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Saturday, April 30, 2022

Naomi Judd, Grammy winning singer, dies at 76 - Global News

Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.”

Naomi Judd died near Nashville, Tennessee, said a statement on behalf of her husband and fellow singer, Larry Strickland. It said no further details about her death would be released and asked for privacy as the family grieves.

Read more: Wynonna Judd’s 22-year-old daughter, Grace, sentenced to 8 years in prison

The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday and they had just announced an arena tour to begin in the fall, their first tour together in over a decade. They also made a return to awards shows when they performed at the CMT Music Awards earlier this month.

“Honored to have witnessed “Love Can Build a Bridge” just a few short weeks ago,” singer Maren Morris posted on Twitter on Saturday.

“This is heartbreaking news! Naomi Judd was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known,” singer Travis Tritt posted on Twitter, noting that he had worked with Judd several times on screen and during performances.

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis C. Wynonna continued her solo career.

The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

Click to play video: 'Canadian Mental Health Association reporting a surge in mental health care demand' Canadian Mental Health Association reporting a surge in mental health care demand
Canadian Mental Health Association reporting a surge in mental health care demand – Apr 18, 2022

Born Diana Ellen Judd in Ashland, Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse in Nashville, when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.

“We had a such a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do,” Naomi Judd told The AP after it was announced that they would be joining the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music. They earned a total of five Grammy Awards together on hits like “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love,” and Naomi earned a sixth Grammy for writing “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

The Judds also performed at the halftime of the 1994 Super Bowl, along with Travis Tritt, Clint Black and Tanya Tucker.

The Judds sang about family, the belief in marriage and the virtue of fidelity. Because Naomi was so young looking, the two were mistaken for sisters early in their career. She was also known to prefer flashy stage outfits, full of sparkles and rhinestones, over casual boots and cowboy style clothing.

They first got attention singing on Ralph Emery’s morning show in early 1980, where the host named them the “Soap Sisters” because Naomi said she used to make her own soap.

After the success of “Mama He’s Crazy,” they won the Horizon Award at the 1984 CMA Awards. Naomi started her speech by saying “Slap the dog and spit in the fire!”

Naomi Judd was open about her health struggles, as well as severe depression and anxiety. In her memoir, “River of Time,” she described her diagnosis of hepatitis C, which she said she unknowingly contracted during her time as a nurse. She said that by 1995, her doctors had told her she was completely free of the virus.

In the memoir, she described feeling like she had lost her identity when she returned home after a 2010 reunion tour, isolating herself at her home and dealing with crippling panic attacks. She also said that she had been dealing with trauma from childhood sexual abuse. She was admitted to a psychiatric ward at a hospital and spent time in an outpatient treatment program.

Daughter Ashley Judd is an actor and humanitarian known for her roles in such movies as “Kiss the Girls,” “Double Jeopardy” and “Heat.”

Strickland, who was a backup singer for Elvis Presley, was married to Naomi Judd for 32 years.

© 2022 The Associated Press

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Naomi Judd, Grammy winning singer, dies at 76 - Global News
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Bill Murray says his behaviour led to complaint, production suspension of film Being Mortal - The Globe and Mail

Bill Murray speaks at the Governors Awards on Friday, March 25, 2022, at the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Murray acknowledged that his behaviour on set led to a complaint from a woman and the suspension of filming on his latest movie.Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press

Bill Murray on Saturday acknowledged that his behaviour on set led to a complaint from a woman and the suspension of filming on his latest movie.

The actor and comedian, in his first comments about the shutdown of Being Mortal, described the incident as a “difference of opinion” but declined to provide specifics on what transpired, or who it involved.

“I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way,” he told CNBC during an interview at the annual shareholders meeting for Berkshire Hathaway. “The movie studio wanted to do the right thing so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it and so they stopped the production.”

Murray said he and the unnamed woman are talking it through and “trying to make peace with each other.” He didn’t say when or if production would resume and whether he’d continue to take part in the film.

“We’re both professionals,” Murray said of the woman. “We like each other’s work. We like each other, I think, and if you can’t really get along and trust each other, there’s no point in going further working together or making a movie as well.”

The 71-year-old Ghostbusters and Caddyshack comedian suggested the changing nature of what’s considered appropriate humour was a factor.

“It’s been quite an education for me,” he said. “The world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now. Things change and the times change so it’s important for me to figure it out.”

Murray added: “I think it’s a sad dog that can’t learn any more. I don’t want to be that sad dog and I have no intention of it.”

Searchlight Pictures has confirmed production was suspended but has so far declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing inquiry. The entertainment website Deadline reports the complaint against Murray was filed earlier this month and production was halted last week.

“Being Mortal” stars Murray, Seth Rogen and Aziz Ansari, who is writing, directing and producing the movie.

Production started in Los Angeles in March and the film was slated to be released in theatres next year. The film is based on surgeon and author Dr. Atul Gawande’s 2014 non-fiction book on end-of-life care, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.

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Bill Murray says his behaviour led to complaint, production suspension of film Being Mortal - The Globe and Mail
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Judge tosses part of Blac Chyna case against Kim Kardashian - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News


Andrew Dalton , The Associated Press
Published Saturday, April 30, 2022 7:03AM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna's lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain.

Judge Gregory Alarcon ruled that Chyna's attorney Lynne Ciani did not provide any statement during the trial from Kardashian that was defamatory toward Chyna.

The case against Kardashian for interference with a contract remains alive. The jury is deciding on that and both defamation and contract-interference cases against Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner.

