Blog

  • Oliver Bearman Hopes to Learn a Few Things From Lewis Hamilton Himself – “I Won’t Be Working Directly With Him”

    Oliver Bearman Hopes to Learn a Few Things From Lewis Hamilton Himself – “I Won’t Be Working Directly With Him”

    Oliver Bearman Hopes to Learn a Few Things From Lewis Hamilton Himself - “I Won’t Be Working Directly With Him”
    Credits: IMAGO / Motorsport Images

    Oliver Bearman had a stellar debut with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend as he finished a solid seventh, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Following his brilliant drive, the 18-year-old has revealed how he also received praises from Hamilton himself. Now, Bearman hopes that Hamilton can help Ferrari grow from strength to strength when he joins the team in 2025. And while Bearman will not be working with the seven-time champion directly next year, he still hopes to learn a thing or two from his experienced compatriot.

    Advertisement

    While reflecting on his exchange with Hamilton after the Saudi Arabian GP, Bearman said in a Twitter video, “He (Hamilton) came to congratulate me. I joked that he was pulling me out of the car because I struggled”.

    After stating the same, the 18-year-old added, “Although I won’t be working directly with him, I’m sure his knowledge and experience will rub off in all departments. I am doing a lot of sim work with him. So, hopefully, I can learn a thing or two from him and his wealth of experience”.

    Advertisement

    Hamilton indeed has several years of experience as he is currently in his 18th F1 season, having debuted in 2007. Moreover, he is arguably also the most successful driver in the sport’s history, having not only won a record-equalling seven championships but also registered several other landmarks in the process.

    Although Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025, he still will not be working with Bearman directly. The 18-year-old is only a reserve driver for Ferrari and currently has a full-time role with Prema Racing in F2.

    Hence, Hamilton will instead be partnering with Charles Leclerc in 2025. Ferrari will hope that the duo can work well together and bring back the glory days to Maranello.

    Lewis Hamilton’s arrival is likely to add pressure on Ferrari

    Since Lewis Hamilton is so used to winning, Ferrari will be under massive pressure to build a strong car in 2025. Although the Italian outfit has made steady gains from the beginning of last season, they are still nowhere close to fighting reigning champions Red Bull at the moment.

    Advertisement

    The Milton Keynes-based outfit dominated both the opening two races of the 2024 season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Max Verstappen won both the races while Sergio Perez finished second in the other Red Bull. Meanwhile, Ferrari had to settle for the final podium spot in both Grands Prix.

    Carlos Sainz secured the final podium in Bahrain while Charles Leclerc finished third in Saudi Arabia. Since the difference in pace between Ferrari and Red Bull continues to be massive, the Italian outfit has a lot of work to do to close down the gap to the champions before Lewis Hamilton arrives next season.

  • Dolly Parton Was the Only One Who Knew This Was Going to Happen

    Dolly Parton Was the Only One Who Knew This Was Going to Happen

    You’ve probably seen Dolly Parton’s performance from the halftime show for the Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders.

    Dolly Parton Was the Only One Who Knew This Was Going to Happen

    Parton wow’d the world when she popped up on national television, saying, “Y’all like my outfit?”

    Then, she encouraged the Cowboys and the Commanders to, “stop fighting long enough to say hello to me.”

    With Parton, most everything in her life and career is mapped out, well-planned ahead of time. She has so many things going on and so many places to be, it has to be a well-oiled machine.

    But sometimes, she goes rogue.

    Exclusive: Dolly Parton on Rock, Rhinestones and Her Genre-Busting Career

    According to the country music icon, she surprised everyone when she stepped out for her Thanksgiving Day performance wearing that glimmering Dallas Cowboys cheerleading outfit.

    Even her team didn’t know about it!

    “When she came out of the dressing room, myself, the security, and my staff fainted. That’s the genius of Dolly, and people are talking about it,” her manager tells Billboard.

    “I couldn’t tell the difference between Dolly and the cheerleaders,” he adds.

    Dolly Parton wants to rock and the music industry can't wait

    Dolly Parton Interview — And Reba McEntire Reveals What She First Thought of Garth Brooks

    Separate interviews with two country legends, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. Dolly tells Evan Paul about (1:20) the artists she couldn’t get for her new Rockstar album before (3:59) lauding Taylor Swift and (7:30) what she misses about touring. Then Reba McEntire spends 15 minutes with Evan and explains (13:00) what she loves about being on The Voice, (13:55) which songs are the most difficult to perform and the first time she met (14:40) Dolly Parton and (16:04) Garth Brooks. Then the (18:10) juice on wedding plans with Rex Linn and the (21:07) Night Cap with Billy Dukes.

    It is important to note, however, that Parton’s outfit was only inspired by the Cowboys cheerleaders’ uniforms: Hers was a little less revealing than the actual outfit that the cheerleaders wear, but it was close enough in detail to look almost identical.

  • The Untold Truth Of Reba McEntire

    The Untold Truth Of Reba McEntire

    The Untold Truth Of Reba McEntire

    Reba McEntire isn’t just one of the greatest country singers alive today — she is also one of the greatest country singers of all time. The powerhouse has been on the music scene for decades. According to The Boot, she has won dozens of awards for her work, including Grammys, American Music Awards, CMA awards, and ACM awards. In addition to being a talented singer, she’s also a talented actress, so you’ve almost definitely seen her on the big or small screen at some point over the years.

    Reba McEntire

    There’s no doubt about it: McEntire is one of the queens of country, and it doesn’t look like she’s slowing down any time soon. How did she get to the top? What is the secret to her enduring career? Here’s how music icon Reba McEntire grew from a country girl raised in a small town to one of the biggest superstars in the world.

    Reba McEntire

    Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire and her family are very close. She told Southern Living that she grew up in a small town in Oklahoma with only 18 people in her graduating class. She also had a lot of family nearby. McEntire described her small town as “a family community” where “you didn’t get away with much if anything.”

    McEntire’s family helps her stay grounded. Even though she’s a famous country music star, her siblings treat her no differently than they treat each other, and, when she goes home, she’s just like everybody else. She even joins in and helps do chores when the family gets together. If her ego ever gets too inflated, she can count on her family to bring her back down to earth. “We support each other, and we’ve always been there for each other,” she told Cowboys & Indians. “So that does ground you because you’ve got somebody, they’re going, ‘Hey, get off your high horse. You’re just like us.’”

    How Reba McEntire realized she had talent

    Reba McEntire

    Jeff Haynes/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire has been singing ever since she was a little girl. When she was in first grade, she landed a solo singing “Away in a Manger” in a Christmas program, and the rest is history. McEntire told CMT News that she realized she was talented because of how her family responded to her voice. Instead of telling her to leave the room or to play outside like they did when she tried to interrupt the family to speak, everyone would stop whatever they were doing to listen to her whenever she started singing.

    Seeing the attention she got for her singing didn’t just help McEntire realize her talent — it was also how she stood out as one of the middle children in the family. “I wasn’t the oldest or the youngest,” she explained. “I wasn’t the only boy, and I was usually in the way. … So when I got good attention from the singing, I knew that was probably where I needed to land.”

    Reba McEntire was a competitive barrel racer

    Reba McEntire

    Ethan Miller/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire grew up on a ranch and soon enough entered the rodeo circuit as a competitive barrel racer. The rodeo runs in her blood, as her father and grandfather were both world-champion steer ropers. While McEntire loved the sport — and a video uploaded to YouTube of her riding at the rodeo proves her talent — her dad discouraged her from pursuing the sport professionally, saying she just wasn’t good enough.

    “[My parents] were always encouraging us to follow our dreams, but don’t stay too long,” she told CMT News. “And my dream at the time, when I was younger, was to be a world-champion barrel racer.” She continued, “Daddy would just point-blank tell me, ‘Reba, I don’t know why you want to do something you’re not good at.’”

    Her dad told her that she should be singing instead of barrel racing, but it would be a while before the young McEntire took his advice. “I couldn’t practice singing, but I could go practice running barrels,” said McEntire. “That was fun. And keeping a horse in shape — that was fun.”

