Kelly Clarkson Says Boyfriend Will Put a Ring On It: “We are Totally Going to Get Married!”
Will Kelly Clarkson’s man put a ring on it? It may be coming sooner than you think.
On “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week, the singer said she wasn’t engaged yet to boyfriend Brandon Blackstock (who she’s been seeing for 9 months), but it is going to happen…before long.
In front of an approving crowd, the singer said to Ellen: “We are totally going to get married. We love each other. We are totally going to get married one day.”
She then held up her ring finger and said, “I mean, he’s got to put a ring on at some point…But I’ll wait it out.” It sounds like a healthy attitude for the singer. She knows that an engagement is bound to happen, but she isn’t pushing it, and that takes the pressure off the relationship.
But what kind of ceremony would be right for the couple? The self-professed tomboy dampened any excitement over centerpiece possibilities. “Honestly, I’ve never been the girl to plan a wedding,” she insisted. “We will totally, probably elope.”
Meanwhile, Kelly and her man are enjoying their time together. How did they meet? The 35-year-old Nashville-based talent manager is the son of Clarkson’s manager. Some people say don’t get involved with anyone from the office – but for Kelly, a “workplace” romance seems to have done the trick!
As those who’ve been following their relationship closely can attest, it looks like the twosome have a lot in common. That’s so great for Kelly, who hasn’t had much luck in the love department over the years.
Kelly is especially psyched for the upcoming holidays. “This is going to sound like I’m making a joke, but it is so not. It’s serious,” she said. “I am not alone for the first time for Thanksgiving and Christmas – and I am very happy.”
Good for you Kelly! We here at Nicerazzi hope you and your man have a wonderful holiday season and continue to grow together in your relationship. You deserve it!
Hollywood Gets Hungry For Awards With Thanksgiving Upon Us; “Argo,” “Lincoln,” Lawrence Likely To Feast
It’s that time of year again everybody! No, we’re not talking about the day when you fill yourself full of turkey and cranberry sauce – although in Hollywood right now, plenty of big-name celebs do indeed have something to be thankful for.
After the calm before the storm that is always the months of August and September (post-summer blockbusters), Awards Season is once again upon us. And the Oscar wannabes are already putting their best foot forward and throwing themselves to the mercy of the critics.
While Ben Affleck’s critically-acclaimed third directorial effort “Argo” has been an oft-cited candidate for Oscar love the past month or so (the end credits, with Jimmy Carter explaining the significance of the film, practically feel like an awards sales pitch), it hasn’t faced much competition yet because most of the heavy hitters are only now beginning to get released. It’s also an interesting film because although it screams Best Picture and Best Screenplay nominations, none of the actors seem particularly worthy of being singled out.
Now, the tide has begun to change, as films like Steven Spielberg’s epic “Lincoln” and David O. Russell’s indie festival darling “The Silver Linings Playbook” have opened with solid reviews and approving audiences. The former is everything you’d want from a movie about one of our country’s most beloved leaders, and while you may expect some sweeping Spielbergian drama, the film is as serene and contemplative as you can imagine the man himself being. Not only does it seem to have a great shot at a Best Picture nomination, but it could clean up the acting categories as well, with past Oscar winners Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field both chewing up every scene they’re in. And Daniel Day-Lewis…well, he’s Daniel Day-Lewis. Honestly, every actor in Hollywood must groan a little on the inside during any year in which he has a movie coming out.
Not to be outdone, however, “Playbook” displays the formidable talents of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro (Yay! Welcome back to the land of good reviews, Bobby!), and it has been dazzling the critics since it opened in limited release this past Friday. The film, which follows Cooper’s mentally unstable character Pat as he returns home from a stay in a mental ward, is – according to Manohla Dargis at The New York Times – a film “that does almost everything right.” From what I hear, everyone’s favorite bow-wielding heroine could be on her way to her first Best Actress statue for this one.
Obviously, it’s still fairly early to place firm bets on anybody – even the biggest, most vocal “Awards Season Experts” haven’t seen half the movies and performances they’re prognosticating, and as past Awards-season duds like “The Shipping News” and “The Four Feathers” have shown us, ultimately the proof is in the pudding.
This coming week will bring the arrival of another potential Oscar nominee entering the race, the Anthony Hopkins-led ensemble “Hitchcock” (although if you ask Hopkins about the awards race, he’ll tell you that the whole thing is rather “disgusting.”) And Christmas will bring us one of cinema’s greatest gifts: A new Quentin Tarantino movie. The “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction” director’s wild card “Django Unchained,” hopes to finally give perpetually-snubbed Leonardo DiCaprio some much-deserved gold, among other potential nominations.