Jurors went home Friday without reaching a verdict after their first full day of deliberations. Their instructions had to be revised after the Kim Kardashian decision, and attorneys and the judge gave answered several questions that they submitted. They're scheduled to resume Monday morning.

Chyna's lawsuit alleges that the women falsely told television producers and executives that Chyna had violently attacked her then-fiancé Rob Kardashian in December 2016 in an attempt to get her reality show, “Rob & Chyna," canceled.

Ciani argued during closing arguments Thursday afternoon that the women had no reason to believe the attack had occurred, as testimony, photos and video from the time showed no significant injuries to Rob Kardashian.

“He didn’t have a mark on him,” Ciani said. “There was no call to the police, no trip to the hospital, not even a Band-Aid.”

Kardashian attorney Michael G. Rhodes argued during his closing that the women had every reason to believe the accounts of the attack from Rob Kardashian and from Kris Jenner’s longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble, who broke up the dispute and was a key defense witness.

“Do you remember how Rob looked on the stand yesterday? His pain was real,” Rhodes said. “This is a real family. Yeah, they’re famous, but they’re real people. He got really badly hurt here.”

Ciani provided clear examples of statements via text messages and emails from Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, telling the show's producers and the E! network, which the show appeared on, about the abuse allegation.

But the case she made against Kim Kardashian was more vague.

After Alarcon read the jury its instructions Thursday, Rhodes pointed out that there was no potentially defamatory statement in them from Kim Kardashian.

Ciani was angered by the assertion, but the frustrated judge rebuked her, saying she had agreed to the jury instructions before the trial began.

A similar argument emerged in court Friday over Alarcon's unusual method of jury selection. Instead of choosing 12 jurors and four alternates, the judge had the lawyers select 16 jurors, then chose by random drawing after closing arguments which four were the alternates.

The judge again pointed out to Ciani that she had agreed to the process before trial.

In the civil case, nine of the 12 jurors will need to agree on whether three of the Kardashian defendants either knowingly lied about Chyna abusing Rob Kardashian, or spread the word about it with reckless disregard for the truth. The same number will need to decide whether each of the four illegally interfered with Chyna’s contract with the E! network.

___

This story has been corrected to show the first name of the attorney for the defense is Michael, not David.

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Judge tosses part of Blac Chyna case against Kim Kardashian - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News
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Grammy-winning singer Naomi Judd dead at 76 - CBC News

Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo the Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

"Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness," the statement said.

"We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory."

Judd died near Nashville, said a statement issued on behalf of her husband and fellow singer, Larry Strickland. It said no further details about her death would be released and asked for privacy as the family grieves.

The Judds, comprising Naomi and Wynonna, were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, and they had just announced an arena tour to begin in the fall, their first tour together in more than a decade. They also made a return to awards shows when they performed at the CMT Music Awards earlier this month.

"Honored to have witnessed Love Can Build a Bridge just a few short weeks ago," singer Maren Morris posted on Twitter on Saturday.

"This is heartbreaking news! Naomi Judd was one of the sweetest people I've ever known," singer Travis Tritt posted on Twitter, noting that he had worked with Judd several times on-screen and during performances.

14 No. 1 songs

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis. Wynonna continued a solo career.

The Judds' hits included Love Can Build a Bridge in 1990, Mama He's Crazy in 1984, Why Not Me in 1984, Turn It Loose in 1988, Girls Night Out in 1985, Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain in 1986 and Grandpa in 1986.

Judd, centre, is shown with daughters Ashley, left, and Wynonna in New York in October 2003. Judd and Wynonna, who performed as the Judds, scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. (Anthony Savignano/Reuters)

Born Diana Ellen Judd in Ashland, Ky., Naomi Judd was working as a nurse in Nashville when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.

"We had a such a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do," Naomi told The Associated Press after it was announced they would be joining the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991. They won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music. They earned a total of five Grammy Awards together on such hits as Why Not Me and Give A Little Love.

Judd, right, shown with daughter Wynonna in Nashville in 2011, won multiple Grammy Awards making music together. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

The Judds sang about family, the belief in marriage and the virtue of fidelity. Because Naomi Judd looked so young, the two were mistaken for sisters early in their career.

They first got attention singing on Ralph Emery's morning show in early 1980, where the host named them the "Soap Sisters" because Naomi said she used to make her own soap.

After the success of Mama He's Crazy, they won the Horizon Award at the 1984 CMA Awards. Naomi started her speech by saying: "Slap the dog and spit in the fire!"

Daughter Ashley Judd is an actor known for her roles in such movies as Kiss the GirlsDouble Jeopardy and Heat.

Strickland, who was a backup singer for Elvis Presley, was married to Naomi Judd for 32 years.

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Grammy-winning singer Naomi Judd dead at 76 - CBC News
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Is Liam Neeson's Latest Hitman Film 'Memory' Any Good? Here's What The Reviews Say - TechDigg

Friday, April 29, 2022

James Corden NEAR TEARS Addressing Late Late Show Exit - Entertainment Tonight

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Judge denies Blac Chynas request to redo testimony in Kardashian-Jenner trial - Geo News

Judge denies Blac Chyna’s request to redo testimony in Kardashian-Jenner trial
Judge denies Blac Chyna’s request to redo testimony in Kardashian-Jenner trial

Model Blac Chyna’s request to redo her testimony in her lawsuit against the Kardashian-Jenner family has been denied by the judge on Thursday.