    You may have heard of Reba McEntire’s siblings

    Reba McEntire and sister Susie McEntire

    Instagram

    Music is something that runs in the McEntire family. Two of Reba McEntire’s siblings are also talented singers. Her brother, Pake, and her sister, Susie, have both had successful music careers, although they aren’t as well known as their famous sister. Before the three of them had successful solo careers, they were creating music together as The Singing McEntires while McEntire was still in high school.

    Being a member of The Singing McEntires gave the singer her first real taste of the spotlight. The trio played at their school and also started performing at clubs on the weekends, with their mother driving them to each appearance. The siblings were often out all night performing. “We played 9 to 1 for our show money,” McEntire told CMT News of those early gigs. “Then if there was enough people wanting to hang around, we’d play from 1 to 3 and just pass the hat. So I’ve been in front of audiences a long time.”

    Reba McEntire went to college and nearly followed a different career path

    Reba McEntire

    Chris Weeks/Getty Images

    Even though Reba McEntire had gotten a taste of show business life as a member of The Singing McEntires, she still went off to college. According to her bio on her website, the singer graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1976 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in music. McEntire told CMT News that she “loved college,” but her dad ended up pushing her towards a career in music instead of becoming a teacher.

    McEntire said that her dad encouraged her to get a job singing at the National Finals Rodeo while she was still in college. Figuring she could get in to the rodeo free that way, she applied for the job. McEntire landed the gig in 1974 and caught the attention of country legend Red Steagall, who helped her record her first demo.

    McEntire’s teaching degree didn’t go to waste, though. In 2016, McEntire announced (via People) that she would be giving music lessons through MasterClass for those looking to break into the industry.

    A devastating tragedy impacted Reba McEntire’s life and career

    Reba McEntire

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    In 1991, a horrible tragedy shook Reba McEntire’s world when seven of her band members and her tour manager died in a plane crash. McEntire dedicated her next album, For My Broken Heart, to the people who died in the crash, as noted by The Boot. In the liner notes, she wrote, “It seems your current emotional status determines what music you’d like to hear. That’s what happened on the song selection for this album. If for any reason you can relate to the emotion packed inside these songs, I hope it’s a form of healing for all our broken hearts.”

    The songs on the album may all be sad, but they’re what the singer needed to heal from the devastating tragedy. McEntire told The Saturday Evening Post that it was her music that helped pull her through that dark time.

    For My Broken Heart ended up going platinum. McEntire also nabbed an Academy of Country Music award that year for best female vocalist. In a tearful acceptance speech, she dedicated the win to her “eight buddies” who died in the crash.

    Reba McEntire helped pave the way for other female country artists

    Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Carrie Underwood

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

    When Reba McEntire’s career was starting out in the 1970s, country music was still dominated by men. McEntire’s success helped pave the way for future female country singers. “Well, it was my responsibility,” she told Parade of blazing a trail for other women. “It was my duty.”

    McEntire said that she sees herself as another female country singer in a long line that includes Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. Just as the singers who came before her opened doors for artists of her generation, she has always viewed it as her task to pave the way for the generations that come after her.

    Growing up on the ranch and on the rodeo circuit taught McEntire that “we are livin’ in a man’s world,” as she told N Focus. She noted, “So that was something I was used to, and in the world of entertainment, I realized that I was going to have to work harder to get ahead, and so I just accepted that and continued to work hard.”

    How Reba McEntire really feels about her trademark accent

    Reba McEntire

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

    These days, Reba McEntire’s thick Southern drawl is her trademark. While some people feel pressured to lose their accents when entering show business, it never occurred to McEntire to try to be anything other than who she is. “I like my accent,” she told Southern Living. “It’s done all right for me.”

    McEntire also encourages others to be true to themselves. In an interview with Cowboys & Indians, she shared the advice she gave to her niece, Garrett, when she moved to California to pursue an acting career. Garrett’s agent told her that she needed to dye her hair blonde and also urged her to lose her “thick Oklahoma accent.”

    McEntire told her niece not to change a thing and to just be herself. “You can’t be cookie-cutter,” she advised. “You’ve got to stand out and be different. A good kind of different.”

    Reba McEntire always wanted to be a movie star

    Reba McEntire with the cast of Reba

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    While Reba McEntire has established herself as one of the leading stars in country music, she’s also a talented actress. The singer admitted to CMT News that she always had dreams of acting. “I always wanted to be a movie star,” she said.

    McEntire has starred in films like Tremors and The Little Rascals and even had her own self-titled show, Reba, in the 2000s. The redheaded star also appeared on Broadway in the 2001 revival of Annie Get Your Gun, which she told Playbill “was the hardest job I ever had in my life.”

    While most fans know her more for her music than for her acting, that may change in the future. The country sensation told Billboard that she would love the chance to return to TV and perhaps star in more movies. One thing McEntire would particularly love to star in is a reboot of Reba. “We’ve kept working on it and right now, the reruns make it the most popular syndicated show next to M*A*S*H,” she said of the show’s potential return in a 2018 interview with The Saturday Evening Post.

    Reba McEntire went through two painful divorces

    Reba McEntire and her ex-husband

    Vince Bucci/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire has been married and divorced twice, and she relied on music to help her through both of her divorces. According to Taste of Country, McEntire’s 1987 album, The Last One to Know, was nicknamed the “divorce album” by the singer, who poured her emotions about separating from Charlie Battles after 11 years into the album. The record went platinum.

    In 2015, the outlet announced that McEntire’s divorce from her second husband, Narvel Blackstock, had been finalized. McEntire said that, again, music helped her heal from the heartbreak. “The world doesn’t stop for a broken heart, and that’s the truth,” she told The Saturday Evening Post. “You’ve got to go on, but you’ve got to express your pain, and the way I did it was through my music.”

    McEntire explained that most of the songs she chooses are sad songs for a good reason. “It’s relatable,” she said. “When a person is sad, they don’t listen to happy songs. I guess misery loves company.”

    Reba McEntire branched into a new genre of music

    Reba McEntire

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

    Recording her gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope, helped Reba McEntire through her second divorce. Pouring her emotions into her music paid off, as  the album won a Grammy Award for best roots gospel album in 2017. Making the award even more significant was that the album was McEntire’s first gospel album ever.

    McEntire drew on her childhood to record the album, telling Cowboys & Indians that she chose some of her favorite gospel songs from her youth for the album. McEntire even got her family involved, with her mother and her sisters Susie and Alice singing along with her on the record, and the entire process proved to be healing for McEntire.

    While Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope was McEntire’s first gospel album, it probably won’t be her last. She said that she has enough material for several more gospel albums.

    This is the silliest thing Reba McEntire ever did

    Reba McEntire

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images

    While it’s evident that Reba McEntire is pretty down to earth and has a good sense of humor, one thing that her fans may not know is that she’s also a bit of a practical joker. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she admitted that she’s done “so many silly things,” when asked what the “silliest thing” she’d ever done was.

    The silliest involved a joke she played on a friend, Vanessa Foster. McEntire revealed that she and Foster were in a bathroom together one night when she had the urge to play a prank on her pal. McEntire stood up on the toilet seat in her stall, reached over the wall, and poured salt onto Vanessa’s hair. “That’s real hard to get out!” she said.

    When asked why she happened to have the salt shaker with her in the bathroom, McEntire’s practical joker side really came out. “Why, I went into the stall with it, with the purpose of pouring it into Vanessa’s hair,” she answered.

    Reba McEntire isn’t afraid to talk about her faith

    Reba McEntire

    Amy Sussman/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire is deeply religious, and she isn’t afraid to let the world know it. While she talks (and sings) about her faith a lot, McEntire isn’t trying to preach to anyone — she just wants people to see how happy her faith makes her and hopefully inspire them through her example. “It’s a relief to me that God is always taking care of me, always helped me through the hard times, and is always there with me in the great times,” she told The Saturday Evening Post.

    In an interview with CMT News, McEntire said that her faith had “helped [her] tremendously” over the years and that it is something she has always depended on. The country star is also a big believer in the power of prayer, revealing that she has relied on her faith to guide her career. “On a large business decision, I always talk to God about it,” she said.