Time To Freak Out: Nicolas Cage Gets Closer To Finally Paying Of His IRS Debt
It looks like everybody’s favorite debt-ridden thespian, Nicolas Cage (sorry, Wesley Snipes!) has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week.
With the help of a few – or rather, a ton — of recent movie roles, the Oscar-winner/action star/Hollywood freak-out king was recently able to take another $600,000 off the bill he owes to Uncle Sam. As fans of the “Leaving Las Vegas” star will recall, he got into trouble with the Internal Revenue Service a few years back. After switching business managers, the star estimated in January of 2010 that he owed the IRS some $14 million.
Last April, the 48-year-old actor forked over $6.25 million to help pay off the back debt. Unfortunately, even with this latest payment it is estimated that Cage still owes about $6 million.
The IRS claims that the actor owes this money in property and income tax from 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007. Nicolas Cage’s tax problems have led to some high-profile news stories in the past few years, including a lawsuit against his former business manager for negligence and fraud, as well as the sale of his Bavarian castle, Schloss Neidstein.
The actor’s lavish, borderline-insane lifestyle has been well-documented over the years. From a fleet of 9 Rolls Royces to a private Bahamian island, from one of the world’s greatest comic-book collections to castles in Bavaria and England to a pyramid tomb and shrunken head collection, the guy’s credit cards have seen more action than both “National Treasure” movies combined.
But the truth is that people love Nicolas Cage for the same reason they love him in movies. He walks a fine line between fantasy and reality, and isn’t afraid to go off the rails every now and then. Come on, who wouldn’t like to imagine that when Cage first found out about his IRS problems, his reaction went something like this:
If there’s a silver lining for his fans, it’s that the actor still owes more back taxes, so we may still have plenty of sequels to look forward to in the future. Earning himself the title of Hollywood’s James Brown, the hardest working man in movies has put out – in just recent time, since these tax debts took over – everything from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” to “Knowing” to “Astro Boy” to “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” Of course, none of these films were very good, but each seems like it would have been a pretty good payday – and the man has blessed us with enough classics to burn a few every now and then.
Upcoming projects include sequels to “Kick-Ass” and “National Treasure,” as well as the Dreamworks animated feature “The Croods.” Cage is slated to star in 12 films (!) scheduled for release in the next 24 months.
It’s not too late for “The Rock 2” or “Face/Off/Again,” right? We love Nic and want to see him back on his feet – and with a little more box office mojo, he might not even have to sell any more castles!
After a Second Allegation of Sexual Abuse, Elmo Creator Kevin Clash Leaves “Sesame Street”
Amidst allegations of another underage relationship, Kevin Clash – the longtime voice of Sesame Street’s Elmo – has officially resigned from “Sesame Street.” The initial accusations were recanted last week, however the controversy is apparently far from over – as a second accuser has now stepped forward claiming he was a victim of sexual abuse.
In this latest development, a man named Cecil Singleton just revealed he also had sexual relations with the actor in 1993, when he was only 15 years old. In official court documentation, Singleton claimed he wasn’t aware that he suffered from “adverse psychological and emotional affects” as a result of the episode until earlier this year.
As a result of this second accusation, “Street” production company Sesame Workshop released a statement saying, “Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from ‘Sesame Street.’”
The incident also forced Clash to publicly reveal his homosexuality last week. The actor wasn’t necessarily in the closet; he released a statement at the time saying “I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter.”
Now, with news of this second round of allegations, it would appear that Clash’s “personal” life has become anything but. Because of the nature of a career built around entertaining young children, multiple accusations of sexual relations with minors will certainly lead to a life of scrutiny and constant media attention. Clash’s resignation was inevitable.
The actor has been playing Elmo for decades, and essentially created the character, if not the puppet itself. Only recently, his fame had begin to grow beyond “Sesame Street,” as Clash was featured in the critically-acclaimed documentary “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey” last year. While Clash will no longer voice the furry red monster, he has already recruited understudies that were working for Clash during his leave of absence earlier this month.
Here is the official Sesame Workshop statement, as seen in the New York Times:
Sesame Workshop’s mission is to harness the educational power of media to help all children the world over reach their highest potential. Kevin Clash has helped us achieve that mission for 28 years, and none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.
