Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Grammys Send Tracy Chapman to Top of Album, Singles Charts, and Miley Cyrus to Number 1 Again with “Flowers”

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A Tracy Chapman revival is going on right now.

With Chapman’s Grammy performance of her 1988 hit, “Fast Car,” the single is number 2 on iTunes and Luke Combs’s version is number 4. On the album charts, the Chapman album of the same name is number 1, and Chapman’s Greatest Hits collection is number 4.

The Grammys have also sent Miley Cyrus’s Record of the Year award winner “Flowers” back to number 1 on the singles chart. Three different versions of Joni Mitchell singing “Both Sides Now” have hit the top 30. Fans may not know about the original single, by Judy Collins, from 1969.

The number 3 single is Billy Joel’s “Turn the Lights Back On,” which Joel played last night on the show. “You May Be Right” and “Piano Man” are also on the iTunes charts. Fans also went looking to iTunes for Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” But Annie Lennox should have been allowed to finish the song. She was cut off too soon.

The Grammy show wasn’t perfect but it gets mostly high marks.

As for Tracy, you may not know this but she was discovered by Brian Koppelman, who went on to co-create “Billions” and movies like “Rounders.” Brian saw Tracy playing in Boston and got her to his father, the late great music man Charles Koppelman, and the rest is history!

There were so many big moments on the Grammys, it’s hard to know where to start. Joni’s reading of “Both Sides Now” was incredibly poignant after everything she’s endured healthwise. Fantasia took down “Proud Mary” in a fiery performance. Billy’s “Lights” lit up the stage. Burna Boy and co. were exceptional.

There were some misses. Janelle Monae was nominated for Best Album and never even mentioned. What was that all about? None of the nominees for Best New Artist were featured, especially Jelly Roll — he should have been front and center. Why did they choose “The Best is Yet to Come” for Stevie Wonder to sing about Tony Bennett? Tony is dead, the best has come and gone.

Overall the show was strong, though. We’ll see soon about the ratings. Meantime, the Academy might have done more to prepare for the monsoon rains engulfing the Crypto Center. The red carpet was incredibly soggy, and entree to the arena was not easy.

PS Meryl Streep has certainly taken to son-in-law Mark Ronson’s fame. She looked amazing on stage. But earlier in the day, Streep lost her Grammy contest for Best Spoken Word performance to Michelle Obama. No EGOT for Meryl this year!

EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift with 6 Noms Won’t Perform on Grammys, But Show Looks Good with Tributes to Tony Bennett, Tina Turner, Sinead O’Connor

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For some reason no one understands, controversial congressman Matt Gaetz has been seen at Grammy rehearsals today. Oy vey.

Meantime, Taylor Swift does not seem to be performing despite her 6 nominations. I had heard over the weekend that Swift’s people said she would only do it if she knew in advance she was going to win. But this is the Grammys and CBS, so that wasn’t happening. So Swift will sit through the show from the audience to learn her fate.

Dua Lipa will open the show, and Billy Joel will close it. There will be In Memorian tributes to Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor, and Tina Turner. Jimmy Buffett gets a video tribute. Stevie Wonder — who I last saw at 2:30 this morning — will honor Tony. Fantasia and Oprah — still plugging “The Color Purple” — will do the honors for Tina. Annie Lennox sings “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

There’s been a lot of grumbling among nominees who aren’t superstars. The Recording Academy is giving only ticket to each nominee, and making them pay for a plus 1 or more. A musician named Cathy Fink originally posted her complaint to Facebook. Then I heard even Billie Eilish and other stars were in the same boat. But tickets cost a minimum of $750. For folk, jazz, and others who don’t have massive incomes, buying the extra ticket is a hardship to say the least. (Someone joked they could go to the Academy’s Musicares for the money. But they’re in trouble anyway.)

Bizarre: “SNL” Next Host Un-cancelled Was Fired From Show in 2019 Before He Started, Plus Fans Outraged About Nikki Haley Appearance

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Shane Gillis is hosting “SNL” on February 24th.

Gillis was fired from the cast in 2019 before the season started when videos were uncovered of him saying ugly things about Chinese people and making racist references to Chinatown. At other times, Gillis used homophobic and sexist language.

The comic was cancelled at least on “SNL.” But now that he’s become a hit on Netflix, the show is forgetting all that ever happened.