    This is Reba McEntire’s personal style

    Reba McEntire

    David Becker/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire may be one of the biggest names in the music industry, but she’s not letting that change who she is. At her core, she’s still a simple country girl, and her personal fashion style reflects that. For McEntire, style is all about comfort. She told Cowboys & Indians that she can typically be found wearing boots, tennis shoes, or sneakers, blue jeans, and “a comfortable top.” While McEntire does have to dress up sometimes to go to awards shows or perform — and usually makes best-dressed lists — she doesn’t like to wear heels for very long “because they kill [her] feet.”

    McEntire’s personal style really shines through in her Reba by Justin boot line. “I wanted high-end,” she explained of starting the line. “I wanted great quality. I wanted comfort.” She also pushed to add tennis shoes and sneakers to the line to give women something more comfortable to change into when they take off their boots.

    Reba McEntire misses this kind of country music

    Reba McEntire

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images

    While a lot of modern country music has a crossover feel to it, Reba McEntire prefers the kind of country music she grew up with. In 2019, she released the album Stronger Than the Truth, calling it “a stone-cold country album” filled with the kind of music she grew up singing with The Singing McEntires. The group performed at a lot of venues where people wanted to hear dance music. “And so that’s what we have on this album,” McEntire told The Boot.

    McEntire isn’t a fan of what she calls the “bro trend” in country music, which she explained to PBS NewsHour is usually about the “good ol’ boys” getting together and going fishing. Instead of “bro music,” McEntire would like country to return to its roots. “The country of Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Mel Tillis,” she said. “I miss that kind of country.” We wonder what McEntire thinks of popular country singers like Miranda Lambert, Faith Hill, and Kacey Musgraves!The Untold Truth Of Reba McEntire

    Reba McEntire isn’t just one of the greatest country singers alive today — she is also one of the greatest country singers of all time. The powerhouse has been on the music scene for decades. According to The Boot, she has won dozens of awards for her work, including Grammys, American Music Awards, CMA awards, and ACM awards. In addition to being a talented singer, she’s also a talented actress, so you’ve almost definitely seen her on the big or small screen at some point over the years.

     

    There’s no doubt about it: McEntire is one of the queens of country, and it doesn’t look like she’s slowing down any time soon. How did she get to the top? What is the secret to her enduring career? Here’s how music icon Reba McEntire grew from a country girl raised in a small town to one of the biggest superstars in the world.

    Reba McEntire grew up in an incredibly close-knit family
    Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    Reba McEntire and her family are very close. She told Southern Living that she grew up in a small town in Oklahoma with only 18 people in her graduating class. She also had a lot of family nearby. McEntire described her small town as “a family community” where “you didn’t get away with much if anything.”

    McEntire’s family helps her stay grounded. Even though she’s a famous country music star, her siblings treat her no differently than they treat each other, and, when she goes home, she’s just like everybody else. She even joins in and helps do chores when the family gets together. If her ego ever gets too inflated, she can count on her family to bring her back down to earth. “We support each other, and we’ve always been there for each other,” she told Cowboys & Indians. “So that does ground you because you’ve got somebody, they’re going, ‘Hey, get off your high horse. You’re just like us.’”

     

    How Reba McEntire realized she had talent
    Jeff Haynes/Getty Images

     

    Reba McEntire has been singing ever since she was a little girl. When she was in first grade, she landed a solo singing “Away in a Manger” in a Christmas program, and the rest is history. McEntire told CMT News that she realized she was talented because of how her family responded to her voice. Instead of telling her to leave the room or to play outside like they did when she tried to interrupt the family to speak, everyone would stop whatever they were doing to listen to her whenever she started singing.

    Seeing the attention she got for her singing didn’t just help McEntire realize her talent — it was also how she stood out as one of the middle children in the family. “I wasn’t the oldest or the youngest,” she explained. “I wasn’t the only boy, and I was usually in the way. … So when I got good attention from the singing, I knew that was probably where I needed to land.”

     

    Reba McEntire was a competitive barrel racer
    Ethan Miller/Getty Images

     

    Reba McEntire grew up on a ranch and soon enough entered the rodeo circuit as a competitive barrel racer. The rodeo runs in her blood, as her father and grandfather were both world-champion steer ropers. While McEntire loved the sport — and a video uploaded to YouTube of her riding at the rodeo proves her talent — her dad discouraged her from pursuing the sport professionally, saying she just wasn’t good enough.

    “[My parents] were always encouraging us to follow our dreams, but don’t stay too long,” she told CMT News. “And my dream at the time, when I was younger, was to be a world-champion barrel racer.” She continued, “Daddy would just point-blank tell me, ‘Reba, I don’t know why you want to do something you’re not good at.’”

    Her dad told her that she should be singing instead of barrel racing, but it would be a while before the young McEntire took his advice. “I couldn’t practice singing, but I could go practice running barrels,” said McEntire. “That was fun. And keeping a horse in shape — that was fun.”

     

    You may have heard of Reba McEntire’s siblings
    Instagram

     

    Music is something that runs in the McEntire family. Two of Reba McEntire’s siblings are also talented singers. Her brother, Pake, and her sister, Susie, have both had successful music careers, although they aren’t as well known as their famous sister. Before the three of them had successful solo careers, they were creating music together as The Singing McEntires while McEntire was still in high school.

    Being a member of The Singing McEntires gave the singer her first real taste of the spotlight. The trio played at their school and also started performing at clubs on the weekends, with their mother driving them to each appearance. The siblings were often out all night performing. “We played 9 to 1 for our show money,” McEntire told CMT News of those early gigs. “Then if there was enough people wanting to hang around, we’d play from 1 to 3 and just pass the hat. So I’ve been in front of audiences a long time.”

     

    Reba McEntire went to college and nearly followed a different career path
    Chris Weeks/Getty Images

     

    Even though Reba McEntire had gotten a taste of show business life as a member of The Singing McEntires, she still went off to college. According to her bio on her website, the singer graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1976 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in music. McEntire told CMT News that she “loved college,” but her dad ended up pushing her towards a career in music instead of becoming a teacher.

    McEntire said that her dad encouraged her to get a job singing at the National Finals Rodeo while she was still in college. Figuring she could get in to the rodeo free that way, she applied for the job. McEntire landed the gig in 1974 and caught the attention of country legend Red Steagall, who helped her record her first demo.

    McEntire’s teaching degree didn’t go to waste, though. In 2016, McEntire announced (via People) that she would be giving music lessons through MasterClass for those looking to break into the industry.

     

    A devastating tragedy impacted Reba McEntire’s life and career
    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

     

    In 1991, a horrible tragedy shook Reba McEntire’s world when seven of her band members and her tour manager died in a plane crash. McEntire dedicated her next album, For My Broken Heart, to the people who died in the crash, as noted by The Boot. In the liner notes, she wrote, “It seems your current emotional status determines what music you’d like to hear. That’s what happened on the song selection for this album. If for any reason you can relate to the emotion packed inside these songs, I hope it’s a form of healing for all our broken hearts.”

    The songs on the album may all be sad, but they’re what the singer needed to heal from the devastating tragedy. McEntire told The Saturday Evening Post that it was her music that helped pull her through that dark time.

    For My Broken Heart ended up going platinum. McEntire also nabbed an Academy of Country Music award that year for best female vocalist. In a tearful acceptance speech, she dedicated the win to her “eight buddies” who died in the crash.

     

    Reba McEntire helped pave the way for other female country artists
    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

     

    When Reba McEntire’s career was starting out in the 1970s, country music was still dominated by men. McEntire’s success helped pave the way for future female country singers. “Well, it was my responsibility,” she told Parade of blazing a trail for other women. “It was my duty.”

    McEntire said that she sees herself as another female country singer in a long line that includes Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. Just as the singers who came before her opened doors for artists of her generation, she has always viewed it as her task to pave the way for the generations that come after her.

    Growing up on the ranch and on the rodeo circuit taught McEntire that “we are livin’ in a man’s world,” as she told N Focus. She noted, “So that was something I was used to, and in the world of entertainment, I realized that I was going to have to work harder to get ahead, and so I just accepted that and continued to work hard.”

     

    How Reba McEntire really feels about her trademark accent
    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

     

    These days, Reba McEntire’s thick Southern drawl is her trademark. While some people feel pressured to lose their accents when entering show business, it never occurred to McEntire to try to be anything other than who she is. “I like my accent,” she told Southern Living. “It’s done all right for me.”