Nudity! Partying! Delayed Flights! Is Rihanna’s 777 Tour Out of Control?
Is Rihanna’s much-publicized, much-troubled 777 tour a publicity stunt? Or is the songstress really on a downward spiral?
To be honest, it’s a bit of both. In preparation for Rihanna’s “Unapologetic” release on November 19th, her people threw together a trip on a Delta 777 jet – traveling to 7 concerts in 7 cities in 7 different countries. More like a frat party than a tour, Rihanna’s intimate get-together includes 250 of her most loyal fans, staff, and journalists that have been traveling to such exotic locals as Berlin and most recently Paris.
The tour has become an Internet sensation in recent days – for both good and bad reasons.
Some journalists like Ian Drew at Us Weekly or Maud Deitch at MTV have been venting frustration over the way the press is getting shuttled around like cattle while rarely getting to see the guest of honor. Others are marveling at Rihanna’s tireless abilities as she jets from place to place.
Now, with three days left, the tour ends Wednesday in New York – and one Australian radio personality celebrated the fun of it all by taking to the aisles of the airplane to let lose and streak. With days and nights full of debauchery, hijinks, and mayhem, it’s no surprise the journalists are spiraling. But so is Rihanna.
After landing in Paris on Saturday, Rihanna took the stage at 9:30 pm, singing a few songs and promptly exiting the stage at 11:00. She then went to a party with the press, arriving at nearly 3 am! Dressed in her stage clothes, Rihanna partied with the likes of Diddy and his girlfriend Cassie, Pharrell, Akon, and Omarion.
The next day, the flight had to be delayed until 2:50 pm to wait for her. When she showed up, Rihanna was wearing sunglasses, drinking water and talking about how tired she was. Sure enough, as soon as the plane took off, she quickly fell asleep in her seat.
We’ve all had those rough nights where we swear off any alcohol, and then turn around and do it all again. But Rihanna’s latest stunts have many wondering how she stays afloat.
Fans will remember that earlier this year, Rihanna made news by tweeting a picture of an IV in her arm; Apparently, she was hospitalized for exhaustion and dehydration.
With all the chaos surrounding the 777 tour, fans are hoping that she will – at the very least – take a personal day once “Unapologetic” is certified quadruple platinum. However, Rihanna is all too familiar with drama, and it seems as if the 777 tour was the perfect backdrop for her media machine to have staged the perfect storm.
American Music Awards Round-Up: Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj Steal the Show
As last night’s American Music Awards proved, the stars rarely turn down a chance to come out and mingle, especially when the opportunity to mingle with some of their own idols presents itself. It was a melee for the young (hey there, Biebs!), beautiful (here’s looking at you, Ms. Swift), and strange (Korean pop sensation Psy wearing MC Hammer pants…). As with most awards shows, the red carpet almost overshadowed the awards themselves, with show-stopping shine and glittery ensembles from the likes of Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood earning them spots on numerous Best-Dressed lists. Others, like Christina Aguilera, debuted new looks that left critics divided – although on a personal level, the girl’s never looked better; rock those curves!
Apart from the fashion, the actual awards offered few surprises. Since the AMAs are voted for by the fans, it’s no shocker that Justin Bieber reigned supreme, scooping up such honors as favorite male pop/rock artist, favorite pop/rock album, and even the coveted Artist of the Year! It was a bright evening for the young star, especially since his personal life has been in such turmoil as of late. Since reportedly breaking up with girlfriend of two years, Selena Gomez, rumors have been spinning about the pair’s alleged status. While they apparently had a very brief dinner Friday night that ended in fighting, there may still be hope as he was spotted leaving the AMAs last night with gal pal Gomez.
Most relationship drama was left at the door, however, as many of the night’s winners and nominees rocked the stage, often with each other. Chameleon Nicki Minaj joined Bieber for a song, but still, somehow, found the time to perform a solo of her song “Freedom” amidst her many costume changes throughout the night. Usher, Ke$ha, Stevie Wonder, and Kelly Clarkson were among the many other performers, including a dramatic masquerade from Favorite Country Female Artist winner Taylor Swift to sing her song “I Knew You Were Trouble.” Could her own recent Kennedy-breakup drama have contributed to the dark tone? We can only guess.
Charges Against Daughter of Jon Bon Jovi Dropped Following Heroin Overdose
Jon Bon Jovi’s daughter is no longer wanted by the police. Misdemeanor charges stemming from her overdose on heroin have been dropped.