The model, 33, has sued Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner for $100 million over defamation and accused them of having the second season of her reality show Rob & Chyna canceled.

Chyna, born Angela White, had requested to redo her testimony after saying she had felt triggered by the Kardashian-Jenner family's lawyer, Michael Rhodes, who showed the model’s naked pictures during her initial cross-examination.

Chyna’s attorney, Lynne Ciani, argued in court that seeing the intimate snaps – which were included in the 2017 restraining order request she filed against Rob Kardashian – affected Chyna’s testimony.

Judge Gregory Alarcon refused to grant Chyna’s request to take the stand again. He said that the plaintiff has already taken the stand for a total of 11 hours and had plenty of time to raise other issues and concerns.

Alarcon reminded the group of 12 jurors that each defendant should be given separate consideration.

The judge also told jurors that they should consider that Chyna might have deliberately hid her finances when she didn’t provide any financial statements, tax returns, and other documents pertaining to her income or expenses, despite being given almost six years to file those documents. 

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Thursday, April 28, 2022

Amber Heard's lawyers revised article Johnny Depp sued over - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News


Matthew Barakat, The Associated Press
Published Thursday, April 28, 2022 3:36PM EDT
Last Updated Thursday, April 28, 2022 5:51PM EDT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) - Amber Heard pushed to have details of her marriage with fellow actor Johnny Depp included in an op-ed piece that she wrote about domestic violence, even though her lawyers wanted those passages removed from the article, which is now the subject of a libel lawsuit, according to evidence introduced Thursday at the trial.

Jurors in the libel lawsuit Depp filed against Heard heard testimony Thursday from Terence Dougherty, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. It was the ACLU that drafted the article under Heard's name, reflecting her role as an ACLU ambassador on gender violence issues.

Dougherty testified about the push-and-pull that occurred between first draft and publication of the op-ed piece in The Washington Post in December 2018 - strategically timed by both the ACLU and Heard to coincide with the release of “Aquaman,” a movie in which she played a prominent role.

Depp sued in Fairfax County Circuit Court after the article was published, in which Heard says that “two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out.” Depp's lawyers say that's a clear reference to abuse allegations she levied against Depp in 2016 that Depp says are untrue.

Dougherty testified that numerous ACLU lawyers reviewed the article at various stages, and asked Heard's lawyers to review the piece as well to ensure it did not run afoul of a non-disclosure agreement she had with Depp in connection with the couple's 2016 divorce.

During those discussions, Heard sent back an edited version approved by her lawyers that “specifically neutered much of the copy regarding her marriage,” according to an email from Jessica Weitz, an ACLU employee who coordinated with Heard.

According to the email, though, Heard was looking for a way to have a deleted passage restored to the article.

The various drafts of the articles were not shown to the jury so it's not clear how many personal details were in the first draft and how much Heard's lawyers had excised.

But the final version contains very little about Heard's personal experiences. It doesn't mention Depp at all. In addition to the passage about “a public figure representing domestic abuse,” in another passage she writes, “I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.”

Much of the article talks about legislative priorities for advocates of domestic abuse prevention. Other passages refer to parts of her personal life unrelated to Depp.

Dougherty testified that “the language that wound up in the final op-ed piece was very different from the original language” in the draft, Dougherty said. “It did not refer directly to Ms. Heard's relationship with Johnny Depp.”

While the trial is supposed to be over whether Depp was defamed in the article, very little testimony in the first three weeks, leading up to Thursday, has related to the article itself or its contents. Heard's lawyers predicted at the outset of the trial that it would become a mudslinging soap opera that would delve into messy details of Depp and Heard's personal lives.

Heard's lawyers, though, have said that even if the jury were to believe that she was never abused by Depp, Heard should still prevail in the lawsuit because the article is not about Depp, does not defame him, and Heard's free-speech rights allow her to weigh in on matters of public importance like domestic violence.

Much of Dougherty's testimony also centered on whether Heard has fulfilled a promise to donate $3.5 million - half of her $7 million divorce settlement with Depp - to the ACLU. Dougherty testified that the ACLU credits her with contributing $1.3 million so far and expected the money to come in over a 10-year period, but that she has made no contributions since 2018.

Jurors also heard briefly from Depp's business manager, Ed White. White said he intervened in 2016 to resolve financial difficulties for Depp, including unpaid taxes and a cash crunch. When he blamed Heard for an excessive wine bill that featured multiple $500 bottles of Spanish Vega Sicilia wine, Heard's lawyers responded with a barrage of questions over Depp's spending excesses, including spending millions of dollars to shoot journalist Hunter S. Thompson's ashes out of a cannon.

Depp and Heard met during filming of “The Rum Diary,” an adaptation of a Thompson novel. Depp testified earlier that he and Thompson were friends, and that Depp actually found the lost “Rum Diary” manuscript when he was going through Thompson's papers.

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Amber Heard's lawyers revised article Johnny Depp sued over - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News
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Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Canada's Mattea Roach extends Jeopardy! win streak to 17 games - CBC News

Canada's Mattea Roach extended her winning streak on Jeopardy! to 17 games on Wednesday.

Roach, a tutor who lives in Toronto, has now won a total of $396,182 US.

She got the first question of the game, ran the table on a botany-related set of questions and bet big on a Daily Double in the second round that netted her $8,000.

But she did miss a question — as did her opponents Ben Hsia of Fremont, Calif., and Christina Clark of De Pere, Wis. — about Canadian musician Neil Young.