    McEntire also encourages others to be true to themselves. In an interview with Cowboys & Indians, she shared the advice she gave to her niece, Garrett, when she moved to California to pursue an acting career. Garrett’s agent told her that she needed to dye her hair blonde and also urged her to lose her “thick Oklahoma accent.”

    McEntire told her niece not to change a thing and to just be herself. “You can’t be cookie-cutter,” she advised. “You’ve got to stand out and be different. A good kind of different.”

     

    Reba McEntire always wanted to be a movie star
    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

     

    While Reba McEntire has established herself as one of the leading stars in country music, she’s also a talented actress. The singer admitted to CMT News that she always had dreams of acting. “I always wanted to be a movie star,” she said.

    McEntire has starred in films like Tremors and The Little Rascals and even had her own self-titled show, Reba, in the 2000s. The redheaded star also appeared on Broadway in the 2001 revival of Annie Get Your Gun, which she told Playbill “was the hardest job I ever had in my life.”

    While most fans know her more for her music than for her acting, that may change in the future. The country sensation told Billboard that she would love the chance to return to TV and perhaps star in more movies. One thing McEntire would particularly love to star in is a reboot of Reba. “We’ve kept working on it and right now, the reruns make it the most popular syndicated show next to M*A*S*H,” she said of the show’s potential return in a 2018 interview with The Saturday Evening Post.

     

    Reba McEntire went through two painful divorces
    Vince Bucci/Getty Images

     

    Reba McEntire has been married and divorced twice, and she relied on music to help her through both of her divorces. According to Taste of Country, McEntire’s 1987 album, The Last One to Know, was nicknamed the “divorce album” by the singer, who poured her emotions about separating from Charlie Battles after 11 years into the album. The record went platinum.

    In 2015, the outlet announced that McEntire’s divorce from her second husband, Narvel Blackstock, had been finalized. McEntire said that, again, music helped her heal from the heartbreak. “The world doesn’t stop for a broken heart, and that’s the truth,” she told The Saturday Evening Post. “You’ve got to go on, but you’ve got to express your pain, and the way I did it was through my music.”

    McEntire explained that most of the songs she chooses are sad songs for a good reason. “It’s relatable,” she said. “When a person is sad, they don’t listen to happy songs. I guess misery loves company.”

     

    Reba McEntire branched into a new genre of music
    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

     

    Recording her gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope, helped Reba McEntire through her second divorce. Pouring her emotions into her music paid off, as  the album won a Grammy Award for best roots gospel album in 2017. Making the award even more significant was that the album was McEntire’s first gospel album ever.

    McEntire drew on her childhood to record the album, telling Cowboys & Indians that she chose some of her favorite gospel songs from her youth for the album. McEntire even got her family involved, with her mother and her sisters Susie and Alice singing along with her on the record, and the entire process proved to be healing for McEntire.

    While Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope was McEntire’s first gospel album, it probably won’t be her last. She said that she has enough material for several more gospel albums.

     

    This is the silliest thing Reba McEntire ever did
    Jason Kempin/Getty Images

     

    While it’s evident that Reba McEntire is pretty down to earth and has a good sense of humor, one thing that her fans may not know is that she’s also a bit of a practical joker. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she admitted that she’s done “so many silly things,” when asked what the “silliest thing” she’d ever done was.

    The silliest involved a joke she played on a friend, Vanessa Foster. McEntire revealed that she and Foster were in a bathroom together one night when she had the urge to play a prank on her pal. McEntire stood up on the toilet seat in her stall, reached over the wall, and poured salt onto Vanessa’s hair. “That’s real hard to get out!” she said.

    When asked why she happened to have the salt shaker with her in the bathroom, McEntire’s practical joker side really came out. “Why, I went into the stall with it, with the purpose of pouring it into Vanessa’s hair,” she answered.

     

    Reba McEntire isn’t afraid to talk about her faith
    Amy Sussman/Getty Images

     

    Reba McEntire is deeply religious, and she isn’t afraid to let the world know it. While she talks (and sings) about her faith a lot, McEntire isn’t trying to preach to anyone — she just wants people to see how happy her faith makes her and hopefully inspire them through her example. “It’s a relief to me that God is always taking care of me, always helped me through the hard times, and is always there with me in the great times,” she told The Saturday Evening Post.

    In an interview with CMT News, McEntire said that her faith had “helped [her] tremendously” over the years and that it is something she has always depended on. The country star is also a big believer in the power of prayer, revealing that she has relied on her faith to guide her career. “On a large business decision, I always talk to God about it,” she said.

     

    This is Reba McEntire’s personal style
    David Becker/Getty Images

     

    Reba McEntire may be one of the biggest names in the music industry, but she’s not letting that change who she is. At her core, she’s still a simple country girl, and her personal fashion style reflects that. For McEntire, style is all about comfort. She told Cowboys & Indians that she can typically be found wearing boots, tennis shoes, or sneakers, blue jeans, and “a comfortable top.” While McEntire does have to dress up sometimes to go to awards shows or perform — and usually makes best-dressed lists — she doesn’t like to wear heels for very long “because they kill [her] feet.”

    McEntire’s personal style really shines through in her Reba by Justin boot line. “I wanted high-end,” she explained of starting the line. “I wanted great quality. I wanted comfort.” She also pushed to add tennis shoes and sneakers to the line to give women something more comfortable to change into when they take off their boots.

     

    Reba McEntire misses this kind of country music
    Jason Kempin/Getty Images

     

    While a lot of modern country music has a crossover feel to it, Reba McEntire prefers the kind of country music she grew up with. In 2019, she released the album Stronger Than the Truth, calling it “a stone-cold country album” filled with the kind of music she grew up singing with The Singing McEntires. The group performed at a lot of venues where people wanted to hear dance music. “And so that’s what we have on this album,” McEntire told The Boot.

    McEntire isn’t a fan of what she calls the “bro trend” in country music, which she explained to PBS NewsHour is usually about the “good ol’ boys” getting together and going fishing. Instead of “bro music,” McEntire would like country to return to its roots. “The country of Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Mel Tillis,” she said. “I miss that kind of country.” We wonder what McEntire thinks of popular country singers like Miranda Lambert, Faith Hill, and Kacey Musgraves!

  • Reba McEntire Reveals Her True Feelings On Being Called An “Icon”

    Reba McEntire Reveals Her True Feelings On Being Called An “Icon”

    Reba McEntire Reveals Her True Feelings On Being Called An “Icon”

    Reba said she thinks of the likes of Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell and more when she hears the word “icon” or “legend.”

    Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of TODAY

    Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of TODAY

    It’s not uncommon for celebrity icons to be recognizable on a first-name basis. After all, they are larger than life. Take, for example, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Dolly, and Shania. Inarguably, all of them can drop the last name, and people would still know who they are.

    And then there is Reba.

    People from all over the country know that when someone mentions the name “Reba,” you can bet they are talking about the 68-year-old legendary singer herself, Reba McEntire. Despite that, McEntire still goes by her first and last name. And perhaps it’s because she admittedly says that being labeled an “icon” still makes her feel uncomfortable.

    Why Does Reba McEntire Feel Uncomfortable Being Called An “Icon” Or “Legend”?

    Indeed, Reba McEntire has earned icon status, building an impressive resume, which includes 24 hit songs like “Fancy,” “I’m a Survivor,” “Is There Life Out There,” and countless others, becoming a successful actress alongside being a music mogul, winning numerous awards and accolades, and paving the way for so many up-and-coming female artists. But regardless of all of that, she seems to think she doesn’t fit the criteria of being referenced as an “icon,” “legend,” or a “trailblazer.”

    “When I hear those words, I think Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell, Anne Murray, Minnie Pearl, all of those women are the pioneers, the icons, the legends that I got to learn from,” McEntire reasoned during a recent interview with the host of NBC News’ Sunday TODAY, Willie Geist.

    YouTube video

    Dolly Parton Previously Shared That She Thinks Of Herself As An “Eyesore” Not An “Icon”

    McEntire isn’t alone in processing the hard-to-reach level of stardom, though. Even Dolly Parton has previously shared her reaction to earning an “icon” status.

