John Legend’s Daughter Esti Adorably Spins Around & Copies Her Big Sister Luna (VIDEO)
The Voice Coach’s two daughters were cheered on by their family.
John Legend’s baby girl has the best role models!
On April 4, Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen, shared how the family has been enjoying their trip to Thailand to visit her mom, Pepper. In one special moment, we get to see their oldest daughter, 7-year-old Luna, spinning around in circles. The best part? Her little sister, 1-year-old Esti, spun along with her, mimicking her moves. Looks like Esti wants to be just like her big sister!
Other highlights of the post include Teigen holding their 10-month old, Wren, while on a boat, the family going kayaking together, and Luna adorably resting her head on her father’s shoulder.
”My homeland is magic” she captioned the post.
See the sweet moment later down in this article.
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Esti has been showing off how much her motor skills have been developing lately. On March 28, Teigen shared the most adorable clip of Esti running around in little sneakers, making squeaky sounds on the floor. “NOOOOO I CANT TAKE IT I LOVE SQUEAK SHOESSSSSS,” wrote Teigen in the caption.
In February, Legend shared a video of Esti learning how to walk. In the video, his song ”You Move, I Move” played, while the tot took a few confident steps all by herself.
Legend revealed to People in October 2023 that she started crawling for the first time.
“Esti just started crawling a couple of weeks ago,” he proudly told the outlet, “and Wren is 4 months old now. They smile a lot.”
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen welcome baby Esti
Baby Esti was born in January 2023, to which Legend and Teigen announced the news to fans via Instagram. To celebrate, the couple shared the same post of Luna and 5-year-old Miles cradling the newborn and looking at her lovingly.
“On Friday, we welcomed Esti Maxine Stephens to our family, and our house is overflowing with love and joy. I’m in awe of Chrissy’s strength and resilience and I’m so thrilled to see how Luna and Miles embrace their baby sister. I’m so, so grateful, but that doesn’t seem like a big enough word…,” Legend wrote in his caption.
“She’s here! Esti Maxine Stephens – the house is bustling and our family could not be happier 💕 Daddy sheds nightly tears of joy seeing Luna and Miles so full of love, and I am learning you still need diapers with a c section!? We are in bliss. Thank you for all the love and well wishes – we feel it all! X,” Teigen wrote on her post.
Blake Shelton Admits to Having These “Insecurities” in His Marriage.
The celebrity power couple and Voice Coaches open up about the inspiration behind their new single, “Purple Irises.”
Grab your gardening gloves because Gwen Stefani is taking us to pick purple irises.
In the spring/summer 2024 issue of Nylon magazine, the “Cool” singer opened up about reuniting with No Doubt for their highly anticipated upcoming Coachella performance, her solo music career, and “Purple Irises,” the latest collaboration with her husband Blake Shelton.
“I had been going through those times where you’re questioning: ‘Oh my gosh, am I just getting older? Am I cute?’” she told Nylon, on writing the single, which dropped February 9. “In my own relationship, even though I know the truth of what’s happening today, you still create drama in your own mind about your insecurities and what might happen. I was in that phase of the relationship with Blake and getting paranoid.”
Shelton added, “It’s an insecurity we both have. These are conversations that she and I have with each other: ‘Are you still going to love me when I’m old or if I forget who I am?’”
Stefani and Shelton met in 2014 when they were both Coaches on The Voice. They started dating in 2015, and officially tied the knot on July 3, 2021. Even though they are both high-profile celebrities, Stefani said that no one really knows what goes on in their marriage.
Gwen Stefani addresses those Blake Shelton divorce rumors in new interview
“But when you’re in love and have truly aligned values, nobody can get to us. You can say whatever you want to say about our relationship — I mean, a week ago we were getting divorced again or something,” she said about the relationship rumors. “It’s just lies. The truth is the truth, and we know what that is. And so that [negativity] would never penetrate just by me being vulnerable and sharing a song that I didn’t write for anybody else but myself and Blake.”
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani perform during NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2022 live event. Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC
“Purple Irises” was co-written by Stefani, Niko Rubio, and Swedish writers and producers Jack & Coke (Jakob Hazell and Svante Halldin). “The Sweet Escape” singer says she got the idea for the track when she discovered purple irises growing on Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch, where they were isolating in 2020.