While Roach led for most of the game, she ended up winning by just $1 after her nearest competitor went into Final Jeopardy with exactly half of her total. Both got the final question right. 

At the start of the episode, host Ken Jennings noted the iconic game show had only seen seven winning streaks of 16 games prior to Roach's ongoing run.

Jennings had started the show with a brief list of things associated with the number 16, as a prelude to discussing just how impressive Roach's run has been, even before her 17th victory. 

If Roach makes it to 19 wins, she would be in a tie with Jeopardy! champs David Madden and Jason Zuffranieri.

She already has the show's longest winning streak for a Canadian. 

Stats listed on the Jeopardy! website indicate Roach is also among the top 10 winners when it comes to cash winnings during regular season play.

LISTEN | Roach takes questions on Cross Country Checkup:

Cross Country Checkup28:50Ask Me Anything: Mattea Roach on competing in Jeopardy!

Canadian Mattea Roach is currently in the middle of one of the longest streaks in Jeopardy! history. She answers listener questions about being a Jeopardy! champion in Ask Me Anything. 28:50

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'A truly beautiful soul': Alberta country artist Shane Yellowbird dies at age 42 - CTV News Edmonton

Shane Yellowbird, the Cree country singer from Maskwacis, Alta., has died.

The man best known for the 2007 song Pickup Truck, his cheerful dimples and overcoming a stuttering condition to become a Canadian star, was 42 years old. His cause of death has not been released.

"I was just charmed by him and his talent spoke for itself," said Louis O'Reilly, who signed Yellowbird to his record label in 2003.

O'Reilly learned of Yellowbird's death Tuesday morning and called several close friends to confirm. The manager knew his former artist had epilepsy and sometimes suffered seizures, but he did not know how Yellowbird died.

"He had a tremendous voice and a tremendous charisma, and kind of a shyness and an 'aww shucks' bashfulness that people saw in him and gravitated to him for that reason," O'Reilly said.

"I never signed Shane because he was Indigenous. I signed Shane because of his talent. But the Indigenous community obviously embraced him and we were very grateful for Indigenous programs that brought him to the forefront."

Yellowbird was a "sincere cowboy" who always stayed humble through growing notoriety and he liked quiet family time, O'Reilly explained. The pair parted ways in 2013, and Yellowbird hadn't released any music since then.

Tributes to the singer from family and friends started pouring in on Facebook Monday night.

"He called me lil Sis and I called him Bro, we were just 2 Rez kids that decided to go for it and we’d behave as such whenever we saw each other," wrote fellow Indigenous singer Crystal Shawanda.

"You will be missed by so many, buddy," wrote country singer Aaron Pritchett.

"He always believed in me as an artist and songwriter, long before a lot of people. A truly beautiful soul," wrote country artist Aaron Goodvin.

Yellowbird won the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Rising Star Award in 2007, the year he was nominated for a total of five awards.

He was also nominated for a Juno in 2008 and for three more CCMAs in his career.

CTV News Edmonton reached out to several of Yellowbird's family members for comment on this story.

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'A truly beautiful soul': Alberta country artist Shane Yellowbird dies at age 42 - CTV News Edmonton
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Tuesday, April 26, 2022

'Trailblazer' Cree country artist Shane Yellowbird dead at 42 - CBC.ca

Cree country singer and songwriter Shane Yellowbird died unexpectedly on Monday, family members have confirmed to CBC News. 

The 42-year-old from Maskwacis, about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton, became an award-winning artist after a stuttering condition led him into music. 

A statement from family members said Yellowbird was residing in Calgary when he died.

"Our brother was a talented artist who loved his children, music and sports," it reads. "We are all deeply struck by the tragedy and ask for the respect and privacy of this time to mourn the loss of our loved one."

Close friends say he had a history of health problems including epilepsy. 

"Several years ago he started to share that he wasn't doing as many shows because he was suffering from seizures," Yellowbird's friend and fellow musician Crystal Shawanda told CBC News. 

"He made a public statement about it. He was starting to share that and be more open about it with people."

Accolades and tributes have been pouring in on social media since word of Yellowbird's death became public on Tuesday morning. 

Shawanda said she was shocked when she heard the news. 

"I just can't quite believe it," she said. "This kind of came out of nowhere."

In 2007, Yellowbird received the rising star award at the Canadian Country Music Awards, along with three awards handed out the same year at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. 

His song, Pickup Truck, became his first top five song on the Canadian Country singles chart in the summer of 2007.  

"What he accomplished is huge," Shawanda said. "No male Indigenous country music artist has yet to do what he has done. That kind of shows the magnitude of what he accomplished. He was the first one to get through that door."

She thinks Yellowbird will continue to serve as an inspiration to other aspiring male Indigenous country artists. 

"He was a trailblazer. He opened doors," Shawanda said. 

"He made the dreams that we dreamed a little bit more possible."

According to a 2009 profile of Yellowbird published by First Nations Drum newspaper, Yellowbird wanted to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a rodeo cowboy. But his career path changed as a result of treatment for a severe stuttering problem he had as a child. 

"He began seeing a speech therapist who suggested that he sing his sentences to help him speak clearly," the article states. "The technique proved successful and also instilled a budding love of music in Yellowbird." 

Funeral services will be held in Maskwacis this Friday. A cause of death has not been released.