    “Well, I always think of myself more as an eyesore than an icon,” she joked while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “Not actually. I used to think when I was young, if I made like I’d hoped I would, how people would remember me when I was older. Now I’m older, and it’s really nice to look back and think that I might have done something that’s helped inspire.”

    Although she appreciates the well-earned recognition, Reba McEntire says receiving such a label comes with a lot of responsibility, especially, because she is being held up on a pedestal by older and younger generations.

    “It’s a cool feeling. It’s a huge responsibility because, in my span that I get to do this, I wanna find ways of doing it better to make it easier on them,” McEntire says of the artists coming after her. “Then it’s their responsibility to move forward, find a better way of doing something for the people coming up next behind them.”

    Reba McEntire; Photo ProvidedReba McEntire; Photo Provided

    Reba Recently Served As A Mega Mentor On The Voice

    McEntire, who considers herself a small-town girl at heart, has certainly put her celebrity to good use. Most recently, she has taken to Season 23 of The Voice as a Mega Mentor, offering her wisdom, advice, and support to inspiring music artists on the show, fighting for the crowning title.

    Releasing A New Book, Not That Fancy

    McEntire, who is the author of two books – Reba: My Story and Reba McEntire: Comfort From A Country Quilt – also recently announced a new lifestyle book called, Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots. To coincide with the book’s release, she will release an album entitled NOT THAT FANCY.

    “I’m so excited to announce the release of my new book, #NotThatFancy, and the companion album,” McEntire, last week, captioned a photo of the book cover on Instagram. “Tune into @talkshoplivetoday at 7 ET / 6 CT PM, where I’ll be talking about it with my buddy @garthbrooks. RSVP and pre-order your autographed copy at the link in bio!”

    “The Book Is A Fun Book”

    In the book, McEntire said, “We talk about family, friends, and how to throw a party that’s not that fancy. That’s my kind of party. You know, I don’t really care if everything matches. Sometimes, I ask to use real plates instead of paper plates. But I love solo cups. I think that’s the main message of the book. Don’t not have a party because everything doesn’t look right or you didn’t have time to get this ready. Just go have fun.”

    “The book is a fun book,” she told Carson Daly on TODAY of the 288-page offering, which will include plenty of recipes, lifestyle tips, new stories, and photographs from McEntire’s career and personal life. “You know, sometimes you have books, autobiographies, that are really diving into stuff. This is just a fun book. You can look through it. You can read it front to back. It’s got recipes, stories, and new pictures people haven’t seen before. Talking about my family, my faith, my friends, and then recipes that are from the restaurant in Atoka, OK, called Reba’s Place.”

    Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of TODAYReba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of TODAY

    Garth Brooks Wrote The Book’s Foreword

    In addition, Garth Brooks has written the foreword for the book, sharing a loving message about McEntire’s work ethic.

    Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots will be available as a hardcover, digital book, and audiobook at Barnes & Noble, Target, and many other book retailers.

    The book is available for pre-order now and will be released on Tuesday (October 10). The accompanying album, NOT THAT FANCY, features remastered tracks plus four new songs and will be available on Friday (October 6).

  • Asking for $3 million for Henry Cavill’s mustache in Justice League is an impossible task

    Asking for $3 million for Henry Cavill’s mustache in Justice League is an impossible task

    While DC needed clean-shaven Henry Cavill, ‘Mission: Impossible’ demanded $3M in reparation.

    With or without a mustache, it’s for certain that no one can beat Henry Cavill’s good looks. But while fans drooled over the actor with his whiskers on, in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Cavill surprisingly faced some issues because of it. Nobody could have predicted that the actor’s mustache would cause so much drama.

    Henry Cavill as August Walker in Mission: Impossible – Fallout

    According to Mission: Impossible – Fallout director Christopher McQuarrie, while shooting Tom Cruise’s movie, Henry Cavill was simultaneously going through Justice League reshoots.

    This apparently caused some issues surrounding Cavill’s whiskers since the actor was supposed to be clean-shaven for his role as Superman. Hang on to learn about the drama that caused McQuarrie to ask $3M from the DC film’s producer.

    The Drama Surrounding Henry Cavill’s Mustache

    Only in Hollywood can a mustache cause so much controversy. Recapping the bizarre story surrounding Henry Cavill’s facial hair in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, director Christopher McQuarrie revealed how the actor’s follicular decision impacted two major blockbusters. According to an interview on Empire Podcast, McQuarrie opened up about Cavill’s “mustache-gate”.

    According to the filmmaker, when Henry Cavill grew out his mustache for Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible franchise, Warner Bros. unfortunately needed Cavill to squeeze in for summer reshoots for Justice League. Since Superman has always featured as a clean-shaven superhero, DC needed Cavill to get rid of his facial hair. But while Paramount allowed the actor to hop between productions, they strictly forbade him to shave.

    Henry Cavill as Superman in a still from Justice League

    Since Justice League needed a clean-shaven Henry Cavill and Mission: Impossible asked for a mustache, the actor, unfortunately, got tangled in the drama because of his follicular decision.

    Watching the actor getting squashed between two blockbusters for his mustache, Christopher McQuarrie admitted initially permitting Cavill to shave, even though it would have held up Mission: Impossible – Fallout’s production for weeks.

    Christopher McQuarrie Asked $3M From Chuck Roven

    Speaking with Empire Podcast, Christopher McQuarrie narrated the whole situation that messed things up and caused drama for Justice League, Mission: Impossible, as well as Henry Cavill.

    Addressing the fact that he was called out on X for majorly causing the drama as he decided not to use a stick-on ‘tache, McQuarrie explained his reasons.

    “Everybody out there who’s been taking shots at me on Twitter for however long you have, a fake mustache in close-up on a 75mm lens is never going to look like anything but a fake mustache in close-up with a 75mm lens.

    And if you have any doubts about that, just go back and watch Tom Cruise in Rogue Nation with his beard and mustache. It’s passable for a scene, not for a film.”

    Cavill in 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout

    Admitting how he originally granted permission to Henry Cavill to shave for Justice League, the director recalled getting calls from the DC film’s producer Chuck Roven.

    “When the reshoots for Justice League came up [Justice League producer] Chuck Roven called me,” McQuarrie stated. Discussing how Roven begged for help, the Fallout director stated that he began talking to everyone on set to manage the issue.

    “So, we offered the following compromise – Jake Myers calculated the amount of money that it would take to replace the number of shots. And essentially what Jake was able to project is about a $3 million visual effects budget.

    So, I don’t know how much Henry was in Justice League… but I can tell you how much it would have cost for Mission: Impossible to digitally add Henry Cavill’s mustache – and we said yes.”

    Henry Cavill and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible- Fallout

    “We said, here’s what we’ll do – give us the $3 million and we’ll shut down, and that’ll give Henry Cavill the time to grow his mustache back. And we’ll just shut our movie down.”

    Unfortunately, although this compromise might have worked for both blockbusters, Paramount Pictures intervened and refused to shut down, even for $3M. As a result, Warner Bros. was left with no other choice but to remove Henry Cavill’s mustache digitally – a decision that partially derailed the film.

  • Reba McEntire Tributes Bandmates K:i:l:l:e:d in Plane Crash: ‘Rest in Peace, My Friends’

    Reba McEntire Tributes Bandmates K:i:l:l:e:d in Plane Crash: ‘Rest in Peace, My Friends’

    Reba McEntire marked the 33rd anniversary of a devastating plane crash that killed seven of her band members and her tour manager in a post to social media on Saturday (March 16), writing, “Rest in peace, my friends.”

    Reba McEntire Tributes Bandmates Killed in Plane Crash

    The country icon lost her band members and her tour manager in a plane crash that took place after she and her band performed a private show in San Diego on March 16, 1991.

    Two planes were waiting at Brown Field Municipal Airport to transport the musicians to Fort Wayne, Ind., to perform their next scheduled concert. The band and tour manager flew on ahead while McEntire, her then-husband and manager Narvel Blackstock and her stylist, Sandi Spika, opted to stay the night in San Diego.

    The second plane proceeded to its destination without incident, but the first plane carrying McEntire’s entourage went down just ten miles east of the airport, shortly after takeoff.

