Cynthia Erivo

Subterms

    Latest story

    125 Shares99 Views

    Cynthia Erivo, Andra Day and More Tapped for Grammy Special

    by

    WENN

    The biggest night in music this coming weekend will be followed by a star-studded TV special ‘A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change’ which will be hosted by Common.

    Mar 11, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Cynthia Erivo will perform John Lennon’s classic “Imagine” for CBS special “A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change”.
    For the special, which will air on 17 March (21), a host of stars will take to the stage, including Gladys Knight – who will be joined by Adam Blackstone, Sheila E., Israel Houghton, and D Smoke to perform Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”.
    John Fogerty will perform “Fortunate Son” and “Weeping in the Promised Land” while other names on the line-up include Yolanda Adams, Leon Bridges, Eric Church, Andra Day, Patti LaBelle, Terrace Martin, Brad Paisley, Billy Porter, LeAnn Rimes, Chris Stapleton, and Emily, Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
    The two-hour special, hosted by Common, will also share the stories behind the music, as well as highlighting previous iconic Grammy performances.

      See also…

    In addition to airing on CBS, the show will be available to watch on livestream and on demand via Paramount+.
    Meanwhile, the main Grammy event on March 14 will be made merry by the likes of Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Doja Cat, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and Roddy Ricch.
    Beyonce Knowles leads the nominations with nine mentions. Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, and Taylor Swift follow with six nods each.
    Meanwhile, The Weeknd was snubbed despite his stellar 2020, during which he broke chart records with his album “After Hours” and single “Blinding Lights”, which this week chalked up a full year in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10.
    “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…,” he slammed the Recording Academy following the nomination announcement.

    You can share this post!

    Next article
    Meghan Markle’s Pal Says Duchess Has Many Emails and Texts to Prove Royal Family’s Alleged Racism

    Related Posts More

    More stories

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Movies

      Cynthia Erivo to Bring Story of Forgotten African Princess to Life in New Biopic

      by

      Instagram

      In addition to her staring role, the ‘Harriet’ star will produce the biopic about Omoba Aina, an orphaned Egbado princess of the Yoruba people who was enslaved and gifted to Queen Victoria.

      Dec 4, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Actress Cynthia Erivo is stepping back in history to portray a real-life African princess who was enslaved and gifted to Queen Victoria.
      The “Harriet” star will also produce the movie based on the life of Omoba Aina, an orphaned Egbado princess of the Yoruba people who was taken as a slave by a West African ruler, and given to the English monarch in 1850, when she was renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
      Erivo will develop the BBC Film project alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, who has signed on as an executive producer. Erivo will produce the film via her production company Edith’s Daughter with Solome Williams, SunnyMarch’s Leah Clarke and Adam Ackland, and Rienkje Attoh from So & So Productions.

        See also…

      The as-yet-untitled biopic will draw details from Walter Dean Myers biography, “At Her Majesty’s Request”.
      In a statement, Erivo shared, “I am excited to embark on this journey. It has taken a long time to get to a point where we can even begin to realise this dream.”
      “As a Nigerian British woman, to get the opportunity to tell the story of another Nigerian British woman who until now has been erased from the history books, is an honour. Miss Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Omoba Aina, is truly a passion of mine and I’m so pleased to have been able to find partners in the incredible women, (co-producers) Leah Clarke and Rienkje Attoh, to tell the story and finally give her a voice. I cannot wait to dive into her story. She is indeed the forgotten princess, forgotten no more.”

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Series Adds Peter Mullan, Benjamin Walker and Lenny Henry to Its Cast

      Related Posts More

    • 125 Shares199 Views

      Cynthia Erivo's Aretha Franklin Series Shut Down Following Covid-19 Scare

      by

      National Geographic/Richard A DuCree

      The National Geographic project has halted production on the upcoming ‘Genius: Aretha’ series after one of the cast members contracted the deadly virus.

      Oct 21, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Production on Cynthia Erivo’s Aretha Franklin series has been shut down after a cast member tested positive for COVID-19.
      Filming on National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha” resumed three weeks ago after the pandemic shut the show down in March (20), and now it’s on hold again.
      Deadline sources claim the set went into lockdown early on Tuesday (20Oct20) after a background actor contracted the coronavirus. It is unclear how long the shutdown will last and the show’s producers at Touchstone Television have yet to comment.