When talking about the inspiration behind the lyrics of “Purple Irises,” Stefani revealed, “Every single reference in the song is about the insecurities we sometimes feel. You can’t hold on to time, you have to keep evolving and moving forward — that’s true with love as well. There’s all different kinds of love, and it always evolves and changes. That’s really what the song is. That was the intention of the song.”
Anyone listening to “Purple Irises” should have no doubt about the love between Stefani and Shelton.
Adam Levine Says His Daughters Are “Historians” When It Comes to Maroon 5’s Music
“It’s encyclopedic, and it’s meticulous, and it’s amazing,” he told Jimmy Fallon of his kids’ memories.
It’s always a good time when Adam Levine visits The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and his April 10 visit was no exception. Levine joined his pal Jimmy Fallon for a fresh round of “Wheel of Musical Impressions,” and provided a major update on new Maroon 5 music coming in 2024.
He also told Fallon that his two daughters are both serious students of the group’s song catalog.
Levine was visiting The Tonight Show to talk about his band’s revived Las Vegas residency beginning May 17.
Adam Levine’s daughters love Maroon 5’s music
Adam Levine during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Episode 1959, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC
During the segment, Levine shared some information about Maroon 5’s tiniest Stans: His kids.
“Last year, you guys released a single called ‘Middle Ground’ and your daughters made a cameo in the music video,” Fallon said, deeming it “very cute.”
“Are they Maroon 5 fans now? Do they come to shows?” Fallon asked Levine.
“They’re such historians of every single song we have ever recorded,” Levine said of his daughters with wife Behati Prinsloo, Dusty Rose and Gio Grace. “So much so that they’ll bring songs up that I don’t remember writing or singing.”
“Oh really?! They know the B-sides and everything,” Fallon replied.
“It’s encyclopedic, and it’s meticulous, and it’s amazing,” Levine replied, “and I don’t know how long it’s going to last. But I’m going to enjoy it, because it makes me so happy. Like, I’m just going to see how long it takes for them to like other things.”
“No, they’ll love you forever!” Fallon, himself a father to two girls, assured him. “You’re a good dad.”
Adam Levine and Maroon 5’s New Music
Guitarist Mickey Madden, singer Adam Levine and bassist Sam Farrar of Maroon 5 perform during The Event hosted by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation at MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation
“You’ve been hinting that you guys are in the studio working on something — and finally, this year you’re releasing the new music,” said Fallon.
“It’s coming,” Levine confirmed. “You know, I think that for the first time in about 13 years, I’ve decided to kind of take the reins back for the songwriting part of it, and make sure that all the ideas come from either myself or the band. So we’re not going to have any real co-writes.”
The former The Voice Coach describes it as a full circle moment for the group whose original members have been making music together since 1994, first rising to massive fame with their 2002 debut album, Songs About Jane.
“And, you know, the ideas are coming straight from the nucleus of Maroon 5, which I think is going to make it sound a lot like it did in the very, very beginning,” Levine continued. “So, I’m so excited about what’s happening right now.”
Blake Shelton Made a Hilarious Joke About Dan + Shay’s Double Chair on The Voice
Are Dan + Shay just inheriting Shelton’s gently-used furniture hand-me-downs?
Maybe Dan + Shay’s shiny new Double Chair on The Voice isn’t so new and shiny after all — at least not the way Blake Shelton tells it.
The former Coach and big-time proprietor of Nashville’s Ole Red honky-tonk bar recently gave a crowd of surprised live fans the lowdown on how Dan + Shay actually inherited their famous split seats on The Voice… even if his story does sound suspiciously like another country music tall tale.
Located just a few steps down and around the bend from the iconic Ryman Auditorium on Nashville’s Lower Broadway entertainment strip, Ole Red was already deep in the thick of an epic The Voice family reunion, complete with Dan + Shay hosting a homecoming performance party featuring Season 24 winner Huntley, alongside tons more Artists who’ve shined across previous seasons on the show.
The packed crowd was loving every minute of the feel-good vibes even before Shelton rang in to survey the live scene inside his favorite hangout… and that’s when things started to take a really funny turn.