    Reba McEntire Honors Late Band Members Who Died in a Tragic Plane Crash 28  Years Ago

    “The tip of the wing of the airplane hit a rock on the side of Otay Mountain, and it killed everyone on the plane,” McEntire recounted in a tearful interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2012.

    “When we were notified, Narvel went and met with our pilot, and he told us what had happened. And Narvel came back to the hotel room where I was — it was two or three o’clock in the morning — and he said one of the planes had crashed, and I said, ‘Are they OK?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’ I said, ‘But you’re not sure?’ He said, ‘I don’t think so.’”

    Fellow country stars including Vince Gill and Dolly Parton offered McEntire the use of their own bands to finish her tour, but she chose not to continue. She dedicated her next album, For My Broken Heart, to the band members she had lost, and the project reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, going on to sell four million copies.

    Remembering the Tragedy That Killed Reba McEntire's Band Members

    “33 years today since Heaven gained some great angels,” McEntire wrote on Twitter on Saturday, adding, “Rest in peace, my friends.”

    The country legend listed the names of her departed friends and bandmates in her post, adding a lyric from the title song of the album she dedicated to them: “I guess the world ain’t gonna stop … for my broken heart.”

    33 years today since Heaven gained some great angels. Rest in peace, my friends. pic.twitter.com/CQoaCkQXuT

    — Reba McEntire (@reba) March 16, 2024

  • Reba McEntire Sets Record Straight About Reportedly Calling Taylor Swift ‘an Entitled Little Brat’

    Reba McEntire Sets Record Straight About Reportedly Calling Taylor Swift ‘an Entitled Little Brat’

    Reba McEntire Sets Record Straight About Reportedly Calling Taylor Swift ‘an Entitled Little Brat’

    The ‘Queen of Country’ let the truth be known.

    Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift

    Reba McEntire has corrected a report alleging that she called Taylor Swift “an entitled little brat” following her Feb. 11 performance at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

    McEntire, 68, performed the national anthem at Allegiant Stadium before the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers battled it out in Super Bowl LVIII. Swift was also at the game to cheer on her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

    Though Swift, 34, eventually made it onto the field to congratulate Kelce after the Chiefs defeated the 49ers in overtime, she was with friends in her box when McEntire performed.

    On Saturday, March 16, McEntire posted a screenshot via Instagram of an America Loves Liberty Facebook post. The update shared McEntire’s reported comments about Swift’s behavior before the Super Bowl game.

    The post, which spelled McEntire’s surname incorrectly, alleged that McEntire was “disappointed” to see Swift “laughing and drinking and making a mockery of the event” as McEntire performed the national anthem. It then quoted McEntire as saying, “I let her have it afterward. She’s an entitled little brat.”

    In the caption accompanying her Instagram post, McEntire denied ever making the comments. “Please don’t believe everything you see on the Internet,” she wrote. “I did not say this.”

    The country music star’s post also praised Swift for her contributions to the music world. “Taylor is a wonderful artist, strong role model and has done so much good for so many people and the music industry,” McEntire said.

    McEntire’s fans overwhelmingly supported her in the comments section of her post, with some saying that the alleged quote “doesn’t even sound like something you would say.”

    Others spoke up to say they had seen the NFL broadcast pan over to Swift during McEntire’s performance, and that Swift had been “standing and respectfully holding her hand over her heart.”

    The NFL announced in mid-January that McEntire would make her Super Bowl debut as she joined this year’s list of pre-game performers, which also included Post Malone and Andra Day. She later revealed during an interview with CBS Mornings that her boyfriend, Rex Linn, excitedly encouraged her to accept the invitation.

  • Could YOU keep up with Jason Statham: Here’s what happened when we tried to copy the action man’s gruelling stunts from The Beekeeper

    Could YOU keep up with Jason Statham: Here’s what happened when we tried to copy the action man’s gruelling stunts from The Beekeeper

    He’s the ultimate action-fighting hunk who has had his fair share of hair-raising combat scenes.

    But as Jason Statham releases another action-packed extravaganza, The Beekeeper – his stunt team and fellow fight actor, Taylor James (Lazarus), gave MailOnline an insight into what it takes to be a supreme action hero.

    For us mere mortals, mastering the art of minimal contact combat is challenging enough, never mind perfecting Jason’s smouldering charisma alongside it.

    Pulling of a convincing fight scene is considered a skill in itself as it takes a lot more than just a bit of acting and an abandoned warehouse.

    Not only must Jason and his team achieve peak physical condition to convince TV bosses that he is actually strong enough to break someone’s jaw with his palm, but they must also be in tune to the exact second to block, duck and jab.

    Could YOU keep up with Jason Statham: Here's what happened when we tried to copy the action man's gruelling stunts from The Beekeeper with a member of his stunt team (left)
    +11

    Could YOU keep up with Jason Statham: Here’s what happened when we tried to copy the action man’s gruelling stunts from The Beekeeper with a member of his stunt team (left)

    Taylor James shares behind-the-scenes stories of The Beekeeper

    To uncover the magic behind the scenes, MailOnline went to London's famous Studio 64 to see how Jason's stunt choreographer and fellow actors perfect those crucial nail-biting fight sequences that keep film fans coming back for more
    +11

    To uncover the magic behind the scenes, MailOnline went to London’s famous Studio 64 to see how Jason’s stunt choreographer and fellow actors perfect those crucial nail-biting fight sequences that keep film fans coming back for more

    So how do they do it?

    To uncover the magic behind the scenes, MailOnline went to London’s famous Studio 64 to see how Jason’s stunt choreographer and fellow actors perfect those crucial nail-biting fight sequences that keep film fans coming back for more.

    As someone who barely exercises and considers lifting a glass of wine on the weekend as cardio, I was nervous, to say the least.

    Shaking hands with the 6ft3in pack of muscles that is Taylor, I almost instantly thought I had made a big mistake by agreeing to the stunt class.

    Sitting in a group with nine other nervous hopefuls, Taylor and award-winning stunt performer Marvin Campbell – known for Inception, Kingsman and Casino Royale- start battling it out in the middle of the studio.

    Kicking it off with a quick jab to the throat, a blistering strike to the knee and a death stare into my soul, I knew I was in for a challenging morning.

    In awe of watching the most realistic-looking fake fight of my life, I was eager to know what move I would be taught.

    It turns out I was learning the whole thing.

    In disbelief, I turned to the mirror and started padding up with as much protective gear as possible.

    As someone who barely exercises and considers lifting a glass of wine on the weekend as cardio, I was nervous, to say the least
    +11

    As someone who barely exercises and considers lifting a glass of wine on the weekend as cardio, I was nervous, to say the least

    Shaking hands with the 6ft3in pack of muscles that is Taylor, I almost instantly thought I had made a big mistake by agreeing to the stunt class
    +11

    Shaking hands with the 6ft3in pack of muscles that is Taylor, I almost instantly thought I had made a big mistake by agreeing to the stunt class

    Sitting in a group with nine other nervous hopefuls, Taylor and award-winning stunt performer Marvin Campbell (second from left) - known for Inception, Kingsman and Casino Royale- start battling it out in the middle of the studio
    +11

    Sitting in a group with nine other nervous hopefuls, Taylor and award-winning stunt performer Marvin Campbell (second from left) – known for Inception, Kingsman and Casino Royale- start battling it out in the middle of the studio

    Jason Statham star in the new trailer for ‘The Beekeeper’

    Kicking it off with a quick jab to the throat, a blistering strike to the knee and a death stare into my soul, I knew I was in for a challenging morning
    +11

    Kicking it off with a quick jab to the throat, a blistering strike to the knee and a death stare into my soul, I knew I was in for a challenging morning

    When I was told  I was going to get a punch to the face, and my defence was grabbing his arm, swinging him around my body before throwing him to the floor and kicking his knee to the ground, I genuinely started to laugh
    +11

    When I was told  I was going to get a punch to the face, and my defence was grabbing his arm, swinging him around my body before throwing him to the floor and kicking his knee to the ground, I genuinely started to laugh

    I even opted for three T-shirts – I was taking no chances.

    Marvin split the room into three groups, each with a woman playing Jason and two men acting as the bad guys.