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Monday, April 25, 2022

Police release videos in probe of Alec Baldwin film-set fatal shooting - Saanich News

Law enforcement officials in Santa Fe, N.M. released a trove of video evidence Monday in the ongoing investigation of a fatal October shooting of a cinematographer by actor and producer Alec Baldwin on the set of a Western movie.

Data files released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office included a video of investigators debriefing Baldwin within hours of the fatal shooting, talking with him inside a compact office. The investigation files also include rehearsal clips that show Baldwin in costume as he practices a quick-draw maneuver with a gun.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a statement that the investigation by his agency remains open and ongoing as it awaits the results of ballistics and forensic analysis from the FBI as well as studies of fingerprint and DNA.

“The sheriff’s office is releasing all files associated with our ongoing investigation,” he said in the statement. Those files also include photos of ammunition from the set and examination reports.

At a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza. They had been inside a small church during setup for filming a scene.

In a video taken by police later that day, Baldwin makes a few frantic calls as he awaits a meeting with law enforcement officials.

“You have no idea how unbelievable this is and how strange this is,” he says over the phone.

New Mexico workplace safety regulators last week issued the maximum possible fine of nearly $137,000 against the “Rust” film production company.

New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau said Rust Movie Productions must pay $136,793, and distributed a scathing narrative of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires on set prior to the fatal shooting.

READ MORE: Actor Alec Baldwin sued by family of cinematographer killed on set

The bureau also documented gun safety complaints from crew members that went unheeded and said weapons specialists were not allowed to make decisions about additional safety training. Rust Movie Productions has indicated it will dispute the findings and sanction.

Baldwin said in a December interview with ABC News that he was on set pointing the gun at Hutchins at her instruction when it went off without his pulling the trigger.

Morgan Lee, The Associated Press

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Sunday, April 24, 2022

'Bad Guys' bests 'The Northman,' Nick Cage at the box office - Business News - Castanet.net

On an unusually crowded weekend at movie theaters that featured a pricey Viking epic and Nicolas Cage playing himself, DreamWorks Animation's “The Bad Guys” bested the field, signaling a continued resurgence for family moviegoing after a downturn during the pandemic.

“The Bad Guys,” released by Universal Pictures, debuted with $24 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. That came despite steep competition for families from Paramount Pictures' “Sonic The Hedgehog 2,” which stayed in second place with $15.2 million its third week of release. It's grossed $145.8 million domestically thus far.

The apparent health of family moviegoing is especially good news for Hollywood as it heads into its lucrative summer season when films like Universal's own “Minions: Rise of Gru” and Walt Disney Co.'s “Lightyear” — the first Pixar film opening in theaters in two years — hope to approach pre-pandemic levels.

“There's reason for being more than cautiously optimistic,” said Jim Orr, head of distribution for Universal. “I think audiences this summer are going to be flooding into theaters.”

While studios have been hesitant to program many films against each other during the pandemic, the weekend saw a rarity: three new wide releases, all of them well-received, none of them sequels or remakes.

“The Bad Guys,” based on Aaron Blabey's children's graphic novel series about a gang of crooked animals with a Quentin Tarantino-for-kids tone, fared well with critics (85% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (an “A” CinemaScore). With little family competition until the release of “Lightyear" in mid-June, “The Bad Guys” should play well for weeks. Having first debuted overseas, the animated film has already grossed $63.1 million internationally.

The weekend's other new releases — Robert Eggers' “The Northman” and the Cage-starring “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” — didn't do as well but still fared reasonably solidly in their first weekend.

"Every weekend is a building block in the recovery, but I don't even want to call it a recovery. I think movie theaters are recovered. We're pretty much there," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for ComScore. “Three newcomers were all well-received, and all of them found an audience.”

The risks were greatest for Focus Features' “The Northman,” which saw its budget balloon beyond $70 million, a major increase in scale for Eggers, the director of previous indie historical horrors “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse.” The film's path to profitability was unlikely even before launching in theaters, but it opened on the higher side of expectations with $12 million in ticket sales. It added $6.3 million internationally in 26 territories.

“The Northman" stars Alexander Skarsgard, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicole Kidman star in a brutal and bloody revenge saga.

"First and foremost, we wanted to work with Robert Eggers," said Lisa Bunnell, head of distribution for Focus, which had handled international distribution for Eggers' first two films. “The key here is that we got to make a film that we wanted to make with a filmmaker we feel is part of the future of American cinema. He's got a very distinctive voice. He's making film with original IP, not just going in: ‘Let’s make a sequel!'"

Meanwhile, a new installment in a once all-powerful brand, the Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” fell off a cliff in its second weekend in theaters. The Warner Bros. release, the third “Fantastic Beasts" movie, dropped 67% in it second week with $14 million. That's a bad sign for the future of the franchise, should it be continued by Warner Bros. (The studio has thus far held off on greenlighting a fourth film.) Still, “Secrets of Dumbledore," last week's top film, is doing better overseas. International sales of $213.2 million account for the lion share of the film's $280.3 million global haul.

Lionsgate's “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” a gonzo meta comedy starring Cage as an exaggerated version of himself, opened with an estimated $7.2 million. The film, which first launched to warm reviews out of South by Southwest, will depend on good word of mouth to approach netting its $30 million budget.

That's the kind success that “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has had. The A24 release, a madcap metaverse fantasy starring Michelle Yeoh, has been one of the brightest signs for the specialty film business, another sector of the industry that struggled theatrically during the pandemic. In its fifth week, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” grossed $5.4 million, a drop of just 12% from the week prior.

