People
PASADENA, Calif. — Chaka Khan has been named grand marshal of the 2019 Rose Parade, which will feature the theme, “The Melody of Life.”
Tournament of Roses President Gerald Freeny announced the selection Wednesday. He saluted the Grammy Award-winning singer's efforts as an activist and praised her gourmet dark chocolates.
She sells her own line of gourmet chocolates called “Chakalates.”
Khan will ride through Pasadena, Calif., in the 130th Rose Parade on New Year's Day and participate in the celebration before the 105th Rose Bowl game, which will be a college football playoff semifinal.
Khan is known for her hits including “I'm Every Woman,” “Ain't Nobody” and “Through the Fire.”
After the announcement, Khan said she was honored for being chosen as grand marshal.
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WOODSTOCK, Conn. — The puppeteer who has played Big Bird on “Sesame Street” is retiring after nearly 50 years on the show.
Caroll Spinney announced in a statement Wednesday that he's handing over Big Bird and his other character, Oscar the Grouch, to younger performers. The 84-year-old joined “Sesame Street” at its inception in 1969.
Spinney says he didn't feel like his work was important until Big Bird helped him find his purpose.
Spinney says the physical requirements of performing the characters had become difficult and he developed problems with his balance. He stopped doing the puppeteering for Big Bird in 2015 and now only provides the voices for him and Oscar.
His apprentice, Matt Vogel, will succeed him in the Big Bird role. Vogel also plays Kermit the Frog.
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LOS ANGELES — Even at age 88, actor Ed Asner still hangs out at the comic-book store with his kid.
Early last week, the Asners could be spotted at Hollywood's legendary Golden Apple Comics. But they weren't shopping.
Instead, the two were promoting an Internet comic-art auction to raise funds for The Ed Asner Family Center. The sale by Heritage Auctions went live on Wednesday.
Founded earlier this year by the actor's son, Matthew, and daughter-in-law, Navah, the center offers programs and education for both special-needs children and their families.
The star of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Lou Grant” and the lead voice in the Pixar animated favorite “Up,” Ed Asner has a son and three grandchildren with autism.
“They're (all) beautiful people,” the actor noted. “And, at the same time, they need all the help they can get maneuvering through life. The Family Center is designed to help them do that.”
Father and son have had a comic-book connection for decades, when the two would buy a couple of new comic books before the elder Asner would take his son to work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