The reason? Stephanie Rose Bongiovi doesn’t face drug charges because of New York’s law regarding overdose cases where a call for help was placed. According to police, the rocker’s daughter and her friend Ian S. Grant, who are both students at Hamilton College in New York, were charged with drug possession charges when police found a small amount of heroin and marijuana in Stephanie’s dorm room. However…
The misdemeanor charges against both students were dropped on Thursday because of a 2011 amendment to the New York penal code. The “Good Samaritan” section of the law exempts people from drug charges if they attempt to get help for a “drug or alcohol overdose or other life threatening emergency,” according to People magazine. Which is what happened in Stephanie’s case.
“By law, they have immunity. I can’t prosecute them even if I wanted to,” said Oneida County District Attorney Scott D. McNamara. “To proceed would be highly inappropriate and highly unethical, and would jeopardize my opportunity to practice in the future.”
Stephanie was hospitalized early Wednesday. It is so sad to see this young girl struggling with these kinds of mistakes. But she was lucky this time. Hopefully she has learned her lesson and there won’t be a next time. How crushing for Jon Bon Jovi – who is at heart a family man – to watch his only daughter put her life in danger just to get high. Here’s hoping that he is able to help his daughter find a better foothold in her life – without drugs.
Casting Call: Sean Penn Lines Up Action Role, “Smash” and “Newsroom” Land New Stars
It’s FRIDAY! Not only is it almost the weekend, but it’s time for Nicerazzi’s Casting Call – our weekly update on who will be playing whom in Hollywood’s hottest upcoming movies and TV shows. Tune in every Friday to stay up-to-date on casting news and find out when you’ll see your favorite star on the big screen again!
Movies:
Oscar winner Sean Penn has decided to try a new role: action hero. The lauded actor is in talks for “Prone Gunman,” a new action thriller from producers Joel Silver and Andrew Rona. Penn would play Martin Terrier, an international operative who is forced to fight the company he once worked for. The story is based on a Jean-Patrick Manchette novel. Manchette is known for his French noir works exploring existentialism and the human condition, so don’t expect Prone Gunman to be your typical meat-head action movie. Regardless of the deeper character development, it’s still safe to say you can expect plenty of gun-toting action from Penn.
Television:
Liza Minnelli, the undisputed queen of Broadway, just signed on to play a very typecasted role on NBC’s sophomore series, “Smash.” She’ll be playing her Tony award-winning self and singing an original song written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman. She’ll be joining fellow guest stars Jennifer Hudson, Sean Hayes and Jesse L. Martin.
Grace Gummer, her claim to fame being the spawn of Meryl Streep, will get a chance to step out of her mother’s shadow with a guest starring role on HBO’s highly acclaimed drama “The Newsroom.” She’ll be playing Hallie Shea, a news reporter covering Mitt Romney’s campaign. Her sister, Mamie, is starring in the CW series “Emily Owens M.D.” Looks like these apples didn’t fall far from the tree – but whether or not they possess the same talent as their multi-multi-award-winning mother is yet to be seen.
“Friday Night Lights” alumni Jesse Plemmon’s has been cast in HBO’s new series “Missionary,” alongside Benjamin Walker who was cast last week. Plemmons will play a Coca-Cola rep turned double agent who helps smuggle defectors out of East Germany. Plemmons was most recently seen in AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and alongside “Friday Night Lights” co-star Taylor Kitsch in last summer’s “Battleship.”
#NowTrending: Twilight Fans, Stars Celebrate and Mourn Final Opening Weekend For the Franchise
Twi-hards rejoice (and mourn), it’s the eve of the final “Twilight Saga” movie premiere! Yup, tomorrow you finally have your opportunity to watch it all wrap up with “Breaking Dawn – Part II.” But this past Monday, oodles of lucky fans got to see the movie first at the worldwide premiere, alongside the stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.
It’s been a few days since the premieres in LA and London, but the Twilight saga (and its stars) are still blowing up newsfeeds all over the world, and probably will be for the next few weeks. By now I’m sure you’ve seen the premiere pictures showing Kristen Stewart in a gorgeous gold and very revealing Zuhair Murad gown in LA and equally daring black lace jumpsuit in London. Robert Pattinson was in a dapper dark green suit for the States, but both he and co-star Taylor Lautner switched to black for the UK premiere. But, while everything has seemed magical for these vampires and werewolves, it was certainly no easy path to this red carpet celebration.
