went to karaoke and she sang Etta James and I was like, 'Wait, what?'"
"It was like she, just from the jump, had such a presence about her voice," Kelly added. "It almost became, like, more of a character, too, like, with herself throughout her career."
Amy's breakthrough album, Back to Black, was released in 2006.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreKelly Clarkson recalls doing karaoke with Amy Winehouse years before Amy was famous
The upcoming movie Twisters, described as a "current-day chapter" of the 1996 film Twister, has inspired an entire album of new music.
Twisters: The Album features new songs by Benson Boone, Jelly Roll, Jelly's "Save Me" duet partner Lainey Wilson, "Fast Car" singer Luke Combs, Shania Twain, "Miles On It" and "Thank God" singer Kane Brown and more.
The new Benson song is called "Death Wish Love." It doesn't appear on his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades. The Luke Combs song "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma" is out now.
Both the album and the movie, which stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos, arrive July 19.
The original movie Twister starred Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Jami Gertz and Cary Elwes as "storm chasers" who risk life and limb to research tornadoes in Oklahoma. It was a huge box-office hit.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNew songs by Benson Boone, Jelly Roll & more featured on soundtrack for new movie 'Twisters'
In news that may not come as a surprise to Swifties, the trailer for Blake Lively's new movie, It Ends With Us, features a Taylor Swift song.
Not only are Taylor and Blake good friends, but Blake directed Taylor's video for "I Bet You Think About Me." In addition, Blake's children with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, also a good friend of Taylor's, have inspired the names of characters in her songs. Their daughter James' voice was featured on Taylor's song "Gorgeous."
It Ends With Us, based on the 2016 bestseller by Colleen Hoover, is soundtracked to "my tears ricochet" from Taylor's album folklore. The movie is about a woman named Lily who marries a handsome doctor, only to find that he has a terrifying dark side that reminds her of her parents' relationship. When her first love reenters her life, she has to make a difficult choice.
"We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean," we hear Taylor sing in an edited version of the song. "Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe/ All the hell you gave me? / 'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you ... / I didn't have it in myself to go with grace."
"my tears ricochet" is about the ghost of a woman who finds that her murderer, who she once loved, is an attendee at her funeral. Taylor's said it was inspired by the movie Marriage Story as well as the ending of her 15-year relationship with her former record label.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreTaylor Swift 'folklore' song soundtracks trailer for her pal Blake Lively's new movie
Justin Bieber had a hit with a song called "Yummy," but that's probably not the word you'd use to describe his wife's pregnancy craving.
On her Instagram Story, Hailey Bieber posted a photo of her odd snack and wrote, "currently my biggest craving. egg salad on top of a pickle with hot sauce. and no, you're not allowed to judge!!"
Hailey also posted a slideshow captioned, "the past few weeks have been..," which features several photos of her showing off her growing baby bump. ABC News has confirmed that she's about six months along.
Justin and Hailey announced their pregnancy on May 9 with a post that showed the two renewing their vows. Hailey wore a form-fitting lace gown that revealed she's expecting.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreHailey Bieber's pregnancy craving isn't exactly "Yummy"
Of course Pink's concerts are filled with great music, dancing and death-defying stunts. But Pink says another reason you should go see her on her Summer Carnival Tour, which starts up again in June, is to admire her butt.
She posted a video on Instagram giving a behind-the-scenes look at the tour, including several shots of her wearing scanty outfits that show off her booty. "I have so much a** in this show," she says. "This is the most a**-alicious show."
"And you know what? F*****' A right, doggie daddy! I worked for that booty," she laughs. "The world needs more 44-year-old booty."
In the video you can see Pink rehearsing, working out, practicing her aerial stunts, playing with her kids backstage and then performing during the actual show. It's all set to "Never Gonna Not Dance Again," the first single from her most recent album, Trustfall, and ends with a shot of Pink wearing a jacket with "Kiss My" written across the back.
The 2024 leg of the Summer Carnival Tour kicks off June 11 in Cardiff, Wales, with opening acts The Script and GAYLE. After traveling through Europe, it'll arrive in North America August 10, with opening acts The Script and Sheryl Crow. Pink's daughter, Willow, will also be joining her onstage every night for a song or two.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreWhy go see Pink in concert? One word: Booty
Britney Spears has spent the last couple of years publicly denouncing her family members and accusing them of various transgressions, including being complicit in her conservatorship, writing negative things about her and tipping off the press about her actions. But despite all that, she apparently still has warm feelings for them.
Britney posted a photo on Instagram of what appears to be her mother, her nieces and other family members sitting around what looks like a kiddie table eating seafood.
