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Reba McEntire spills the beans on her Barb & Star cameo: “I’m just a fun-lovin’ water spirit named Trish”

• No Comments • Country Music News

LionsgateSurprise! Reba McEntire signed on for a cameo in the new comedy Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar, but she kept her appearance under wraps until the film debuted last weekend.

Reba’s role is Trish, a “fun-lovin’ water spirit” who saves two best friends — main characters Barb and Star, played by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, respectively — from drowning during their vacation.

“I’m not advertised as being in this movie, it’s been this secret,” the singer tells USA Today. “But afterward my friends were texting me saying, ‘I knew you were gonna be Trish.’ That was the icing on the cake for me.”

On Twitter, she shared a few behind-the-scenes snapshots of her transformation into the character.

“I know you’re going to be surprised, but this is the first time I’ve ever played a sea spirit,” jokes Reba, adding that there was one logistical problem that she ran into during filming.

“The script had me diving in and swimming off. Well, I can’t dive,” she says. “They said, ‘Don’t worry about that. We’ll fix it.’”

As for the rest of her character and the story line of the movie, Reba says she was immediately hooked by the wacky humor of two Midwestern middle-aged friends who take a tropical vacation together.

The singer is also a huge fan of Bridesmaids, which was written by Mumolo and Wiig. The comedy duo wrote the screenplay for Barb & Star together as well.

“Everybody knows somebody like Barb and Star. They’re very real, it’s priceless,” Reba adds. “I laughed my butt off.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Regé-Jean Page, Charli D'Amelio and more make 2021 'TIME100 Next' list

• No Comments • Entertainment News

TIME(NEW YORK) — TIME magazine’s second annual TIME100 Next list — which rounds up 100 people who are “shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership” — includes Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and TikTok celeb Charli D’Amelio.

TIME tapped fellow celebrities to pen tributes to these stars. Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes says of Page, “You might dream of him, the one we call the Duke of Hastings. But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is finer than fiction and better than any dream.”

She adds, “He is that rare actor, one who brings an intensity, an intelligence and a precision to his work, providing endless depth to any scene…. Few actors craft their moments so beautifully — or steal our attention so quickly.”

Never Have I Ever creator Mindy Kaling wrote of her show’s star, “When you’re a minority woman with your own show, you gotta represent…. People come up to you at the airport or online and say those three magic words: ‘I feel seen.’ It’s a huge responsibility—and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is exactly the kind of talented young woman who is up to the task.”

And Jennifer Lopez penned this for D’Amelio: “There’s huge responsibility in such a high level of fame. With each new follower or video that brings in millions of views, Charli shows that the days of simply waiting to be discovered for your talents are gone. Put yourself out there on your own terms, and as Charli has proven with true authenticity, they will come.”

Others on the list include Little Women actress Florence Pugh, Tenet‘s John David Washington, Knives Out actress Ana de Armas, The Queen’s Gambit‘s Anya Taylor-Joy, and Judas and the Black Messiah‘s LaKeith Stanfield.

TIME100 Next’s virtual event will take place this Friday at 1 p.m. ET.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mandy Moore says she was shut out of an interview because she refused to talk about her abuser

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Amy Sussman/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Mandy Moore is setting “healthy boundaries” with the press after an unidentified journalist backed out of an upcoming interview because Moore did not want to talk about her ex-husband, whom she claims abused her.

Taking to her Instagram stories on Tuesday, the This Is Us star shared an email from an unidentified publication stating they were putting her interview “on pause” after declining to speak about her ex.

The unidentified journalist justified it “would be wrong” to proceed with the interview without discussing ex Ryan Adams because of “the impact he has had on her life and career.”

Moore, 36, wrote “my blood is still boiling” over the interaction.

“This is from a publication who reached out eager to do a comprehensive piece on my life and career,” continued the “Crush” singer. “When they were told that I had spoken plenty about a certain subject in my life and would have no further comment… this was the response we got back.”

Moore added she has spoken plenty about the alleged abuse she suffered, adding she suggested the publication “pull” from the “countless interviews” regarding the matter.

“I have been in this business for over two decades with plenty to chat about and sure, this publication can do as they please, but the message this sends is insulting and so out of touch with the cultural discussion around abusive relationships, directly linking someone’s value back to their abuser,” the Emmy nominee furthered.

“The refusal to interview someone unless they agree to relive that trauma publicly? No thank you,” added Moore, closing out with, “I am about to give birth any second and I’m not afraid to draw healthy boundaries. Bye.”

Moore was married to Adams from 2009 to 2016.  She claims he psychologically abused her and damaged her music career.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

See Emma Stone transform into a Disney villain in first 'Cruella' trailer

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Walt Disney Studios(LOS ANGELES) — The first trailer for Disney’s Cruella, starring Emma Stone as the infamous fur-loving villain from 101 Dalmatians, debuted today.

“The thing is, I was born brilliant. Born bad — and a little bit mad,” Stone’s Cruella says in the trailer, which shows her transformation into the two-tone haired character we love to hate.

The live-action film, directed by I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie, serves as Cruella’s origin story and is set in 1970s London. It also stars Emma Thompson as the head of a fashion house where Cruella gets a job.

Cruella is set to premiere May 28.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Russell Dickerson hits a new chart milestone with “Love You Like I Used To”

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABC/Image Group LARussell Dickerson’s chart-topping hit “Love You Like I Used To” has achieved a new milestone: It’s now spent 21 weeks inside the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

That puts the song in a tie for longest-running top-10 single with Lonestar’s “Amazed,” which achieved the same feat back in 1999.

“I don’t think there is a better way to kick off a sophomore album than with a song that makes history!” Russell reflected on the accomplishment.

“Love You Like I Used To” is the leading single off of Russell’s second project, Southern Symphony. In addition to its continuing chart success, the song also recently claimed RIAA Platinum certification. It’s the fourth consecutive chart-topping hit from Russell, making him the second solo artist to have four or more singles reach the top spot on the Country Airplay chart since the chart was created in 1990. The other artist to hit that milestone is Luke Combs.

Southern Symphony arrived in December of 2020. The project also includes Russell’s newest single, “Home Sweet.”


By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.