        See also…

      Executive producer and director Anthony Hemingway had completed half of the eight-episode drama, in which Erivo plays the late Queen of Soul, when production shut down in mid-March. Filming began in December (19).
      The life and legacy of Aretha Franklin was also brought to the big screen in a biopic called “Respect”. The late music icon handpicked Jennifer Hudson to play her on the movie before she passed away in 2018.
      In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hudson weighed in on the Nat Geo project, “I know that Aretha was adamant that [her life] be a film. If it’s not a film, it’s nothing. I’m just honored that she picked me to play her. I mean, who can say that? And again, I would have never done it without her wishes.”
      Following Franklin’s death, Hudson saved her text exchange with the icon. “I still have the text chains, so every now and then I look back at them,” she explained of their connection. “The last time I spoke to her was Aug. 8, [2018,] and I can honestly say she sang until her last breath.”

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      The Second Man in the Car With Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion Breaks Silence on Shooting Drama More

    • 125 Shares199 Views

      Cynthia Erivo Credits Lockdown for Allowing Her to Record Album

      by

      WENN

      The ‘Harriet’ actress keeps her creative juice flowing during the coronavirus lockdown by stepping into the recording studio to work on her delayed studio album.
      Jun 21, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Singer/actress Cynthia Erivo has used her time in lockdown to record the album she was hoping to make last year 2019.
      The British star had a very busy 2019, promoting and earning multiple nominations for her film “Harriet”, in which she played former slave and abolitionist Harriet Tubman, and filming HBO series “The Outsider”, and she couldn’t find the time to lay down tracks.
      So when the coronavirus pandemic began, her record company bosses were quick to call.
      “When this first happened (COVID-19), I started recording,” she tells Deadline’s New Hollywood podcast. “My (record) label was like, ‘You’re at home, you’re not going anywhere which is great because you’re always going somewhere. We’ve got you in one place, we need you to record that album. Thank you!’ So I’ve been on and off recording that.”
      Asked to describe her sound, the double Oscar nominee admits it’s a mixture of styles because she has a lot of different influences.
      “Because I sing and I act there are, like, people who are a combination of both of those things. I was obsessed with Barbra Streisand, I was obsessed with Judy Garland, obsessed with Aretha Franklin, obsessed with Donna Summer.”
      “Let’s call it emotive… It’s about emotions, heartache and love and all those things that we experience as human beings. That’s what it’s about.”
      The 33 year old, who will play Franklin in the upcoming series “Genius: Aretha”, is also thrilled to be signed to Verve, the same label another of her heroes Nina Simone recorded for.
      Citing her love of “the imperfection of the way she embraces music,” Cynthia shares that she really identifies with the “My Baby Just Cares for Me” hitmaker’s passion.
      “For her (Nina), it wasn’t about making a pretty sound, it really was about communicating a message, communicating the cause at the time, how she felt, how people felt as a nation. She had a wonderful way of using her music to do that and more and more it became about freedom for her.”

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      Matthew Rhys Gets Complaint From Wife About His Smelly Beard During Quarantine

      Related Posts More

    • 175 Shares199 Views

      in Movies

      Leslie Jones Only Votes for Cynthia Erivo for 2020 Oscars and Ignores the Rest

      by

      WENN/Instar/Adriana M. Barraza

      Ahead of the highly-anticipated Academy Awards, the ‘Saturday Night Live’ funnywoman tells her online devotees she only voted for black people for the awards show.
      Feb 10, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Leslie Jones has taken a stand against the 2020 Academy Awards by only voting in categories that included people of colour.
      The Academy has come under fire since revealing the nominations for this year’s Oscars, after announcing an all-male directors shortlist and Cynthia Erivo as the only black nominee across the acting categories.
      Taking to social media, actress and comedian Leslie, who’s been a member of the Oscars voting pool the last few years, revealed she only voted in categories that included a diverse selection of nominees.
      “Welp I just finished voting for the Oscars,” she penned. “It didn’t take long cause there are no black people on it. So I voted for @cynthiaerivo and abstained from the rest.”
      She also included the hashtag, “#moreblackpeopleplease.”
      The “Ghostbusters” star later amended her initial post after people reminded her that Matthew Cherry’s “Hair Love” was nominated for Best Animated Short Film.
      “Ok geeeez yes I voted for @MatthewACherry tooo didn’t think I needed to say that! The post was obvious! No chill. His film was on before @AngryBirdsMovie #iswearimdonewithyall”
      The 2020 Oscars take place on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      The Rock Gets Teary Eyes at Dad’s Funeral