    Just like Jason, I was given 30 minutes to practice one-on-one with Marvin and my team before I had to perform in front of a room full of actors, fitness enthusiasts, and stuntmen.

    The pressure was on.

    Up against a knife-wielding attacker and his accomplice, I start my big fight scene with a classic jab to the throat after some seemingly straightforward watch and repeat exercises.

    Shaped like a thick ‘L’, I launched my palm at the innocent amateur actor who, after knowing me for five minutes, needed to sync and move to the exact length of my arm to avoid getting throttled in the throat.

    Initially riddled with nerves, I quickly became comfortable with throwing punches at my fellow guests as I was squeezing a hypothetical knife out of one hand and backhanding him in the face in a matter of minutes.

    So when Marvin told me that I was going to get a punch to the face, and my defence was grabbing his arm, swinging him around my body before throwing him to the floor and kicking his knee to the ground, I genuinely started to laugh.

    I am not a petite person by any means, but swinging a fully grown man to the floor using just his body weight against him wasn’t something I was confident in doing after my five-minute tutorial.

    It took seven rounds of grabbing this poor man, who also had no idea what he was signing himself up for, by the arm and throwing him around the studio.

    And hats off to my fighting partner. He nailed his landing every time, and his explosive reactions got bigger and better with every run-through.

    Feeling like the ultimate Bond girl but resembling something more of WWE’s Big Show, I was starting to think I was getting the hang of minimal-contact violence.

    But in typical showbiz fashion, there is no good scene without a good album of bloopers.

    Tasked with kicking my opponent when he was down before going into a Karate Kid-style kick to the stomach of my other enemy, my minimal-contact sporting hour was quickly put to a stop. Channelling my inner Transporter in the heat of the moment, I accidentally kicked my fellow amateur in the hands as he tried to block my kick to the stomach
    +11

    Tasked with kicking my opponent when he was down before going into a Karate Kid-style kick to the stomach of my other enemy, my minimal-contact sporting hour was quickly put to a stop. Channelling my inner Transporter in the heat of the moment, I accidentally kicked my fellow amateur in the hands as he tried to block my kick to the stomach

    What takes Marvin, Jason and their team 30 minutes to perfect, took me 45 minutes, endless practice rounds and I still couldn't pull out an Oscar-worthy performance
    +11

    What takes Marvin, Jason and their team 30 minutes to perfect, took me 45 minutes, endless practice rounds and I still couldn’t pull out an Oscar-worthy performance

    Tasked with kicking my opponent when he was down before going into a Karate Kid-style kick to the stomach of my other enemy, my minimal-contact sporting hour was quickly put to a stop.

    Channelling my inner Transporter in the heat of the moment, I accidentally kicked my fellow amateur in the hands as he tried to block my kick to the stomach.

    They were the longest three seconds of my fighting career.

    Wide-eyed and not bushy-tailed at 7am, I glared at my partner and quickly mouthed ‘sorry’ as I stopped the run-through.

    Like a true champion, he played it off like he didn’t just get kicked in a move that is supposed to be non-contact.

    I couldn’t tell if I was impressed more by Taylor’s enthusiasm to a bunch of uncoordinated members of the public or at the fact that this guy has just been kicked for real and pretended nothing happened.

    Trying to look past the almost awkward ordeal, I was onto the final sequence of my acting debut.

    With a quick duck, an upper hook to the chin, and a finishing backhand, I was apparently set with all the tools I needed to pull off the best fight performance of my life.

    My time was upon me to perform my big break and after forgetting to duck in my final scene and almost kicking my poor partner, once again, I was hit the reality that I would not be making it as the next Kate Nauta.

    As a child, I was convinced I could have been an actress, but I have been officially humbled.

    What takes Marvin, Jason and their team 30 minutes to perfect, took me 45 minutes, endless practice rounds and I still couldn’t pull out an Oscar-worthy performance.

    Jason, I will sadly not be your next partner in crime because I am confident Marvin  would not let me an inch near a fistfight in a warehouse; never mind let me drive a car of a bridge.

    Sky Cinema’s The Beekeeper was released in cinemas March 8.

    It sees Adam Clay, played by Jason, as a beekeeper, and someone very important to him is scammed and driven to harm.

    But what the power-hungry scammers don’t know is that Adam is an agent in a classified program called Beekeepers, and they underestimate how much of a threat he is.

    Adam sets out on a quest for vengeance, where he hunts and kills those responsible for the incident.

  • Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori puts on a daring display in extremely short minidress as she steps out with her mother in Los Angeles

    Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori puts on a daring display in extremely short minidress as she steps out with her mother in Los Angeles

    Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori stunned in a daring minidress while out with her mother, Alexandra Censori, on Saturday. 

    The 29-year-old model wore a baby pink, satin minidress with an extremely short hemline, plunging neckline and a Y-back, crystal-lined halter strap.

    She paired the revealing ensemble with sheer, knee-high socks and a pair of cream, slingback kitten heels.

    The architect — who has reportedly been ‘forced’ by the rapper, 46, to wear increasingly risqué outfits for a shocking reason — pinned back her raven black bob into a polished updo.

    During their outing, she was spotted carrying her cell phone and car keys in her hand as she exited a building and headed towards her car.

    Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori wore a daring minidress while out with her mother Alexandra Censori on Saturday
    +17

    Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori wore a daring minidress while out with her mother Alexandra Censori on Saturday

    For their mother-daughter bonding day, the 29-year-old model wore a baby pink, satin minidress with an extremely short hemline
    +17

    For their mother-daughter bonding day, the 29-year-old model wore a baby pink, satin minidress with an extremely short hemline

    At one point, she was seen interacting with a store employee
    +17

    When she leaned forward to grab the door, her super short dress nearly revealed her entire backside
    +17

    At one point, she was seen interacting with a store employee, and when she leaned forward to grab the door, her super short dress nearly revealed her entire backside

    She also sported various cartilage hoop earrings and shiny silver bands, including a massive diamond on her ring finger.

    She looked radiant with a monochromatic pink makeup look to match her outfit.

    Censori sported full, fluttering eyelashes, rosy blush and a glossy pink lip.

    At one point, Censori was seen adjusting and checking out her sideboob-baring outfit in the reflection of a store window.

    She was also seen interacting with a store employee, and when she leaned forward to grab the door, her super short dress nearly revealed her entire backside.

    She was later seen talking on her phone as she walked toward her car.

    At her side, her mother wore an all-black outfit featuring a gown with an asymmetrical hemline and chic pumps.

    She carried a taupe-colored handbag and was seen sporting a pair of oversize sunglasses with gold hardware.

    Bianca Censori shows off her figure in a daring ultra-mini dress

    Her dress had a very short hemline as well as a plunging neckline
    +17

    The garment also featured a dazzling, crystal-lined halter strap and an open back
    +17

    Her risqué dress also featured a plunging neckline and a Y-back, crystal-lined halter strap

    At one point, Censori was seen adjusting and checking out her sideboob-baring outfit in the reflection of a store window.
    +17

    At one point, Censori was seen adjusting and checking out her sideboob-baring outfit in the reflection of a store window.

    She paired the revealing ensemble with sheer, knee-high socks and a pair of cream, slingback kitten heels
    +17

    The architect ¿ who has reportedly been 'forced' by the rapper, 46, to wear increasingly risqué outfits for a shocking reason ¿ pinned back her raven black bob into a polished updo
    +17

    She paired the revealing ensemble with sheer, knee-high socks and a pair of cream, slingback kitten heels. The architect — who has reportedly been ‘forced’ by the rapper, 46, to wear increasingly risqué outfits for a shocking reason — pinned back her raven black bob into a polished updo

    She was also seen fixing her hair as her daughter checked out her outfit in the reflection of the window.

    The day before, the mother-daughter duo were seen exiting a private jet in Los Angeles with West, Ty Dolla $ign and their entourage after her husband performed at Rolling Loud.

    Censori left little to the imagination in a completely sheer G-string leotard that almost completely exposed her bottom.

    Despite rumors that her parents have been ‘mortified’ by her raunchy outfits, Alexandra did not seem bothered by her daughter’s daring leotard.

    The sheer garment, which she wore with tights, revealed the beauty’s breasts and voluptuous derriere.