Watch Blake Shelton tease Dan + Shay over The Voice’s Double Chair
“Dan + Shay, no way — who knew?!” Shelton teased as his face popped up on the small stage’s extra-giant screen. Sensing that Dan + Shay had brought along their pride-and-joy double Coaches’ chair (which they actually did — the showoffs!), Shelton couldn’t let the pair of upstart newcomers take too much credit for keeping the plush red seats in the Season 25 spotlight.
“I think that’s just a recycled old chair of mine!” Shelton told the crowd, making sure in the process that Dan + Shay weren’t feeling too big for their country superstar britches. “By the time I left the show, it had become like a double wide chair,” he goaded further, complete with the sassy insinuation that his Ole Red house guests were actually just a pair of celebrity heirs to his well-used on-set hand-me-downs.
With a double-decker crowd of fans in his corner, though, Dan Smyers had the perfect comeback to tease Shelton back in his place. “Hey — I think you left your tab open at the bar!” Dan joked. “How about Blake buys everybody a beer?!”
That kind of musical diplomacy goes far in a bar packed to the gills with The Voice fans, and the feel-good reunion vibes kept flowing as Artists past and present (including Season 7 winner Craig Wayne Boyd) jammed out live tunes while guests took turns snapping Double Chair selfies.
If we’re being honest, we kinda hope Shelton never drops his whole funny campaign to convince the world that the Double Chair is really his. After all, if you play your cards right, another free round of drinks on the house just might be waiting the next time you find yourself strolling down the streets in Nashville.
‘Voice’ Coach John Legend Sends Fans Spiraling After He Brings Up Kelly Clarkson
“My two biggest idols on one team would be LIFE CHANGING…”
It’s only the second week of blind auditions on this season of The Voice, and already there’s a bit of drama among the judges. Luckily, this latest incident actually left fans excited, begging for the return of a fan-favorite judge from previous seasons.
In a recent Instagram video clip shared by the show’s official account, season 25 judge John Legend was asked who he would choose to share the new “double chair” with. For those unfamiliar, the double chair was introduced this season to accommodate new judges musical group Dan + Shay since it’s the first time two artists will coach one team.
The person John himself would love to pair up with, though? Singer, talkshow host and former Voice judge Kelly Clarkson!
“Kelly Clarkson is an amazing vocalist, of course, great voice coach and, we often went head-to-head on choices which means we would turn for similar artists,” John said. “So I’m gonna say I would team up with Kelly.”
We don’t know how serious he was, but Kelly herself couldn’t resist cheekily responding to him in the comment section. “Don’t invite mama, she’ll show up 😂,” she wrote — and boy did the fans go wild about the possible reunion.
NBC
John Legend and Kelly Clarkson taking a selfie between filming season 16 of The Voice.
“That would be a legendary duo 🔥,” someone chimed in. “UNSTOPPABLE TEAM, MAKE IT HAPPEN PLEASE,” another person begged. “My two biggest idols on one team would be LIFE CHANGING… 😭❤️,” one said. A different person wrote, “You and Kelly would be a force to be reckoned with! Let’s make it happen! Lol”.
We’d have to agree that the “All of Me” singer and “Stronger” pop star would be a pretty unstoppable duo, and although Kelly spent quite a few years on the show, coaching for seasons 14 through 21 and season 23, her busy schedule with taping The Kelly Clarkson Show would probably keep her too busy to rejoin the show — at least for now. Nevertheless, we’re keeping our fingers crossed!
Chance the Rapper Singing A Capella Is So Stunning and Soothing in a Surprise Video
The Voice Coach previewed a new song in a super authentic way.
Chance the Rapper just teased new music in the best way.
On April 12, The Voice Coach shared a preview of a new track to preview his upcoming concert in his hometown of Chicago. In the artsy clip, Chance sits on a stool and snaps his fingers while singing a capella. His voice sounds super raw and soothing, as the acoustics in the room complement his tone perfectly.
“I’m singing some new songs at the show tmw night at my new venue @ramovachicago . All proceeds to @socialworks_chi,” he wrote in a caption.
It’s been a year since Chance last released a new song. The rapper has steadily released singles and features in recent years since his last new solo album The Big Day was released in 2019. He also dropped a Christmas album with Jeremih in 2020, Merry Little Christmas Mama, and in 2023 Acid Rap’s 10th anniversary edition.
