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Meghan Markle shares they key to speaking out on important issues, "It's about being authentic"

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Charles McQuillan/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Meghan Markle has been the subject of much criticism throughout the years but that hasn’t stopped her from speaking out — and now, she’s sharing a few words of wisdom for others who want to do the same. 

The 39-year-old Duchess of Sussex spoke with Fortune‘s senior editor Ellen McGirt at the magazine’s Most Powerful Women virtual summit on Tuesday and shared that “it’s about being authentic.”

Markle, who’s had critics come for her after speaking up about topics like Black Lives Matter and naming the victims of police killings, added that most of the negativity comes from misinterpretation. 

“If you look back at anything I’ve said, it’s really interesting, because what often ends up being inflammatory it seems, is people’s interpretation of it,” she said. “But if you listen to what I actually say, it’s not controversial.”

“That is the takeaway that I have found, is if you don’t listen to all the noise out there, and you just focus on living a purpose-driven life and you focus on knowing what your own moral compass is … there are always going to be naysayers,” she continued. 

“I used to have a quote up in my room many, many moons ago, and it resonates now more than ever when you see the vitriol and noise that can be out in the world, and it’s by Georgia O’Keeffe. And it’s, ‘I have already settled it for myself so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.’ And the moment that you are able to be liberated from all these other opinions, of what you know to be true, then I think it’s very easy to just live with truth and live with authenticity and that’s how I choose to move through the world,” Markle concluded. 

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

Singer, songwriter and actor Mac Davis dead at 78

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Photo by PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty ImagesSinger, songwriter and actor Mac Davis passed away after complications following heart surgery in Nashville on Tuesday. The 78-year-old was surrounded by his family at the time, according to his longtime manger, Jim Morey.

On September 28, Davis’ longtime friend Dolly Parton retweeted a message asking for “love and prayers”… revealing the influential singer, songwriter and actor was “critically ill.” 

Through the years, Davis and Dolly appeared on TV together many times. Dolly also recorded a number of his songs, and the two duetted on the White Limozeen track “Wait’ll I Get You Home.”

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Davis was a talented studio guitarist who broke through in 1969 when his compositions “In the Ghetto,” “Memories,” and “Don’t Cry Daddy” were recorded by Elvis Presley.

That paved the way for more smash hits as a songwriter, including “Something’s Burning” by Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Bobby Goldsboro‘s “Watching Scotty Grow,” and “I Believe in Music,” which was first cut by the band Gallery.

By 1972, Davis topped both the country and pop charts himself with “Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me.” His other hits included “Stop and Smell the Roses,” “Texas in My Rearview Mirror,” “Rock ‘N’ Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life),” and the 1980 novelty song, “It’s Hard to Be Humble.” 

Davis’ last big country hit was the 1985 top-10 single “I Never Made Love (Till I Made It with You).”

Davis’ chart success earned him his own TV variety show, The Mac Davis Show, which premiered on NBC in 1974 and aired for two years.  He made his big-screen debut in 1979 opposite Nick Nolte in the football-themed North Dallas Forty. His other movies included The Sting II, Possums, and Cheaper to Keep Her. 

Davis also starred on Broadway in the title role of The Will Rogers Follies, and appeared in TV shows like Rodney, 8 Simple Rules and King of the Hill. In 2000, he served as the balladeer — a role previously filled by Don Williams and Waylon Jennings — in the TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood.

Picking up the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year honor in 1974 proved to be one of many accolades that cemented Davis’ place in history. He got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998, followed by an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, before entering the national Songwriters Hall in 2006.

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Goldmine': Gabby Barrett's career chronicled in Amazon Music mini-doc

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Radio Disney/Image Group LAGabby Barrett‘s life and career is at the center of an upcoming documentary. 

Later this week, Amazon Music will present Breakthrough: Gabby Barrett, a mini-documentary about the country star’s fast-rising journey in country music. 

The doc finds Gabby reflecting on milestone moments — from singing in gospel choir when she was nine to her experience on American Idol and racing up the charts with her crossover hit, “I Hope,” in addition to preparing for the release of her debut album, Goldmine. 

“It can be very difficult when you have a dream that’s very large and you’re starting out feeling like itty bitty,” Gabby says in the trailer.    

The special was filmed earlier this year during quarantine while visiting husband Cade Foehner‘s family in East Texas. Cade also joins his wife for interviews featured in the doc.  

Breakthrough: Gabby Barrett premieres on Amazon Music on October 5.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Garth Brooks hints that he and Trisha Yearwood may have a Nashville attraction one day

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Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesGarth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood may have a Nashville attraction in the works. 

During a special live edition of Inside Studio G on Monday in which Garth and Trisha, the power couple virtually engaged with fans between livestreamed performances.  One fan inquired if they will one day have an attraction in Nashville, such as a museum, or follow in the footsteps of many other country artists and open a restaurant.

While Garth was coy, his response hinted that there may be something in the pipeline. 

“Yes, we are and no, we aren’t,” he said with an exaggerated wink while nodding his head yes. “If that helps, because we can’t talk about it.”

“Everything’s fine,” Trisha adds with a laugh.    

When they weren’t answering questions, Garth and Trisha delivered performances including “To Make You Feel My Love” and Trisha’s “I’ll Carry You Home.”

The couple also revealed last week that they’ve recorded a studio version of their duet on “Shallow” that will be featured on Garth’s upcoming album, FUN.

By Cillea Houghton 
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

'Black Equals Beauty': Queen Latifah to produce series highlighting Black women's influence on American culture

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Gilbert Carrasquillo/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Queen Latifah has teamed up with Quibi for a brand-new series that will highlight influential Black women who have impacted American style, beauty and culture.

Quibi announced Black Equals Beauty Tuesday, a four-part documentary series that will help celebrate and honor the Black women who have fought against oppressive archtypes. Directed by The Same Difference helmer Nneka Onuorah, each episode will focus on a different archetype and show “how Black women, either by defining or rejecting these archetypes, have shifted and impacted American culture.”

Latifah joins Shakim Compere, Holly Carter and Cassian Elwes, who are also listed as producers on the project.

This is the latest project for Latifah under her Flavor Unit Entertainment banner. She previously worked Compere and Carter on the highly successful The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel for Lifetime.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.