First and foremost, the Kristen Stewart/Robert Pattinson cheating scandal, break up, and ultimate reconciliation has been topping headlines since July. As “Breaking Dawn” co-star Ashley Greene told Seventeen Magazine, some of their co-stars worried that the scandal might hurt the franchise. She revealed, “Hopefully, it won’t taint it and people will still be able to enjoy the movie.” Additionally, as can be expected, fans asked KStew some questions about breakups (my favorite being “is the guy always the one to blame in a break up?”) and she answered in her typical cringe-worthy and awkward way. Exhibit A: Watch her stumble through a KIIS-FM interview with Ariana Grande here.
Beyond the KStew/RPattz dramz, the premiere had a few other scandalous undertones. PETA got wild and worked up about party planners using live caged wolves as part of the décor for the “Breaking Dawn” after party. PETA said it was a direct violation of the Animal Welfare Act for “for repeatedly failing to provide the animals it exploits with basic veterinary care and proper shelter, space, food, and water.” Are caged wolves really necessary at a party, especially when they aren’t even real werewolves??
Robert Pattinson has also been acting out as he promotes the final installment of the franchise, perhaps finally revealing the true colors he’s been hiding under his mysterious façade of the last five years. It all started when Spunk Ransom asked fans to tweet him naked pictures of themselves. Considering the fact that the Twilight demographic is usually young teenage girls (plus a handful of Moms), this request was literally asking for trouble. The actor later tweeted “please don’t send any pictures if you’re underage!!” to try and save face. Too little too late RPattz, sounds like the damage was already done.
Pattinson continued putting foot in mouth over Twitter, when in a different interview put on by Glamour UK, he gave a questionable reply when asked, “What part of a woman is most attractive to you?”. RPattz ambiguously responded, “Depends on who the woman is…either way it will be offensive.”
Robert Pattinson also admitted he considered trying to steal the Volvo he drove on set, as if he couldn’t afford his own! Naughty Rob, guess you’re proving that you’re over being a teen heartthrob, and are ready for some more serious stuff!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a movie premiere without a little drama – and over the years, the “Twilight” franchise has brought more than its fair share. Are you sad to see the series go? Or more relieved to see the madness finally come to a close? Post your thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #NowTrending or #Nicerazzi and let us know!
Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri vs. Restaurant Critic: Is His New Restaurant Really That Bad?
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri has always been known for his in-your-face personality, spiky blonde hair and back-of-the-head sunglasses. Now, he has a new notoriety – thanks to an unflattering restaurant review – and he’s firing back at the food critic who dug into him with a sharpened knife and fork.
“Guy Fieri, have you eaten at your new restaurant in Times Square?” the savage review by Pete Wells in the New York Times began. “Did you eat the food? Did it live up to your expectations?”
Worded entirely with questions, Wells’ review entitled “As Not Seen On TV” is as hilarious as it is uniquely effective in portraying the tone of someone who just ate a meal they did not enjoy.
“What exactly about a small salad with four or five miniature croutons makes Guy’s Famous Big Bite Caesar (a) big (b) famous or (c) Guy’s, in any meaningful sense?” he asked. “By the way, would you let our server know that when we asked for chai, he brought us a cup of hot water? When you hung that sign by the entrance that says, WELCOME TO FLAVOR TOWN!, were you just messing with our heads?”
For his part, the colorful “Diners. Drive-Ins and Dives” host stuck up for his newest restaurant, a 500-seat eatery called Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar. “I just thought it was ridiculous,” Fieri said this morning on The Today Show. “I mean, I’ve read reviews. There’s good and bad in the restaurant business. But that, to me, went so overboard, it really seemed like there was another agenda. The tone, the sarcasm, the question style.”
The 10th highest-paid chef in America, Fieri’s rise over the past few years has been meteoric – and in the eyes of at least one critic, it seems to be time for a takedown. People are already calling Wells’ article the worst restaurant review in the history of the esteemed newspaper.
“It’s a great way to make a name for yourself,” Fieri shot back. “Go after a celebrity chef, who’s not a New Yorker, that’s doing a big concept and is in his second month.”
“I think we all know what’s going on here; he came in with a different agenda,” Fieri shot back. “Do we do it perfect? No. Are we striving to do it perfect? Yes. That’s what we’re all doing in the business.”
Ultimately, there’s only one way to know who is right in this matter: Take your tastebuds over to Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar next time you’re in Times Square – depending on who you believe, you might just have one of the best or worst dining experiences of your life.