But the biggest breakthrough in theaters this April has been for family moviegoing. It's good timing for the film industry, which will this week convene in Las Vegas for CinemaCon, the annual convention and trade show for trumpeting theatrical exhibition. Expect plenty of proclamations that movie theaters are back.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Bad Guys," $24 million.

2. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” $15.2 million.

3. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” $14 million.

4. “The Northman,” $12 million.

5. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," $7.2 million.

6. “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” $5.4 million.

7. “The Lost City,” $4.4 million.

8. “Father Stu,” $3.4 million.

9. “Morbius,” $2.3 million.

10. “Ambulance,” $1.8 million.

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'Bad Guys' bests 'The Northman,' Nick Cage at the box office - Business News - Castanet.net
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Paulina Gretzky and PGA star Dustin Johnson take private jet home to Florida after Tennessee wedding - Daily Mail

And still dressed in white! Paulina Gretzky and PGA star Dustin Johnson (clutching bag of McDonald’s) are spotted catching their private jet home to Florida after intimate wedding at luxury resort in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains

  • Paulina Gretzky and PGA star Dustin Johnson were spotted at McGhee Tyson Airport in Tennessee on Sunday on their way back home to West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Just a day after the couple tied the knot on Saturday at a luxury resort in Tennessee, the bride was still dressed in all white - a more casual attire this time - as her husband held a bag of McDonald's as they boarded the jet
  • Photos from the wedding on Saturday show the happy couple exchanging vows under tent erected on the compound's spacious lawn
  • The couple, who have been engaged since 2013, were joined by their family and friends
  • Gretzky and Johnson have two sons together, seven-year-old Tatum and four-year-old River
  • Gretzky is the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and Johnson is the No. 9 ranked golfer in the world 

Paulina Gretzky was still dressed in white Sunday when she was spotted with her new husband Dustin Johnson as they arrived at the airport to catch their private jet home to Florida after an intimate wedding at a luxury resort in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains this weekend. 

Gretzky, the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, wore white pants, a white top, white sneakers, and had a white long-sleeve shirt tied around her waist as she boarded the jet at McGhee Tyson Airport. Her PGA star hubby toted an important carry-on item - a large bag of McDonald's. 

Gretzky has been engaged to Johnson since 2013, and the couple share two sons together. Johnson is presently the No. 9 ranked professional golfer in the world. 

The happy couple tied the knot on Saturday afternoon at Blackberry Farm, a luxury hotel and resort in the Great Smoky Mountains outside of Knoxville.

Paulina Gretzky was still dressed in white Sunday when she was spotted along with her new husband PGA star Dustin Johnson as they arrived at the airport to catch their private jet home to Florida following their Tennessee wedding
Gretzky, the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, wore white pants, a white top, white sneakers, and had a white long sleeve shirt tied around her waist as she boarded the jet at McGhee Tyson Airport
Paulina - all dressed in white - joins her husband as they board a private jet Sunday after getting married in Tennessee
Paulina's new husband PGA star Dustin Johnson was spotted boarding the private jet clutching a large bag of McDonald's
Paulina Gretzky arrives at the McGhee Tyson Airport in Tennessee on Sunday to head back to their West Palm Beach home after an intimate wedding at a resort in the Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains
Dustin Johnson, 37, was spotted carrying bags of McDonald's as he boarded the private jet Sunday

The ceremony took place under an elegant white tent erected on the property's spacious lawn, with the couple's closest family and friends in attendance.

The bride is understood to have worn a dress by the famed designer Vera Wang. 

Paulina, 33, has been documenting the lead-up to their big day on Instagram Stories, from their flight to Knoxville on a private jet on Thursday to their welcome dinner later that night. 

Friday night, she teased a menu and an apparent table setting in a picture. Butternut squash soup and beef appeared to be part of a dinner. 

On Friday afternoon, the bride-to-be hosted a disco-themed luncheon for nine of her nearest and dearest, including her younger sister Emma Gretzky, her sister-in-law Sara Gretzky, and her future sister-in-law Samantha Johnson. 

Paulina Gretzky married PGA star Dustin Johnson in an intimate outdoor ceremony on Saturday in Tennessee
Photos show the happy couple exchanging vows under tent erected on the compound's spacious lawn
Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson are seen at their wedding ceremony on Saturday
The happy couple tied the knot on Saturday afternoon at Blackberry Farm, a luxury hotel and resort in the Great Smoky Mountains outside of Knoxville, Tennessee
The ceremony took place under an elegant tent erected on the property's spacious lawn, with the couple's closest family and friends in attendance
Gretzky is the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Johnson is presently the No. 9 ranked golfer in the world

Paulina showed off her tan in her cream blazer mini dress with split sleeves that were held together with silver bows that went up her arms, topping off the look with sky-high silver stilettos featuring matching bows. 

Her blonde hair was pulled up in an elegant bun with tendrils framing her face.  

The pre-wedding event was held inside Blackberry Farm's boathouse on Old Walland Pond, which offered a scenic of the water as they ate. The outside of the building was decorated with bright pink flowers and silver disco balls. 