Chance the Rapper on coaching The Voice Season 25
Currently, Chance the Rapper is killing it as a Coach on Season 25 of The Voice. In a February interview with NBC Insider, he explained how his approach is different in comparison to Season 23 when he first joined.
Chance The Rapper appears in The Voice Season 25 Episode 9. Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
”Last season I was really intent on judging based on the round, right?” he told us. ‘”Cause it’s like, you’re in the moment, this is the performance you gave regardless of how well it went in rehearsal, in green room… but also, that’s not the way that the real industry works.”
He continued, ”There are really big moments, but there are a ton of moments. And if you were really judged and critiqued off of singular moments, then we wouldn’t have careers. We wouldn’t continue doing it. So [I’m] having the grace to recognize the Artists that you really wanna work with and have these moments with and give those platforms to is something that I’ll probably bring into this new season.”
He also talked about his favorite part about being on the coaching team. ”I really love doing the show for a lot of reasons, and I think one of them is just the creative outlet that you get in collaborating with Artists, on re-imagining songs with The Voice band, which is one of the greatest bands and always has the greatest players on TV,” he said.
“We’re surrounded by great Artists, being with the Coaches is inspiring, and so is the crew. Everybody’s funny! That’s the cool thing is we’re always joking around, we’re always doing some dumb stuff, and it’s like, whether you’re on camera or not on camera, there are great moments that we have,” he added.
When Chance first joined The Voice in Season 23, he revealed to NBC Insider, “I wanted to be a Coach on The Voice because I like giving platforms to young Artists — especially people who are already seasoned in their trade and know what they’re doing but just need the right spotlight. I wanted to be a part of the process.”
Gwen Stefani looks totally unrecognizable with dark hair and thin lips in shocking new video after ‘surgery’ rumors
GWEN Stefani has posted a new video showing off her different looks over the years.
The Voice judge shared a selection of old clips to Instagram, comparing her unrecognizable appearance in the past to the present day.
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Gwen Stefani looked shockingly different in new photos and videos from her past in an emotional montageCredit: Getty
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One image showed a grown-up Gwen with naturally dark hair, along with thinner lips and softer facial featuresCredit: Instagram/ gwenstefani
In the video, Gwen, 53, used audio from the Barbie movie, in which Barbie is shown the process of ageing.
Alongside the emotional words and song, Gwen added a montage of photos and videos of herself from childhood to the present day.
In one image, Blake Shelton’s wife appeared unrecognizable as a young woman.
The throwback shot showed Gwen sitting back in a modest summer dress and smiling shyly at the camera.
The pop singer sported her natural brunette hair, which fell in voluminous waves in comparison to her current bleached blond, pin-straight look.
Other shots from a similar age showed Gwen all grown up, but retaining her dark hair, thinner lips, less defined nose, and rounder eyes.
GONE TOO FAR?
In 2004, Gwen told People: “I’m hoping my children will save me from my vanity. If it doesn’t, plastic surgery is an option … It sucks to have to grow older. We all have to accept it.”
However, one doctor shared his beliefs that Gwen was already deep in plastic surgery, and wasn’t “accepting” the ageing process.
Dr. Richard Westreich – a top New York-based facial plastic surgeon – told The U.S. Sun: “Gwen looks to have spent around $100,000 on cosmetic procedures and tweakments, which means she won’t need a facelift in ten years’ time.
“But she’s at that inflection point where the motivation should be to look fabulous and age-appropriate, and while she looks good right now, I hope she doesn’t over-pursue and end up looking bizarre rather than great for her age.
“She’s at that cusp and shouldn’t be wanting to look 40 forever and right now she already looks a decade younger than she is.
“Gwen also has these moments where she looks oddly swollen and that’s probably indicative of her having facial tightening treatments done like FaceTite.”
He explained: “Skin tightening is a procedure which tightens the face and where a little probe goes underneath the skin through a little puncture and it heats up the area under the skin to create tightening.
“You get swollen for a couple of weeks, which is why Gwen might look oddly swollen at certain points.
“If she has had skin tightening then it can create an extra snatched jawline, but there are no incisions for these tightening procedures, and you get everything tightened up.
WHO’S THAT GIRL?
In the past, critics suggested that Gwen took her rumored plastic surgery too far.
