Entertainment

Ariana Grande Wins First Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album

Published

5 years ago

February 11, 2019

Eric

Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album “Sweetener,” topping a tough field including perennial favorite Taylor Swift.

Grande’s Grammy comes after six career nominations but the star was notably absent from this year’s gala.

Just days before the event, she slammed the ceremony’s producer for “lying” about her decision not to perform on music’s biggest night.

The chart-topper released her fifth album “Thank U, Next” before lashing out at producer Ken Ehrlich after he told US media the 25-year-old Grande “felt it was too late for her to pull something together.”

“I know I’m not there tonight (trust, I tried and still truly wished it had worked out tbh) and I know I said I try not to put too much weight into these things …. but (…) this is wild and beautiful. thank you so much,” she tweeted.

Grande had great success in the last 12 months, with Billboard naming her its 2018 Woman of the Year.

But she was passed over in the top Grammy categories of Album, Record and Song of the Year — though her smash hit “Thank U, Next,” the title song off her new album, dropped after this year’s nomination deadline.

“Sweetener” includes her signature blend of pop and R&B with inflections of hip-hop, all set to the star’s wide-ranging, silky-yet-breathy vocals.

It features appearances from Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart while boasting three top singles.

Grande makes headlines as much for her chart-topping music as her love life, having dated the late rapper Mac Miller and shortly thereafter getting engaged to “Saturday Night Live” comedian Pete Davidson.

Grande and Davidson split in October 2018, just before she released “Thank U, Next” — in which she reflects on lessons learned from past loves.

She was also nominated this year for Best Pop Solo Performance for “God Is A Woman,” but lost out to Lady Gaga, who won for her song “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Going?)”

(AFP)

Entertainment

‘We Finally Lost Him’, AGN Confirms Junior Pope’s Death

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has confirmed the death of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.

The actor and three of his colleagues were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into Anam River in Anambra on Wednesday.

Rollas took to his instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived.

“My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.

“God knows the best. We finally lost him,” he said.

Junior Pope joined the Nollywood industry in 2006, and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.

He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.

In 2007, he rose to fame after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.

He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.

DailyPost

Entertainment

I’m No Longer Cut Out for Marriage, Having Kids – Iyabo Ojo

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has said that she is no longer cut out for marriage or having kids, stressing that her now is only for enjoyment.

Iyabo Ojo, a divorcee, expressed her intention not to seek marriage with her current partner, music executive Paul Okoye, also known as Paulo, saying their realtionship is for companionship.

Taking to her Instagram page, the actress shared, “Marriage – done and dusted. Had kids – done and dusted. Raised my kids – done and dusted. Next stage: Enjoyment! Enjoyment! Enjoyment!”

She added that people should, however, do what makes them happy and works for them.

“This is me. Do you ….. do what makes you happy and what works for you,” she wrote.

Iyabo Ojo is a prominent Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and entrepreneur.

She has been active in the Nigerian film industry, often referred to as Nollywood, for many years.

Ojo has appeared in numerous movies and has gained recognition for her talent and versatility as an actress. Apart from her acting career, she has also ventured into film production.