Attendees rise as the bride Paulina Gretzky walks down the aisle to be married on Saturday in an outdoor ceremony. The couple is said to have found the best tentist on the East Coast
Things went off without a hitch as the bride made her way down the aisle amid friends and family
Paulina made her grand entrance in a dress designed by legend Vera Wang, a dream for any bride
The couple waited nine long years for their happy day, after initially planning to wed as early as 2014
The wedding took place on Saturday afternoon in beautiful spring weather
A group of musicians serenaded the guests as the bride walked down the aisle
The day before the wedding, Dustin Johnson and the wedding party stood in for a short wedding rehearsal
The the scenic Smoky Mountains, a sign points the way to Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson's wedding

A silver 'P' and 'D' for Paulina and Dustin flanked the entryway to the boathouse, where she was joined by her pals Kristina Melnichenko, Alex Brown, Scott Shilstone, Jeremy Cohen, Brooke Hurt, and Jamie Dillender. 

Inside, there was a picnic table set for ten, glass vases filled with mini disco balls, and disco balls of all different sizes hanging from the ceiling. 

Paulina and her guests were treated to a charcuterie plate, vegetables with dip, bread, and other snacks along with their meal. 

She shared photos and videos from the afternoon feast, including footage of them holding up their wine glasses at the table that was set to David Guetta's hit 'Family.' 

The model also posted snapshots of herself with hairstylists Riawna Capri and Sierra Kener, who helped her get ready for the day. 

Paulina and Dustin kicked off their wedding weekend on Thursday night with a lavish dinner with their loved ones, including their two sons. 

Gretzky and Johnson are seen exchanging vows as they get married on Saturday
Gretzky has been engaged to Johnson since 2013, and the couple share two sons together
Paulina's younger sister Emma Gretzky, her sister-in-law Sara Gretzky, and her future sister-in-law Samantha Johnson were among the guests
Her pals Kristina Melnichenko, Alex Brown, Scott Shilstone, Jeremy Cohen, Brooke Hurt, and Jamie Dillender were also at the lunch

The bride's parents, Wayne and Janet Gretzky, were there with her younger siblings Ty, 31, Trevor, 29, Tristan, 21, and Emma, 19. The family posed for photos together underneath a sign that said 'No Regretzkys' — a play on their surname. 

Paulina referred to the evening as 'family night' on her Instagram Stories, though their closest friends were also in attendance. 

She shared a black and white photo of herself posing with her sister-in-law Sara and her close friends Kristina and Jeremy.

The couple are getting married at Blackberry Farm on Saturday, April 23

The snapshot was framed in white and had 'Paulina & Dustin 04.23.2022' written at the bottom in black. 

Another image from the night that shows her cuddling her son River was posted with the caption: 'My heart.' 

Paulina looked incredible in a nude mini-dress featuring ruffles and crystal embellishments that twinkled in the light. She wore her long blonde hair in loose waves around her shoulders. 

Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, the founder of Makeup by Mario, was on hand to help her get ready that night. Before dinner, she posted a photo of herself wearing nothing but a nude tank while he did her makeup. 

Dustin, 37, sported a navy suit and white button-down shirt sans tie, topping off his dinner look with a pair of white sneakers. The couple's sons Tatum, seven, and River, four, matched their dad in light blue button-down shirts, navy pants, and white sneakers. 

Paulina tagged the event planning company YSD Events when she shared a video of the stunning table-scape that was designed for the night's festivities. 

There were narrow vases filled with white tulips and dozens of candle votives on the table while unique light fixtures hung from the trees above them. 

Guests were treated to a three-course meal starting with mushroom risotto parmesan and aged balsamic. 

They had a choice of two entrees, either miso sea bass with spinach and jasmine rise or wood-grilled beef ribeye cap au poivre with potato puree and garden greens.

Dessert was carrot cake with cream cheese and candied pecans. 

Paulina continued to share photos from the night on Friday morning, including family photos of herself with Dustin and their sons. The boys had fun in the photo booth and posed for a number of playful shots, both together and by themselves. 

The next morning, the bride-to-be was dressed in white sweats when she took Tatum and River to see the 'truffle pups' on the property that are a part of Blackberry Farm's breeding program. 

She sat next to their boys as they happily pet the Lagotto Romagnolo puppies. The dog breed from Northern Italy has been used to hunt truffles for centuries. 

The event planning company YSD Events designed the stunning tablescape for the night's festivities, which Paulina referred to as 'family night' on her Instagram Stories
Guests were treated to a three-course meal starting with mushroom risotto followed by an entree of their choosing and carrot cake for dessert
Makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, the founder of Makeup by Mario, helped Paulina get ready before the dinner

Paulina and Dustin flew to Knoxville with their family and friends on a private jet on Thursday afternoon. 

She started her Instagram Stories posts from the day with a snapshot of herself looking outside the window of the jet with the caption: 'She's ready.' 

The mother of two was dressed to impress in a cropped white halter top and denim shorts, but it was her accessories that stood out. She wore glittery cowboy boots with a matching crossbody bag, perfect for her arrival in Knoxville. 

Paulina's blonde hair was pulled back in a simple bun, which drew attention to the large diamond earrings that sparkled in her ears.  

Sitting next to her on the floor was a white Hermès Birkin bag — the starting cost of which is an eye-watering $10,000. She also had a white mug with the words 'Mrs. Johnson Est. 2022' splashed across the front in silver in her cupholder. 

In case it wasn't clear she was getting married, she posted a Boomerang that shows her and Dustin clinking champagne glasses with their guests on the jet. She added a GIF that said: 'It's finally happening.' 

Paulina and Dustin (pictured with their seven-year-old son Tatum) kicked off their wedding weekend with a lavish dinner at Blackberry Farm on Thursday night
The bride-to-be shared photos from the evening, including a sweet snapshot of herself cuddling her four-year-old son, River

Another picture of Paulina posing with sister-in-law Sara and her pal Kristina was captioned: 'Going To The Chapel.' 