Gillis’s rise on Netflix seems unusual, but the streaming service is pursuing comedians in a huge way. Last night, CEO Ted Sarandos hosted a party at his home here in LA for 30 comics. Even Sarah Silverman was there, and her specials are on HBO. But everyone from Chris Rock to Tiffany Haddish was present. “It was an all star night,” said one guest.

When Gillis was fired from “SNL,” Lorne Michaels said in a statement that the language Gillis used was “offensive, hurtful and unacceptable” and that the show was “not aware of his prior remarks.” “After talking with Shane Gillis, we have decided that he will not be joining ‘S.N.L.,’” the statement said.

The Gillis host appearance news comes on the heels of Nikki Haley making a controversial cameo on the show last night. She was mocking her famous “do you know what caused the Civil War?” answer in a town hall. This time around, “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri played the questioner, continuing the question by saying “it starts with sl and ends with avery.” Haley replied “that’s what I should have said.”

Why in the world would Lorne Michaels allow Haley a chance to repair her image on that show? I suspect this was a divisive moment not just for the audience but the cast. Edebiri, who’s beloved at the moment, is going to be asked about that a lot in the future.

But let’s not forget Donald Trump once hosted “SNL.”

Also of note on “SNL” last night: Jennifer Lopez lip syncing. Always fun to see the smoke machine, the hair flying around, the gyrating dancers all trying to distract from the spectacle of JLo. She’s done everything to sell her new record, and no one’s buying it.

Clive Davis Grammy Party of all Time Brings Cher, Mariah, Meryl, Tom and Rita, Jelly Roll into the Same Room, Plus Serena Williams Rocking to Green Day, R&B Legends

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I’m filing this at 6:16am New York time. Guests have only recently left the after party for Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy gala.

Only Davis, the great music mogul, could organize a room of 950 guests in which half of them are famous.

In the Beverly Hilton ballroom: Cher, Mariah Carey, Meryl Streep, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, Nancy and Paul Pelosi Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy — and that’s the tip of the iceberg. The old guard met the new guard, everyone danced to groups like Public Enemy and the Islaey Brothers.

Tom Hanks introduced Clive, rattling off two or three dozen names of stars Davis either created or helped reach their stardom. Some — Like Dionne Warwick and Earth Wind & fire, and Melissa Manchester — who was at my table were there. (Also at my table Paul Shaffer and Frankie Valli. The latter is 89 and booking dates!

I jumped ahead: the night began with tennis great Serena Williams introducing her favorite band of all time, Green Day. And Serena wasn’t the only racquet-teer, Martina Navritolova was in the house.

The great songwriters Valerie Simpson and Diane Warren had their own table. So did Gregg Alexander — he wrote “Murder on the Dance Floor,” among others. More Hollywood types included the very hot Julia Garner. The Greatest Actress of all Time, Meryl Streep, came with daughter Grace and son-in-law Mark Ronson. Ronson performed a gender reversed version of his Oscar nominated “I’m Just Ken” with country star Lainey Wilson.

And then just quietly sitting around until it was their turn were legendary artists Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Dionne Warwick — and they closed the four show that had begun with no less than Green Day doing a medley of their hits. In between Green Day and these massive stars was a program that included Noah Kahan (who Meryl Streep really liked), plus Josh Groban singing Sondheim, then playing piano with a gospel choir and Michael Trotter Jr’s insanely emotional version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

The Hankses and the Dansons hung out, Cher and Steep reconnected, there was Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Sheila E., Lenny Kravitz, Boy Genius, Narada Michael Walden, Debbie Gibson, Kylie Minogue, producer Benny Blanco, Jack Antonoff with wife Margaret Qualley, Chloe and Halle Bailey, Janelle Monae, Don Lemon, and more more more! Comedian Jeff Ross brought Tiffany Haddish and Sacha Baron Cohen over from a dinner at Ted Sarandos’s house for 30 comedians.

Did I mention all the society types and philanthropists? There were plenty: Michael and Iris Smith, Nikki Haskell, Blaine Trump, Denise Rich, Barbara Davis with daughter Nancy and her husband Ken Rickel, to name a few.

