October 29, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Donald Kravitz/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions(LOS ANGELES) — Leanza Cornett, who was crowned Miss America in 1993, died unexpectedly on Wednesday.  She was 49.

The Miss America Organization confirmed the beauty queen’s passing, writing, “Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious.  We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you.”

The industry has been “devastated by this sudden loss” and “are deeply sorry for her family and close friends for their loss.”

The organization declined to reveal her cause of death, writing, “At the moment, we do not have any further information regarding a service for Leanza and we ask that you please respect her family during this difficult time.”

Family and friends of Cornett revealed she suffered a head injury and creating a special Facebook group called Leanza Cornett’s Circle of Love to update fans on her recovery. 

The group revealed on October 18 that she “sustained an enormous blow to the back of her head” that resulted in “bleeding in her brain.”  No further details were provided.

“The updates here are provided by, and or approved by Leanza’s Mom, Patti, who is with Leanza,” the group attested.

The last update to fans was posted Wednesday regarding Cornett’s tragic passing.

Cornett’s ex-husband Mark Steines, who shared sons Kai, 18, and Avery, 16, with her, took to Instagram to honor his late wife, vowing, “We will always remember the wonderful times shared during her short time here on earth. I find comfort knowing Kai and Avery will forever have the best guardian angel watching over them as they navigate life’s path.”

Cornett went on to play the first live-action Ariel in The Little Mermaid stage production at Walt Disney World and had cameos in shows like Weeds and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 29, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — The official trailer for The Crown season four has arrived.

The clip begins with a tense meeting between Olivia Colman’s Queen Elizabeth II and Gillian Anderson’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

“Two women running the shop. That’s the last thing this country needs,” we hear Prince Philip say. To which Queen Elizabeth retorts, “Perhaps that’s precisely what this country needs.”

The trailer then shifts to show Prince Charles, as he struggles with the pressures of choosing a suitable wife and ultimately marries Princess Diana, played by Emma Corrin. We see Diana as she tries to fit in with the royal family as they contemplate whether she will “bend” or “break.”

It’s all set to a haunting new version of The Smiths’ classic song “How Soon Is Now?” We hear a woman sing the lyrics, “I am the son and the heir/of a shyness that is criminally vulgar/I am the son and heir/of nothing in particular.”

The Crown season four debuts on Netflix November 15.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

October 29, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Columbia Pictures/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Jennifer Lopez has starred in quite a few romantic comedies and it all started with The Wedding Planner — but in a new interview she recalls that it almost didn’t happen.

Speaking with her business partner and agent, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, for Variety‘s Power of Women Conversations presented by Lifetime, Lopez recalled how she had to fight in order to not be typecast and land the leading role in the 2001 box office hit. 

“When I started in the industry, I remember we talked about that I would always go in for what they would call the maid, the dishwasher. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that,'” she said. “I had to kind of break out of that, and convince somebody to put me in the first romantic comedy, which was The Wedding Planner.”

The 51-year-old singer and actress admitted that,after receiving some pushback over what she was to be paid, ultimately, it was director Adam Shankman who secured her role alongside Matthew McConaughey. 

“You were my agent, and you were asking for a certain price that you thought I merited, and they were buckling back,” Lopez explained. “Then [Adam] came to one of my record signings, and he said, ‘Give her whatever she wants.'”

“The idea that somebody like me, from my background, who was a woman, could garner that type of, you know, price in this industry. It was a big deal,” she added. 

Lopez has since gone on to star in more romantic comedies like Maid In Manhattan, Monster-In-Law, The Back-up Plan, and more. She will next appear in the romantic comedy Marry Me, which also stars Maluma and Owen Wilson.  The movie is slated to open in theaters February 12, 2021.

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.