Guilty Pleasures
By The Associated Press
Beyoncé drops new songs, ‘Act II’ will arrive in March
LOS ANGELES | Beyoncé is back with two new country tracks — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” After a Verizon commercial starring Beyoncé aired during the Super Bowl ended with the superstar saying “They ready, drop the new music,” the question became — was she serious?
Later, a cryptic Instagram video with country iconography appeared on her page, teasing “act ii” on March 29. (Beyoncé’s 2022 album “Renaissance” is frequently referred to as “Act I: Renaissance.”) Then two new country songs dropped — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” “This ain’t Texas / Ain’t no hold ‘em / So lay your cards down down down,” she sings in a Southern twang on the first.
Oscar nominees gather for luncheon
LOS ANGELES | The casts of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer gathered Monday for the annual Academy Award nominees luncheon along with other Oscar hopefuls coming together for photos, hugs and congratulations.
The luncheon is a warm, feel-good, egalitarian affair where little-known first-time nominees in categories like best animated short get to rub shoulders and share tables with acting nominees like Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, whose snubs for best director and best actress, respectively, for “Barbie” caused a major stir, were both present for the nominations they did get and were all smiles before lunch.
Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey among Rock Hall nominees for ‘24
NEW YORK | Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Cher, Lenny Kravitz and the late Sinéad O’Connor are some the 2024 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nods also went to Sade, Oasis and Ozzy Osbourne, who led many parents in the 1980s to clutch their pearls with his devil imagery and sludgy music.
Nominations also were handed to hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, soft rockers Foreigner, singer-guitarist Peter Frampton, alt-rockers Jane’s Addiction and Dave Matthews Band, and dance icons Kool & the Gang. Nominees will be voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
Colin Jost gets entertainer gig at White House correspondents’ dinner
WASHINGTON | Colin Jost, the co-anchor of Weekend Update on “Saturday Night Live,” will get a chance in April to roast leading political and media figures as the featured entertainer at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
“His smart brand of comedy and keen observation will turn up the heat on the national news media and across the political spectrum,” said Kelly O’Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association and NBC News Senior White House Correspondent, in a statement.
A writer and comedic performer, Jost has written for the long-running NBC late night comedy franchise since 2005. He began co-anchoring the show’s news parody in 2014 with Michael Che. His film credits include “Coming 2 America” and “Tom & Jerry.”
—From AP reports