But back to to Hollywood: Adrien Brody with Georgina Chapman, Michele Lee and Fred Rappoport, “Laugh In” producer George Schlatter — 93 and just published a memoir! I saw David Foster, Shania Twain, Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile, and MSNBC star Ari Melber. There was also Kenny Babyface Edmonds and Bon Jovi songwriter Desmond Child.

Ice Spice even performed and shook her derriere in the nicest way!

Forget Musicares or the Grammys. Or even the Vanity Fair Oscar party. Clive’s dinner is the centerpiece of entertainment. Each act is topping the previous one all night. Then finally Gladys Knight took the stage and delivered her own sublime rendition of “The Way We Were” — she had a big hit with it in 1974.  Dionne joined her on stage with Andra Day and Keyshia Cole for “That’s What Friends Are For.” After a few minutes of vocal nirvana, Stevie came on stage and played the harmonica.

That was supposed to be the end. But then Stevie got the idea they should all sing “What the World Needs Now is Love.” Keep refreshing for the video. Stevie called out keys to the startled band and soon the room levitated. It was only then that I noticed the Nancy and Paul Pelosi and Berry Gordy were still there! So was much of the room, fixated on this legendary performance.

Look, in years past Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx, and all kinds of heavyweights made us think their shows were “the best ever” of the Clive Davis concerts. But this one will stand out — and not just because Cher and discussed ice cream! Or that I picked up news about new music being worked on by Aerosmith and by Mariah Carey. (More on that tomorrow.)

And Stevie? He had so much fun he trekked up to the Polo Lounge with everyone for the after party. He may still be there!

More to come, with pictures and video galore!

Sam Waterston is Wrapping Up 25 Years as DA Jack McCoy on “Law & Order” After 400 Episodes

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Sam Waterston was already a famous actor when he joined “Law & Order” as Jack McCoy. After a long run he took a break, then returned the most recent seasons.

Now Waterston is putting Jack to bed.

He’s 76 and I’m sure has lots of other things he wants to do. Tony Goldwyn will succeed him as the new DA. Waterston’s final show is set for February 22nd.

While “Law & Order” was off the air, Waterston starred with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Martin Sheen in “Grace and Frankie” for 7 seasons.

He has one Oscar nomination, a Tony nomination, an Emmy Award and several Emmy nominations.
We will also miss Jack McCoy, but he will live on in syndication. And Sam maybe could come back to theater. He was once the

standard bearer in Shakespeare productions at NY’s Public Theater. It’s been quite a career.

Watch Sylvester Stallon’s Emotional Tribute to “Rocky” Co-Star Carl Weathers aka Apollo Creed

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You may have heard that the great Carl Weathers has died at age 76.

Weathers starred with Sylvester Stallone in four “Rocky” movies as Apollo Creed. His character is the father of the Michael B. Jordan character in the “Creed” movies. Weathers has a long resume besides “Rocky,” but that’s his iconic film character. He was so popular after Rocky that he appeared in the James Brown video, “Living in America.”

See Stallone’s heartfelt video tribute to his old friend.


“Argylle” Publicity Machine Taylor Swift Rumor Can’t Help Box Office Dud or Make Book a Hit

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The “Argylle” PR machine has backfired.

The Matthew Vaughn movie of Elly Conway’s novel has a rotten 34% among movie critics and bloggers.

Last night the movie made just $1.7 million, which means it’s headed for a very difficult opening weekend.

At the same time, the novel stands at number 555 on amazon.com’s best sellers list.

Someone hatched the idea to make Conway a pseudonym, a mysterious person who might be Taylor Swift. This started with the novel and then bled over to the movie.

But “Argylle” — with a great marketing campaign — isn’t clicking. No one took the Taylor Swift bait. And a two hour, 19 minute run time — what were they thinking?

The book is probably suffering more than the film. Universal is going to finish at number 1 this weekend with the Vaughn directed movie. But the chances for real “legs” are pretty minimal.

The movie is packed with stars — Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, even singer Dua Lipa — who’s opening the Grammy Awards Sunday night — which will give it an extra push.

“Argylle” is socked, so to speak. Darn it!

Rachel Maddow Interview with E. Jean Carroll Scores 2.9 Mil Viewers, Brings MSNBC Close to Beating Fox Overall

Rachel Maddow’s interview on Monday night with E. Jean Carroll was a big hit.