After the No Doubt alum took the stage at the CMT Awards, this year, fans again accused her of going under the knife.
One commenter wrote: “I’m getting to where I don’t recognize her anymore.”
Another speculated: “Wow..that is an extreme face lift.”
A third critic commented: “The plastic slanted brows are giving me 2023 Madonna vibes. It’s a nope for me.”
Someone else chimed in: “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
A fifth hater commented: “Scary plastic look.”
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The star also added plenty of childhood shots, accompanying audio about the ageing processCredit: Instagram/ gwenstefani
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Gwen said in 2004 that she hoped she’d be ‘saved’ from her ‘vanity,’ but that plastic surgery was an option if that wasn’t the caseCredit: Instagram/ gxvebeauty
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Fans have complained that they ‘don’t recognize’ her current ‘scary plastic’ look, while a doctor estimated that she’d spent $100,000 on surgeryCredit: Instagram/ gwenstefani
The Voice coaches ‘must be deaf!’ fans rage after they fail to save ‘total talent’ despite singer’s amazing performance
THE Voice fans have been left completely shocked by who was eliminated during a new episode.
During Monday’s broadcast, the coaches: John Legend, 45, Dan and Shay, 36 and 32, Reba McEntire, 69, and Chance The Rapper, 30, prepared their team members for knockouts with mentor Keith Urban, 56.
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During Monday night’s episode, the knockout portion of the singing competition series beganCredit: Twitter/ The Voice @NBCTheVoice
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Two contestants from each team went head-to-head, but only one person could be crowned winnerCredit: Twitter/ The Voice @NBCTheVoice
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At the beginning of the episode, two members of Team Dan and Shay competed, and fans weren’t thrilled about the outcomeCredit: Twitter/ The Voice @NBCTheVoice
During the knockout episodes, two contestants from each team go head-to-head by singing covers of hit songs.
After the performances, the coaches make a tough decision on who stays and headed to the playoff portion of the singing competition show.
Meanwhile, the person who was not selected can be stolen by another coach.
When it came to Dan and Shay’s two teammates, Frank Garcia and Olivia Rubini, they put on show-stopping performances.
First, Frank took the stage to perform El Triste by José José which left coaches speechless.
John described Frank’s voice as “rich and robust.”
Reba couldn’t stop talking about how talented he was.
Chance The Rapper revealed that Frank wows the crowd every time he performs and revealed that it should be him who wins the knockout session.
Next, Olivia gave it her all with her rendition of Tiny Dancer by Elton John.
Reba and John revealed that they preferred her performance over Frank’s.
The Voice coaches ‘much be deaf!’ fans rage after they fail to save ‘total talent’ despite singer’s amazing performance
In the end, Olivia was the winner of the knockouts.
Unfortunately, Frank was eliminated from the competition, leaving fans upset.
On X, formerly Twitter, viewers didn’t hold back their harsh opinions.
“Why, Frank, why? That was beautiful and he totally killed it. Dan and Shay made their first big fumble. Sad to see him go. Bummer,” one fan said.
The Voice winners
The Voice is an American television series broadcast on NBC.
American vocalists work alongside a group of celebrity judges to compete for a $100,00 prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group. Past winners are as follows:
Season 1: Javier Colon
Season 2: Jermaine Paul
Season 3: Cassadee Pope
Season 4: Danielle Bradbery
Season 5: Tessanne Chin
Season 6: Josh Kaufman
Season 7: Craig Wayne Boyd
Season 8: Sawyer Fredericks
Season 9: Jordan Smith
Season 10: Alisan Porter
Season 11: Sundance Head
Season 12: Chris Blue
Season 13: Chloe Kohanski
Season 14: Brynn Cartelli
Season 15: Chevel Shepherd
Season 16: Maelyn Jarmon
Season 17: Jake Hoot
Season 18: Todd Tilghman
Season 19: Carter Rubin
Season 20: Cam Anthony
Season 21: Girl Named Tom
Season 22: Bryce Leatherwood
Season 23: Gina Miles
Season 24: Michael Huntley
“He should have won. Why wasn’t he available for a steal?” another tweeted.
“Eliminating Frank was a monumental mistake,” a third said.
