Entertainment category, Page 324
Willie Nelson says he’s quit smoking marijuana over breathing issues
Country icon and marijuana proponent Willie Nelson is saying no to pot … because he wants to keep touring. Nelson spoke to San Antonio’s television station KSAT and said that he wants to continue performing and that he loves touring. But he has to be more healthy. Nelson, 86, told...
Wallace Shawn talks acting, ‘Princess Bride’ and ‘Toy Story’ ahead of Steel City Con
Wallace Shawn is the definition of an entertainment Renaissance man, with great success as a performer in films and on the stage, as well as being a voice actor and an author of multiple books and plays. Whether it is comedy (“The Princess Bride,” 1987), drama (“Manhattan,” 1979), voice acting...
Oak Ridge Boys prepared to fill Palace Theatre with holiday cheerVideo
The audience will get a bargain when the Oak Ridge Boys return to Greensburg for their “Down Home Christmas” show. “It’s two shows for the price of one,” says bass singer Richard Sterban of the Dec. 6 date at The Palace Theatre. “At the start of the show, we do...
New holiday albums run the gamut from traditional to original tunesVideo
It’s been a rather prolific year for holiday albums – the 17 titles covered in this column even omit a few 2019 releases. And there aren’t any real duds, either. So here’s a look at this year’s selections. Idina Menzel: “Christmas: A Season Of Love” — If one 2019 Christmas...
Phish jams out at Petersen Events Center
Phish rolled into Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center on Wednesday for its seven-date Fall Tour. The rock band, formed in 1983 on the campus of the University of Vermont, performed its massive catalog of songs to the delight of the crowd. Phish kicked off the show with “555,” “AC/DC Bag” and...
Unauthorized biography of first lady Melania Trump offers lurid details of life in the White HouseVideo
The unauthorized biography of first lady Melania Trump by CNN correspondent Kate Bennett that was released Tuesday provides details of her marriage of President Donald Trump. The title “Free, Melania: the Unauthorized Biography,” offers details of life inside the White House such as Melania and the president not only sleep...
Drake is Spotify’s most streamed artist of the decade
NEW YORK — Drake is the king of streaming: the rapper has been named Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the decade. Spotify announced Tuesday that Drake has been streamed 28 billion times in the past 10 years. Ed Sheeran came in second, while Post Malone, Ariana Grande and Eminem round out...
Pete Townshend regrets not staying to mourn after Who stampede in Cincinnati in 1979
NEW YORK — Forty years after a stampede left 11 people dead and 23 injured at a Who concert in Cincinnati, Pete Townshend says he’s always regretted not sticking around to deal with the aftermath. Instead, the band left the Riverfront Coliseum on Dec. 3, 1979, and moved on to...
Scarlett Johansson battles in first trailer for ‘Black Widow’ movieVideo
The first trailer for the long-awaited stand-alone “Black Widow” movie unexpectedly hit the internet Tuesday. “I used to have nothing,” the title character, played by Scarlett Johansson, says in the trailer, “then I got this job, this family, but nothing lasts forever.” “Black Widow” will be the first Marvel movie...
Cheap Trick plans winter show at Greensburg’s Palace TheatreVideo
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick will play The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Feb. 9. Promoter pre-sale begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 via eventbrite.com with the passcode “PALACE.” Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org. Tickets...
Bluesman Robert Cray schedules Palace Theatre concertVideo
Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist and singer Robert Cray will play The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on March 13. The original Robert Cray Band came together in 1974 in Eugene, Ore. Its debut release was “Who’s Been Talkin’” in 1980. Songs from the 1986 release of “Strong Persuader,” brought the band...
Chicago tour featuring Rick Springfield coming to PittsburghVideo
Legendary rock and roll horn band Chicago and pop icon Rick Springfield have announced a North American summer amphitheater tour that includes a July 25 date at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at livenation.com Chicago has been honored...