Maddow on MSNBC scored 2.9 million viewers, beating Sean Hannity on Fox News by 400,00. Her victory brought MSNBC within 400,000 viewers of beating Fox News overall for the night.

Not bad!

Maddow Mondays are magic in ratings. The whole MSNBC roster rises significantly because of her.

Of course when Maddow asked Carroll how she would spend her $83 million she won from Donald Trump it was a great, and sarcastic, moment.

Grammy-a-Go-Go: The Scoop on Cher’s Delicious Ice Cream, Teddy Swims Won’t Stop Believing at Warner Music Party, SZA Tributes Producers

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Even in drenching rain there are Grammy parties galore all over LA this week.

On Wednesday night we hit the Billboard Power 100 party at Neuehouse, where Taylor Swift was crowned powerful person in the record business

Swift was a no-show but singer Noah Kahan was, introducing Republic Records leaders Monte and Avery Lipman. Also on hand were the three members of hot group boygenius including Phoebe Bridgers. Everyone got to meet newish Billboard editor Hannah Karp, who emceed the event with aplomb and may be the most stylish EIC the magazine has ever had.

I got my picture taken with Flava Flav.

The centerpiece of the evening was the bestowing of the Clive Davis Visionary Award by SZA, who was introduced by the legend it was named for. It’s the first of many Clive Davis events and sightings over Grammy weekend, and he spoke eloquently for the music biz. SZA then eloquently gave the visionary award to her very canny label chiefs and managers, Terrence “Punch” Henderson and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. I think they were knocked out that the most famous music man in the world toasted them!

Later, some people went over to the popular spot Bar Lis, where Republic and the Lipmans celebrated being the biggest record label in the land. (That was Wednesday. The next day UMG announced a lot of organizational changes that are still being sorted out.) Shania Twain and Kim Petras were among the artists who made the scene.

Teddy Swims

Here’s the scoop on Cher’s ice cream: Thursday brought the Warner Music party, with performances by Teddy Swims (he sang a raw R&B cover of “Don’t Stop Believing”) and by Charlie XCX. But the big news of the night was the arrival of Cher, who set up an ice cream stand featuring her Cherlato in four flavors. You can’t actually buy this stuff anywhere. Last summer Cher sent a food truck around town for people to try it. Because of the weather, the truck isn’t running right now.

I wanted to get a picture of Cher scooping ice cream, but she and 28 year old boyfriend Alexander Edwards took a throne position in the club — called Citizen News (owned by the Bar Lis people) — with David Guetta and ten bodyguards. I don’t know if the great pop songstress and Oscar winner tasted the product, but it was quite yummy and a big hit.

So was the Warner party, where I ran into Warner chiefs Tom Corson and Aaron Bay Schuck, as well the company’s owner, Len Blavatnik., film director Brett Ratner, Josh Groban, Bebe Rexha, the very colorful Lauren Daigle (great voice and cool oufit), and hot younger singer Gael, who’s still only 19 and has had a couple of hits. (She’s going places.)

Lauren Daigle

Exclusive: Paul McCartney Could Add Needed Heft to Jon Bon Jovi’s Charity Show, Richie Sambora Not Expected After All

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Tomorrow night comes the annual Musicares dinner at the LA Convention Center.

Jon Bon Jovi is the honoree, and he’s bringing the band. They’ll perform after a bunch of acts sing their versions of BonJovi hits.

Not expected, however, is Richie Sambora. I speculated last week that Richie, who left the band a decade ago, might be coming. But everyone out here in LaLa Land insists that Jon and Richie have had no contact. “It’s not happening,” said one insider. “I’d be very surprised if it does.”

One new name in the mix is Paul McCartney. Friends with JBJ from the Hamptons, Paul is on the guest list. Is he playing? “Why would he come and just sit there?” says an observer.

That would be a jolt to an evening that features Bruce Springsteen as the standout musical guest among a raft of mostly newcomers, plus Melissa Etheridge and Shania Twain. One of those ladies will sing “Who Says You Can’t Go Home, which was a duet hit with Jennifer Nettles. Nettles is not on the list.

Musicares is not televised, unfortunately.

McCartney, by the way, is just out with a 50th anniversary “Band on the Run” — underdubbed — a look at the seminal album stripped down to its unmixed state. This should be interesting, but try and find the 40th anniversary remaster – it’s glorious.