A fourth replied to the above comment discussing Olivia’s performance, “She did nothing with that song!”
“Ok I can’t believe Frank did not advance from this round. They must be deaf,” a sixth fan exclaimed.
“Ok I can’t believe Frank Garcia did not advance from this round . They must be deaf,” a fan raged.
Another viewer praised his performance, “Gonna miss you on The Voice, Frank. Hope I see you perform again. Awesome performance! So much emotion!”
“Kind of unfortunate,” someone else said, “Frank is a total talent.”
Tonight’s episode kicked off the NBC show’s new scheduling, opting to air once a week instead of twice – each episode, however, will be two hours.
On May 6, The Voice will return to airing twice a week, both live episodes.
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Above, Frank Garcia gave it his all while performing in front of the judgesCredit: Twitter/ The Voice @NBCTheVoice
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However, it was his opponent, Olivia Ruibini, who won the knockouts roundCredit: Twitter/ The Voice @NBCTheVoice
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Fans were left upset at Dan and Shay’s decision, calling it a ‘monumental mistake’Credit: NBC
The Voice judge Jason Derulo accused of s * x ual misconduct
Jason Derulo, a judge on Seven’s The Voice singing competition show, has been accused by a US singer of asking for s * x ual favours in return for help with her career.
Emaza Gibson, who goes by the stage name Emaza Dilan, filed a lawsuit on Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accusing the singer of aggressive behaviour, harassment and unwanted s * x ual advances. The charges date back to a series of offences allegedly committed in 2021 and 2022.
Jason Derulo and Emaza Gibson at his Californian studio in 2021.Credit: NBC/Emaza Gibson
Derulo joined The Voice as a judge this year and is coaching one of four contestants in Sunday’s grand finale. In a social media post, Derulo said the claims were false and hurtful.
“I stand against all forms of harassment and I remain supportive of anybody following their dreams. I’ve always strived to live my life in a positively impactful way, and that’s why I sit here before you deeply offended, by these defamatory claims,” he said.
A representative for Seven said they would not be making any comment at this stage.
Gibson, 25, first formed musical act Ceraadi, with her sisters in 2015. The group gained popularity, amassing more than 1.25 million subscribers on their YouTube channel, before Gibson embarked on a solo career.
In August 2021, Derulo approached Gibson, proposing a joint venture between his music imprint, Future History, and Atlantic Records, in a deal that would require Gibson to produce a mixtape in four months and an album in six, according to documents filed in the lawsuit made available by West Coast Trial Lawyers. The contract also stipulated that she make a single featuring Derulo.
Derulo during this year’s blind auditions for The Voice.
Gibson alleges that while recording, Derulo told her that if she wanted to succeed in the music business, she would need to take part in “goat skin and fish scales” – a reference to conducting s * x rituals, sacrificing a goat, goat blood and doing cocaine, according to the lawsuit.
Lawyers for Gibson say this meant Derulo was demanding s * x ual acts for their client in order for him to fulfil his role as mentor and music collaborator. Gibson claims she rejected Derulo’s advances and was dropped from Atlantic and Future History on September 6, 2022, according to the lawsuit.
Am I the only fan miffed at Reba McEntire’s digs for singing in Spanish on The Voice? | Opinion
Perhaps, I’m overthinking a television show.
But given these divisive times, America’s rarely acknowledged love-hate relationship with the Spanish language — on display during NBC’s “The Voice” — needs to be discussed.
It’s an opportunity like no other to learn how we affect each other.
I’m a fan of “The Voice,” yet this season I’m both overjoyed — and annoyed.
At first, this 25-season anniversary run felt especially meaningful.
The talented contestants are a treasure trove of diversity — creatively, culturally, racially and ethnically — and in particular, Miami sensation Mafe, a 22-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, has the extraordinary mix of vocal skills to win every battle, every knockout round.
Judge John Legend fought to bring her on his team when she auditioned with a stirring, soulful rendition of one of the most iconic songs of the 20th century, “Bésame Mucho,” written by Mexican prodigy Consuelo Velázquez.
Three lines into the song, she had earned the coveted four-chair turn from all judges, the cameras capturing her parents’ tearful reaction: “¡Gracias, Dios mío!“
“I would love to have you on Team Leyenda!” Legend coaxed her.