"We all have issues with our family but dear God you can’t help how much you love them. I’m not in this picture but I sure as hell feel like I am," Britney wrote. "If you know me, I’ve always ended up at this kids table at every function I’ve ever been to !!! The most elite expensive dinners and I always find myself just like this sitting in the back with the kids !!!"
"I’m posting this pic because my family is absolutely beautiful and I miss them," she added.
She then wrote, "So not to sound righteous but in a world of chaos and confusion the trickery of the devil is to mislead you and humiliate you … and make you think you’re less than !!!"
She concluded by repeating that she wanted to share the photo because she felt like she was in it.
The family photo was the second slide of Britney's post. The first was the cover of a book called Reclaim Your Heart: Personal insights on breaking free from life's shackles.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreBritney Spears posts photo of estranged family: "I miss them"
Mom-to-be Hailey Bieber showed off her baby bump for the first time since she and husband Justin Bieber announced her pregnancy on May 9. In new photos posted to Instagram on May 15, Hailey enjoyed a tropical getaway and shared moments from her early days of pregnancy.
Lady Gaga has shared another clip from her upcoming Chromatica Ball concert special. In the short video, the pop star performs her song "Alice" while up against a wall hovering many feet off the ground. "COULD YOU PULL ME OUT OF THIS ALIVE? GAGA CHROMATICA BALL MAY 25," Lady Gaga captioned her post.
It's been a long time coming: Ryan Reynolds revealed he will watch Taylor Swift take the stage at one of her Eras Tour concerts in Madrid, Spain. "Best concert on planet Earth," Ryan said while on Today with Hoda and Jenna on May 14. “I’m about to go to the Madrid show,” Ryan continued. “Very excited, my wife and kids have been to five of them, five or six now ... they love it, they’re obsessed.”
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreMusic notes: Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and more
Avril Lavigne kicks off her Greatest Hits tour on May 22, and she's adding a few things to the set list.
Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast on May 15, which Avril said was her first-ever podcast appearance, Avril and host Alex Cooper discussed the fact that Avril co-wrote "Breakaway," which Kelly Clarkson later turned into a massive hit.
"The lyric used to be, 'I grew up in a small town and when the snow would fall down/ I would just stare out my window,'" Avril, who grew up in Canada, said. Kelly's version changed the lyric to rain, because she grew up in Texas.
"[I] probably will perform 'Breakaway' on the Greatest Hits tour," Avril teased. As for why she didn't record it herself, Avril said, "I just wasn't feeling it. I'm so glad it went to [Kelly]. She killed it."
Avril also shared that she's planning to cover Green Day, which was a huge influence for her, on the tour, and that her favorite songs to perform include "Girlfriend," "I'm With You," "My Happy Ending" and "Sk8er Boi."
Avril also discussed the longstanding conspiracy theory that she was replaced by a lookalike named Melissa years ago.
"I think that they've done that with other artists," Avril said. "Honestly, it's not that bad. It could be worse. I don't think it's negative ... obviously, I am me. It's so dumb."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreAvril Lavigne says she'll reclaim "Breakaway," cover Green Day during new Greatest Hits tour
If artists mentioned on Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department can experience big streaming boosts, who's to say it can't do the same for authors like Dylan Thomas?
After Taylor mentioned the song "Downtown Lights" by the Scottish band The Blue Nile in her TTPD song "Guilty as Sin," streams of the 1989 song experienced a 1,400% increase. And mentioning the pop-punk band The Starting Line in the song "The Black Dog" led to a 55% increase in their streams.
Actor Matthew Rhys, who portrayed Thomas in a onetime production called Dear Mr. Thomas: A New Play for Voices, says he's hoping that Taylor mentioning the late Welsh poet and author in the album's title track leads to increased awareness of Thomas' career.
"I just hope that a number of people Google Dylan Thomas, and an entirely new generation have their eyes open to this incredible poet," Rhys told the BBC of Taylor's song. "I'm thankful for the fact she's hopefully opened up an entirely new generation to his work."
Rhys also provided a real-life example, telling the BBC, "There was a 12-year-old girl in our household and when the album dropped, there was great reverence on that day when we're all told to be quiet so that lyrics can be listened to."
"When I heard Dylan mentioned I went 'woohoo,' and was told to be quiet straightaway," he continued. "Then what happened was the greatest gift to me: a 12-year-old went, 'Well, who is Dylan Thomas?' And wow, did she ever regret asking that question. Eight hours later, I was still orating some of his greatest poems."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreEmmy-winning actor is "thankful" Taylor Swift mentioned this person on her album