      Related Posts More

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Movies

      Cynthia Erivo Feels Sad Being the Only Black Actress to Get Oscar Nomination This Year

      by

      Instagram

      The ‘Harriet’ actress is saddened by the lack of diversity at this year’s nominations for the 92nd annual Academy Awards and vows to fight for change in the entertainment industry.
      Feb 3, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Cynthia Erivo has admitted being the only woman of colour nominated at the 2020 Oscars has been “a real eye-opener.”
      The 33-year-old is the only non-white star to receive a nomination in the acting categories at the awards show, and is up for both Best Actress and Best Original Song for “Harriet”, in which she portrays famed abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman.
      Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the star confessed the nods are “a moment for celebration,” but also reflected on the wider implications of the lack of diversity in the shortlist.
      “It can’t just be me alone. There’s just such good work going on and this may sound fatalistic, but I would hate for people’s work to have gone by and then for us to have looked back and go, ‘Oh, I wish we would’ve given roses,’ when people aren’t there to actually receive them,” she said. “I don’t want us to do that.”
      She added, “To be in a room and not being able to see other actors (of colour) who are nominated, to not be able to share that with another black actress is saddening. I would love to share this moment with someone else.”
      Erivo recently vowed to fight for change in “the way they (entertainment industry) cast things, change the way they line up producers and directors and writers,” adding that diverse voices “reflect the world that we live in,” while reflecting on the issue during a Television Critics Association panel for her new HBO show, “The Outsider”.
      The Academy Awards take place on February 9, 2020.

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      Gervonta Davis Wipes His Instagram Clean Amid Backlash After He’s Seen Manhandling His Baby Mama

      Related Posts More

    • 113 Shares149 Views

      in Movies

      Cynthia Erivo Keen to Explore Her Sexuality on Screen

      by

      Instagram

      The ‘Harriet’ actress says in a new interview that she would love to play a character that shows black women’s sensuality or do a superhero movie like ‘Black Panther’.
      Feb 2, 2020
      AceShowbiz – Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo wants to explore her sexuality on screen as she feels Hollywood is failing to show black women’s sensuality.
      The British star’s performance as abolitionist activist Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” has landed her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards, in addition to a Best Original Song nod, and she hopes her success will land her a greater variety of parts.
      In an interview with writer and activist Roxane Gay for The Hollywood Reporter, Cynthia reveals she is often cast as characters who are “asexual” and would like to explore more of her romantic side on screen.
      “I would like to play the role of a woman who has sexuality,” she explains. “For some reason, I don’t know whether it is specifically black women, but our roles lack sexuality. It’s like we can’t be bad**s and human and sexual at the same time.”
      “I just don’t understand that. One of my favorite films is Call Me by Your Name, because of how tender and sensual it is. I still haven’t seen that for a black woman. That’s what I’m looking for.”
      Asked about directors she’d like to work with in the future, the 32-year-old lists Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and Barry Jenkins – and also adds that she’d love to do a superhero movie like Coogler’s “Black Panther”.
      “My body is suited to it,” she shares. “And I’d love to see what that experience is like. I think I could have a good time doing it.”
      If she wins at next month’s ceremony, Cynthia will become the youngest ever star to complete an EGOT – wins at the Emmys, Grammys. Oscars, and Tonys – but says she’s relaxed about making history.
      “I think I’ve said ‘EGOT’ less than everybody else,” the star explains. “I don’t know that it’s that I care less or that it’s not the most important thing to me. It really is and it really has been about getting good work and playing roles I feel are good for me.”

      You can share this post!

      Next article
      ‘Star Wars’ Actor Alan Harris Lost Battle to Lung Cancer

      Related Posts More