Home

TTR News Center

Christina Milian replaces Naya Rivera in STARZ's 'Step Up' series

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Sarah Morris/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Grammy-nominated singer and actress Christina Milian has joined the cast of the STARZ re-imagined series, Step Up.

Milian will take over as Collette, a role originated by the late actress Naya Rivera, who passed away last July.

“I am so excited to join the Step Up family,” said Milian in a statement. “I know I have massive shoes to fill. Naya was incredible. I hope to honor Naya, her family, friends and fans with a great performance.”

The Step Up series, which originally aired on YouTube, was inspired by the Lionsgate franchise film of the same title. In seasons one and two, Collette uses her resourcefulness to nurture students at Atlanta’s famed High Water Performing Art School, founded by her lover and business partner Sage Odom, played by Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and dancer Ne-Yo. 

“There is no replacing Naya. Let’s get that straight. Her spirit lives on in our memories and every part of what this show is and will be,” added Ne-Yo. “Christina has big shoes to fill and she knows it, which speaks to her poise and respect as a person and an artist. I’m more than certain of her ability to bring an energy and light to this character that Naya’s fans as well as the rest of the world will love. We’ve welcomed Christina with absolute open arms and have rallied around her with love and support.”

A wrongful death suit was filed in November by Riveria’s ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, on behalf of their four-year-old son after the actress drowned while boating on a California lake at 33.

Catch Christina Milian on the Step Up series, which returns Fridays at 8 p.m. EST on STARZ, beginning March 5th.

By Rachel George
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Maren Morris joins husband Ryan Hurd for duet, "Chasing After You"

• No Comments • Country Music News

Arista Nashville Maren Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd are joining forces for their duet “Chasing After You,” to be released on February 12.  

Though Maren has provided background vocals on Ryan’s previous singles “Every Other Memory” and “To a T,” “Chasing After You” marks the couple’s first official studio duet. 

“Every time you say we’re done/You come back to the love/You were running from/Don’t know why don’t know why I let you/But I do/Cause I love chasing after you,” the couple sings over an acoustic melody in a clip posted to Ryan’s Instagram Stories Monday. 

Maren and Ryan met as songwriters in Nashville in 2013, co-penning Tim McGraw‘s “Last Turn Home.” Ryan is also the co-writer behind Lady A‘s hits “What If I Never Get Over You” and “You Look Good,” as well as “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” by Luke Bryan. 

“Maren and I met writing songs and we’ve sung on each other’s records and written together, but this is the first time we’ve gotten to do an actual duet together. It feels like the timing is really perfect and it’s a full circle moment to get to make music together in this way,” Ryan says. 

“Chasing After You” follows the release of Maren’s new collaboration with JP Saxe, “Line by Line.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Miranda Lambert to perform three shows in Texas in April: "We’re doing this safely and right"

• No Comments • Country Music News

ABCMiranda Lambert is getting back on stage. 

On Monday, the “Bluebird” singer announced on Instagram that she is performing three shows in April at Billy Bob’s Texas, marking her first concert in more than a year. 

Miranda will take the stage at the famous honky tonk in Fort Worth for three consecutive shows on April 22, 23 and 24. Pre-sale tickets for members of her fan club will be available on Wednesday and become available to the public Friday. 

“I can’t wait to come home,” Miranda writes, adding a disclaimer that the shows will be reduced capacity, socially-distanced and follow “strict” COVID-19 protocols. “We’re doing this safely and right,” she says.

Miranda launched her Wildcard Tour last January in support of her latest album, but like many other artists, was forced to cancel or postpone tour plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mickey Guyton welcomes son Grayson

• No Comments • Country Music News

Phylicia J.L. MunnMickey Guyton is a new mom. 

The singer announced on Monday that she and husband Grant Savoy have welcomed their first child, Grayson.

“The hardest and most beautiful thing I have ever done. Welcome to the world Grayson!” Mickey writes alongside a photo of the baby, swaddled in a bassinet at the hospital. 

The comment section was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from fans and peers alike, including the Academy of Country Music, Blanco Brown, Cam and more.

“You are a bad***!! Welcome sweet babe!! Cam writes. “Ohhhh baby baby! Congrats mama- so proud of you,” adds Brooke Eden. 

Mickey announced last summer that she and her husband were expecting their first child. “I just want this baby to just have its own life and have its own choices, and I will accept this baby for who or whatever it chooses to be,” she shared with People. “I just want to support it in every way that I can.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Bliss' stars Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson on dressing for the "real" and "ugly" worlds of their new movie

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Amazon Studios/Hilary Bronwyn Gayle(NEW YORK) — As you might guess, it takes a lot of work to get Salma Hayek to look ugly. That was the takeaway with ABC Audio’s chat with the 54-year-old stunner who stars opposite Owen Wilson in the new Amazon Prime film, Bliss. 

The movie has Wilson playing a depressed working stiff who is convinced by Hayek’s character that the real world is just a simulation projected by cutting-edge technology that she created.  Or is the whole thing just a drug-addled fantasy? 

The film has the pair crossing back and forth between an “ugly” world — that is, the one we live in — and the postcard-perfect “real” one, which was sumptuously shot in stunning Croatia.

The actors’ appearance also reflects the two worlds: both performers are essentially homeless in the “ugly” world, and their appearance reflects that, while in the scenes set in the glamorous “real” world, they’re red-carpet ready. 

“I found it kind of easier to inhabit the what we called the ugly world, because that was just, yeah, a lot less time in hair and makeup and you just kind of roll out,” Wilson admitted to ABC Audio. 

But Hayek had a different take. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to sound vain. I don’t want you to take this the wrong way. But actually, I would take a lot longer to get ready for the ugly world, because of the ugly hair, and the ugly makeup,” Hayek said, as Wilson laughed.

Salma says her “ugly” look, “was very specific, as you can see. And it was a production that hair and the makeup.” 

Bliss is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.