Jennifer Beals on board for Showtime’s ‘The L Word’ reboot
“The L Word,” which last aired on Showtime 10 years ago, returns to the cable network Dec. 8 with a slightly modified title — “The L Word: Generation Q” — and a mix of new and original cast members, including Jennifer Beals. “When we first went off the air, we...
Vocal Confluence plans ‘Metro Holiday’ concert
Vocal Confluence, Pittsburgh’s men’s a cappella chorus, will perform its metro holiday concert, “A December to Remember,” on Dec. 8. The 3 p.m. performance will be held at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. The group performs music in a variety of styles, including barbershop, jazz, traditional choral and...
Murrysville group will host Italian Christmas program with tenor Marco FioranteVideo
The American Association of University Women’s Murrysville chapter will host Italian singer Marco Fiorante at its Dec. 12 meeting for a special holiday program. Born in Cellino San Marco in Italy’s Puglia region, Fiorante completed his musical study in “canto lirico” (“opera performance”) at the Conservatorio Tito Schipa in Lecce,...
Nancy Grace joins Fox Nation streaming service for crime show
Former CNN mainstay Nancy Grace is signing up for a crime show on Fox Nation, an illustration of how Fox News’ streaming service has evolved counter to expectations one year into operation. Cameras will show her delivering her podcast and SiriusXM radio show, “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” five days...
Actress who played Rosario on ‘Will and Grace’ dies at 83Video
LOS ANGELES — Shelley Morrison, an actress with a 50-year career who was best known for playing a memorable maid on “Will and Grace,” died Sunday, her publicist said. Morrison died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from heart failure after a brief illness, publicist Lori DeWaal told The...
‘Frozen 2’ ices competition again with record Thanksgiving
LOS ANGELES — “Frozen 2” kept a wintry wind at its back in its second week, setting a Thanksgiving record with a whopping box office bounty. Disney’s ice princess sequel brought in $85.3 million in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend and earned an unprecedented $132.7 million for the...
Former Pittsburgh Symphony conductor Mariss Jansons dies at 76
FRANKFURT, Germany — Mariss Jansons, conductor of top classical ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, has died in Russia. He was 76. Jansons’ death in St. Petersburg was confirmed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he was chief conductor. Jansons had canceled...
The Menzingers had the Pittsburgh crowd singing at Roxian Theatre
There ain’t nothing wrong with rocking on a Saturday night. The Menzingers came through Pittsburgh, playing the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, and brought a great energy for an hour and 15 minute set for a fun show. The healthy-sized crowd was with the Philadelphia punk band from the time...
Vandergrift’s Casino Theatre hosts annual holiday extravaganza
Get in the holiday spirit at “Hometown Christmas 2019: Counting Down to Christmas.” This 24th annual event will feature songs that exude happy feelings this time of the year. There are three performances at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Dec....
Brad Paisley happy to be the butt of jokes in variety special
Brad Paisley is perfectly comfortable being the butt of jokes. In his new variety special, “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special,” airing Dec. 3 on ABC, the country star allows himself to be the punchline in a number of skits with celeb pals including Peyton Manning, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers...
Snoop Dogg’s songs turned into lullaby album
Some of the biggest Snoop Dogg tracks have been turned into baby jams. “Lullaby Renditions of Snoop Dogg” was released Nov. 29 on vinyl for Record Store Day’s Black Friday 2019 event by Rockabye Baby!, a label that takes “music parents love and transforms it into soothing instrumental lullabies.” The...
Western Pa. resorts, museum, host light up, shopping events
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley are lighting up and offering gift ideas this holiday season. Holidays in the Highlands Seven Springs Mountain Resort will present its fourth annual celebration Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 29 through Dec. 7. Motorists...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Thanksgiving dinner is over, Black Friday is here and the race to celebrate the upcoming holiday season is on. The days grow dark more quickly, but lights, music and festivals will lend some brightness and cheer, throughout Westmoreland County. Hit the switch, Ligonier The annual Light-Up Ligonier event invites everyone...