After they landed, she added footage of herself stepping off the plane that was set to the classic wedding song 'Going To The Chapel.' A black SUV from Blackberry Farm was seen waiting for them on the tarmac. 

Paulina headed straight to the resort, and twenty minutes later she shared a Boomerang of herself holding hands with Dustin as they walked on the grounds. 

The couple was greeted with a golf cart with their initials 'P' and 'D' that was decorated with white flowers and greenery in celebration of their big day. 

Paulina couldn't resist taking a video of the luxurious resort, including the incredible view. 

Nightly rates for rooms at Blackberry Farm start at $1,045, and a three-night minimum is required for all stays, according to the website

The couple had ordered custom cookies featuring their faces, her engagement ring, a golf cart, and a bottle of champagne with their initials on it for the weekend. 

Paulina and Dustin were captured holding hands after they arrived at the resort
Nightly rates for rooms at Blackberry Farm start at $1,045, and a three-night minimum is required for all stays
Nightly rates for rooms at Blackberry Farm start at $1,045, and a three-night minimum is required for all stays

Guests received the cookies in wooden boxes with a note that said: 'Welcome! Can't wait to celebrate with you! xx P+D.' 

Paulina and Dustin started dating in 2012 and got engaged a year later. She spoke about their nearly decade-long engagement on her sister-in-law Sara's podcast, The Netchicks, last year. 

'I don’t know if people know if me and Dustin are really married or not. We’re not,' she reminded listeners. 'We’re so in love.'

Last April, she lived every bride's dream when she shopped for the perfect wedding dress with Vera Wang in New York City. 

Paulina enjoyed a celebratory dinner with the renowned fashion designer before trying on a number of gowns at her bridal boutique. 

Dustin was at the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour last week when he dodged a question about their wedding menu. The golfer is known for his love of pigs in the blanket, which he had served at his Masters champions dinner last year.

In February, Paulina was joined by eight of her closest pals when she took a private jet to St. Barts for her bachelorette party
The bride-to-be donned a white strapless mini dress and sneakers while her friends wore shades of pink

When asked if they would be serving the appetizer at their nuptials, he admitted that he didn't do too much of the planning.  

'Honestly, I don’t know, it’s a possibility,' he told Golf Digest with a laugh. 'I haven’t looked over the menu yet. I’ll let mom pick that stuff.'

Dustin did not appear to be with Paulina when she traveled to Tennessee with her mother, Janet, and her pal Kristina last month for some wedding planning. 

She chronicled the trip on her Instagram Stories, starting with a photo of her plane touching down in Knoxville, which is about a half-hour drive from Blackberry Farm. 

The future Mrs. Johnson was dressed in a white sports bra and matching leggings, topping off her look with a camel coat and white sneakers. 

The group posed for a photo in what appeared to be The Barn, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant at Blackberry Farm. 

Another snapshot showed Paulina and Kristina holding glasses of red wine in the backseat of a vehicle. It seemed as though they were enjoying a wine tasting while touring the grounds. 

The wedding planning came on the heels of the bride-to-be's lavish bachelorette getaway that was held on St. Barts in late February. 

Paulina was joined by eight of her closest pals — including her sister-in-law Sara — when she flew to the French-speaking Caribbean island on a private jet filled with swag for her and her party guests. 

She documented her entire bachelorette weekend on her Instagram Stories and later shared a throwback photo of them boarding their private jet. 

Paulina posed on the stairs by herself while her friends huddled together on the tarmac together. She captioned the picture 'P's Last D,' which was also the getaway's official hashtag. 

The influencer, who has one million Instagram followers, tagged her friends Janet, Jeremy, Samantha, Kristina, Sara, Alex, Brooke, and Ava Deylami. 

Paulina lived every bride's dream last April when she shopped for the perfect wedding dress with renowned fashion designer Vera Wang in New York City
Paulina did not confirm whether she said yes to a dress, but she gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at some of the gowns she tried on
Paulina did not confirm whether she said yes to a dress, but she gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at some of the gowns she tried on

They stayed at what appeared to be a private villa that was already decorated in Paulina's honor and featured a pool overlooking the Caribbean.

Guests enjoyed a custom bar menu with drinks named in Paulina's honor, including 'Naked & Famous' and 'No Regretzkys.' They were also given more gifts inside the villa.

They were gifted 'Team Bride' cards featuring a drawing of all of them from behind with Paulina 'The Queen' in the center. Others swag included mesh trucker hats and flowers, but the nicest gifts by far were bags from Prada.

Snapshots and videos from the week-long getaway show the group dancing, singing, and taking down plenty of drinks. But every morning they woke up to fresh-cut fruit, squeezed juices, chia seed pudding, and plates of pastries. 

And while Paulina had a great time with her friends, she wasn't without her fiancé. 

She shared a photo of herself with Dustin, who was also on the island for his bachelor party, though it's unclear how much time they spent together. 

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Paulina Gretzky and PGA star Dustin Johnson take private jet home to Florida after Tennessee wedding - Daily Mail
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The Last of Us Reveals Ellie's Tender First Love — and Loss — in Left Behind Flashback Episode: Read Recap - TVLine

For most of the video game of The Last of Us , players play as Joel. But there’s a chunk of gameplay in which the action switches to Ellie’s...