    Her mother opted for more conservative attire by wearing a black turtleneck dress that cut off just below her knee.

    Kanye West and Bianca Censori in crowd chanting ‘f*** Adidas’

    She was later seen talking on her phone as she walked toward her car
    +17

    She did not wear a purse, opting to carrying her cell phone and car keys in her hand
    +17

    She was later seen talking on her phone as she walked toward her car. She did not wear a purse, opting to carrying her cell phone and car keys in her hand

    She also sported various cartilage hoop earrings and shiny silver bands
    +17

    She also flashed the massive diamond on her ring finger
    +17

    She also sported various cartilage hoop earrings and shiny silver bands, including a massive diamond on her ring finger

    The day before, the mother-daughter duo were seen exiting a private jet in Los Angeles with West, Ty Dolla $ign and their entourage after her husband performed at Rolling Loud; seen in February 2024
    +17

    The day before, the mother-daughter duo were seen exiting a private jet in Los Angeles with West, Ty Dolla $ign and their entourage after her husband performed at Rolling Loud; seen in February 2024

    Kanye West enters listening party with Bianca in cheeky display

    The motley crew seemed to be enjoying themselves on the tarmac after exiting the flight, with her mother happily posing for photos with her daughter and son-in-law.

    They were previously at Rolling Loud where West and Ty Dolla $ign performed and the former’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, was also present.

    Censori and Kardashian previously crossed paths at West’s Vultures 2 listening party earlier this month.

    Since the couple privately wed in December 2022, Censori’s friends and family have expressed their fears that she has changed.

    Some of those closest to her going as far as staging an intervention over  alleged ‘controlling ways.’

  • Rapper Cardi B twerks in n/u/d/e sheer leotard and debuts blue locks at New Orleans concert

    Rapper Cardi B twerks in n/u/d/e sheer leotard and debuts blue locks at New Orleans concert

    Rising rap star Cardi B debuted her new blue weave while clad in a sheer revealing leotard for her Swisher Sweets-sponsored concert in New Orleans on Friday night.

    The 25-year-old hip-hop stunner (born Belcalis Almanzar) twerked up a storm while flanked by two female dancers onstage Louisiana’s Joy Theater.

    The Bronx-born Latina flaunted the large peacock tattoo on her thigh in a nude embellished onesie featuring an ornate choker selected by stylist Kollin Carter.

    Scroll down for video

    Bayou: Rising rap star Cardi B debuted her new blue weave while clad in a sheer revealing leotard for her Swisher Sweets-sponsored concert in New Orleans on Friday night
    +17

    Bayou: Rising rap star Cardi B debuted her new blue weave while clad in a sheer revealing leotard for her Swisher Sweets-sponsored concert in New Orleans on Friday night

    Shake it! The 25-year-old hip-hop stunner (born Belcalis Almanzar) twerked up a storm while flanked by two female dancers onstage Louisiana's Joy Theater
    +17

    Shake it! The 25-year-old hip-hop stunner (born Belcalis Almanzar) twerked up a storm while flanked by two female dancers onstage Louisiana’s Joy Theater

    Cardi B put on quite a sideshow in the see-through creation, which also gave audience members an eyeful of her suspiciously-round derrière.

    Atlanta hairstylist Arrogant Tae coiffed the Bartier Cardi hitmaker’s ‘Velvet Blue Mink Full Lace Unit’ locks by Fabulous Hair Boutique.

    The ex-stripper opted to not wear the 8-carat, pear-shaped diamond engagement ring she received from her fiancé of two months, Offset of the Atlanta rap trio Migos.

    This month, Cardi B broke records as the first female rapper to have three songs consecutively charting on Billboard’s top 10 singles.

    If you got it! Cardi B lip syncs to own song & shows new hair

    On the mic: The Bronx-born Latina flaunted the large peacock tattoo on her thigh in a nude embellished onesie featuring an ornate choker selected by stylist Kollin Carter
    +17

    On the mic: The Bronx-born Latina flaunted the large peacock tattoo on her thigh in a nude embellished onesie featuring an ornate choker selected by stylist Kollin Carter
    +17

    On the mic: The Bronx-born Latina flaunted the large peacock tattoo on her thigh in a nude embellished onesie featuring an ornate choker selected by stylist Kollin Carter

    Back it up: Cardi B put on quite a sideshow in the see-through creation, which also gave audience members an eyeful of her suspiciously-round derrière
    +17

    Back it up: Cardi B put on quite a sideshow in the see-through creation, which also gave audience members an eyeful of her suspiciously-round derrière

    New hair: Atlanta hairstylist Arrogant Tae coiffed the Bartier Cardi hitmaker's 'Velvet Blue Mink Full Lace Unit' locks by Fabulous Hair Boutique
    +17

    New hair: Atlanta hairstylist Arrogant Tae coiffed the Bartier Cardi hitmaker’s ‘Velvet Blue Mink Full Lace Unit’ locks by Fabulous Hair Boutique

    Barehanded: The ex-stripper opted to not wear the 8-carat, pear-shaped diamond engagement ring she received from her fiancé, Offset of the Atlanta rap trio Migos
    +17

    Barehanded: The ex-stripper opted to not wear the 8-carat, pear-shaped diamond engagement ring she received from her fiancé, Offset of the Atlanta rap trio Migos

    Trailblazer: This month, Cardi B broke records as the first female rapper to have three songs consecutively charting on Billboard's top 10 singles
    +17

    Trailblazer: This month, Cardi B broke records as the first female rapper to have three songs consecutively charting on Billboard's top 10 singles
    +17

    Trailblazer: This month, Cardi B broke records as the first female rapper to have three songs consecutively charting on Billboard’s top 10 singles

    Three times platinum! The former Bloods gangbanger's song Bodak Yellow topped the charts for three weeks, which made her the first female rapper to do so since 1998
    +17

    Three times platinum! The former Bloods gangbanger’s song Bodak Yellow topped the charts for three weeks, which made her the first female rapper to do so since 1998

    BTS: The Love & Hip Hop: New York alum shared a backstage video of her warming up with her captive, combined 20.7M social media followers
    +17

    BTS: The Love & Hip Hop: New York alum shared a backstage video of her warming up with her captive, combined 20.7M social media followers

    The former Bloods gangbanger’s song Bodak Yellow topped the charts for three weeks, which made her the first female rapper to do so since Lauryn Hill’s Doo Wop (That Thing) debuted in 1998.

    The Love & Hip Hop: New York alum shared a backstage video of her warming up with her captive, combined 20.7M social media followers.

    On January 28, Cardi B will compete for her first two trophies – rap song and rap performance – at the Grammy Awards taking place at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden.

    ‘I am nervous,’ she admitted on the December 20 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

    Who will win? On January 28, Cardi B will compete for her first two trophies - rap song and rap performance - at the Grammy Awards taking place at Manhattan's Madison Square Garden
    +17

    Who will win? On January 28, Cardi B will compete for her first two trophies – rap song and rap performance – at the Grammy Awards taking place at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden

    She admitted on the Tonight Show: 'I am nervous. But you want to know something? I already feel like a winner, you know what I'm saying? Because I never thought me!'
    +17

    She admitted on the Tonight Show: ‘I am nervous. But you want to know something? I already feel like a winner, you know what I’m saying? Because I never thought me!’

    ‘But you want to know something? I already feel like a winner, you know what I’m saying? Because I never thought me! I already won, what’s good? I’m so proud of myself! It does feel good because I really worked my a** off for it. It’s just like, ah, it finally pays off. I have been proven!’

    Expect the Being Mary Jane guest star to storm the red carpet with her 26-year-old husband-to-be (born Kiari Cephus), whom she only met in February.

    Cardi B will next perform on New Year’s Eve at New York’s Knockdown Center in Queens for the Champagne Celebrity Celebration.

    Cardi B and fiancé Offset pretend to have sex on instagram live

    'We are really workaholics':February marks a year since the Bartier Cardi star first met her 26-year-old husband-to-be (born Kiari Cephus), and their fall 2018 nuptials just got postponed
    +17

    ‘Royalty’: Expect the Being Mary Jane guest star to storm the red carpet with her 26-year-old husband-to-be (born Kiari Cephus), whom she only met in February