She picked him.
Latino singers & the Queen of Country
Mafe isn’t the only contestant singing in Spanish.
There’s also Puerto Rican Madison Curbelo of Westfield, Massachusetts, who delighted with a remarkably smooth bilingual interpretation of the Ben E. King standard “Stand By Me.” And, until he lost a knockout round this week, Frank Garcia, a native of Texas who spent his early years in Mexico, also sang in Spanish, staging a dramatic performance of José José’s “El Triste.” (The Sad One).
With so much to like, where’s the sour note?
Judge country music star Reba McEntire has a habit of telling performers who sing in Spanish, even when she’s praising them, some version of “I don’t understand a word you said” — and it’s getting really old.
She did it last season, too.
I don’t understand why a person who’s otherwise kind and supportive feels obligated to keep making this point. It unnecessarily inserts an alienating factor by reminding the person that he or she is an “other,” and doesn’t quite belong.
It should go without saying: No one is expecting the Queen of Country to have any Spanish fluency. It’s not a job requirement.
This isn’t a song-writing competition.
Like the other judges, she’s there to assess the performers’ vocal abilities to reach high notes and sustain low notes, to take into account stage presence and confidence. All those things that amount to pure musical talent are universal, and certainly, transcend borders and musical genres.
The digs over singing in Spanish, which other judges have also fleetingly made, albeit with more grace, feel like a pile-on during these trying times.
We, Latinos — and especially newer immigrants, like Mafe, from our troubled hemisphere — don’t need another reminder on national television that we’re not accepted nor wanted in this “close the border” version of the United States.
Politicians and their supporters are banking on the vilification of immigrants at every turn to win elections — despite the fact that the country’s economy needs their labor and contributions. The extreme right is constantly casting immigrants as invaders to deflect from the threat that another Donald Trump presidency represents: more ugly rhetoric, a stamp of approval on xenophobia, and a threat to democratic norms.
I turn to a show like The Voice at the end of the day as an escape from all that.
I have no desire to hear a you-people type of inference, especially by a star I admire. It hurts.
No barriers
I’m sure McEntire means no disrespect.
Last year, she more gracefully handled the audition of Miami Cuban-American Juliette Ojeda, whose bilingual ballad-turned-salsa song interpretation of Olivia Newton John’s “Hopelessly Devoted To You” was called “roller-coaster” by Legend.
“You’re cute as a button. I can’t speak Spanish. Very poquito,” McEntire said. “I can only speak two languages, which is English, good and bad.”
The self-deprecation worked. She offered Ojeda expert coaching, and in exchange, McEntire added: “You can teach me how to speak Spanish.”
Perfect.
And this year, one can see her clearly enjoying the performances in Spanish. Same way I appreciate international music in foreign languages: Rhythms and harmonies move heart and soul. I don’t need to understand Italian to appreciate the operatic pop trio Il Volo or, the master, Pavarotti.
Plus, I’m sure that among fans of the 75 million records McEntire has sold worldwide, there are people who don’t understand a lick of what she’s saying.
Thankfully, in the age of cultural crossover and easily accessible Google Translate, lyrics and translations of lyrics are at our fingertips. This makes McEntire’s reminders that she can’t understand seem lazy, which we know the accomplished 69-year-old star, who has created an entertainment empire around her brand, isn’t.
The “don’t understand” also is an outdated one-liner.
For this generation, there are no language barriers.
By increasing the number of Hispanics who sing in Spanish on the show, The Voice is reflecting an operative trend in modern music: cross-cultural, multilingual collaboration.
To name a sliver of the most notable pairings: Adam Levine of Maroon Five with Colombian singer-songwriter Maluma. Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi and Justin Bieber. The Jonas Brothers and Karol G.
Incorporating singing in Spanish adds value and only makes “The Voice” all the more interesting.
What a treat it was to hear Mafe, in a competitive duo with Rivers Grayson, a 27-year-old from Huntsville, Alabama, belt out a gorgeously interlaced bilingual rendition of the 1971 classic written by Carole King and also sung by James Taylor, “You’ve Got a Friend.”
“Tu amiga fiel,” she sang in a silky voice that felt like an embrace.
Faithful friend.
Tears flowed, and yes, she won the battle — and hearts, including Reba’s.
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