Site last updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

People

Aretha Franklin

NEW YORK — Stevie Wonder visited an ailing Aretha Franklin at her home in Detroit on Tuesday.

Franklin's publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Franklin's ex-husband, actor Glynn Turman, also visited the Queen of Soul, who is seriously ill.

Franklin canceled planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up. The 76-year-old announced plans to retire last year, saying she would perform at “some select things.”

Fans, friends and musicians influenced by Franklin offered positive words to the iconic singer when news broke that she was ill, including Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tyler Perry, Missy Elliott and Wayne Brady.

———

NEW YORK — Actress Sean Young says the producers of a movie from which she was fired are attempting a publicity stunt by accusing her of stealing two laptops.

The 58-year-old star of the 1982 movie “Blade Runner” told the New York Daily News the producers are trying to promote their “Charlie Boy” movie by claiming she stole the laptops with production software.

Young says she entered a building in Queens last Thursday to retrieve her belongings and mistakenly took production computers instead of her own.

Police are investigating.

Timothy Hines, who took over as director, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Young is the one creating the publicity stunt. He had a message for her: “Sean Young, please turn yourself in to police.”

———

NEW YORK — Despite making three albums of baseball-themed songs with some friends, Peter Buck isn't much of a fan. He does, however, have the savvy of a veteran ballplayer.

Following his instincts led to the former R.E.M. guitarist's latest project, a collaboration with songwriter Joseph Arthur. They started writing songs at Buck's hideaway in Mexico when Arthur came to collect a dobro he'd left behind at a previous visit, and liked them enough to realize it was more than a lark. It's catchy guitar rock with enough flourishes to avoid sounding retro.

Seven years after R.E.M. broke up on good terms, Buck has no regrets — except that he doesn't get to hang out as much with Michael Stipe and Mike Mills.

More in Arts & Entertainment

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS