ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis Are Married. Congratulations are in order for Mr. and Mrs. Derek Jeter! The retired New York Yankees star, 42, married model Hannah Davis, 26, on Saturday evening, E! News confirms. In front of close family and friends, the pair exchanged vows at the Meadowood Napa Valley Resort in St. Helena, Calif. According to Us Weekly, the bride walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang gown while the groom wore a handsome black suit. The ceremony began around 5 p.m. local time and lasted about 20 minutes. The private couple dated for three years before news of their engagement broke in October. "They are extremely excited and in love!" a source told E! News at the time. "They can't wait to spend their lives together." It's not just the two of them, though -- Derek and Hannah are the proud parents of a 100-plus pound Italian Mastiff named Kane! In an interview with The Players' Tribune, Derek revealed the enormous dog "was a Christmas gift last year from my fiancee," and he's the first to admit he was a little unsure about his puppy present at the start. Although Hannah's "family had Mastiffs growing up," Derek had "never owned a pet" before," he explained. But with some training (for the dog and his new owner), Derek and Kane are getting along quite nicely. Family -- fur and human -- is very important to Derek and Hannah. "Trying to impress you with material things? I think that's lame," she told Maxim earlier this year. "I wanted someone whose family is a big, important part of their life." And that may eventually include kids. "I mean, I want to have a family," Derek told NBC News back in 2014. "Who knows when it's gonna be? But I look forward to it." As do we. Until then, though, congratulations to Derek and Hannah on their "I do's!" (Eonline)

Alanis Morissette Gives Birth to a Baby Girl. You oughta know Alanis Morissette had a baby! The singer welcomed an adorable baby girl in late June and announced the happy news this afternoon on Twitter. Taking to the social media website, Morissette tweeted, "she's here! onyx solace morissette-treadway June 23 2016 #beyondblessed." What a name, eh? But that's not all. Alanis also shared a sweet snapshot of her daughter with the tweet, showing the precious newborn with her eyes open and hanging out with mama. Ironically (no pun intended), Morissette had already given birth when she shared that completely naked pregnant photo of herself. On June 28, the 42-year-old musician shared a nude portrait of herself swimming in a pool, and quoted her 5-year-old son Ever Imre Morissette-Treadway in the Instagram photo caption, who said, "You have to be extra gentle around ladies because they are the most helpful people in the world 'cause they make persons." The now-mother-of-two has previously expressed the hardships of being a wife and mother. In her recent column for The Guardian, Morissette wrote, "Both marriage and becoming a parent have their way of growing us up. It is just about whether we kick and scream through the process (or, ultimately, run from it), or submit to it willingly and with a relatively open mind. The choice is yours, and yours alone. Without a deep personal commitment to growing and healing (alone and together with your partner), it is simply not possible to achieve a functional relationship." The star is doing a great job so far. Congratulations, Alanis! (Eonline)

Nicky Hilton Rothschild Gives Birth! Heiress Welcomes Daughter Lily Grace Victoria With James Rothschild. The world has gained a brand new heiress. Surrounded by family, Nicky Hilton gave birth to a baby girl in New York City Friday, a source confirms to E! News. This is the first child for the socialite and her husband, British banking heir James Rothschild. While we already knew the baby's sex thanks to sister Paris Hilton, the proud parents revealed their first child's name is Lily Grace Victoria Rothschild. Since it was confirmed the 32-year-old fashion designer was pregnant with her first child, she has kept rather tight-lipped about her pregnancy in public aside from maternity outfits frequently shared on social media. As for any cravings, it seems the blond beauty has had a particular penchant for confetti cookies as of late, not that there's ever a bad time for dessert! In addition to her fashion pursuits, Nicky has focused on preparing for the baby by decorating the nursery with adorable trinkets and celebrating with family-filled baby showers. While the little girl just arrived, she's been surrounded by love for months. "Now that I know it's a girl, it's getting easier to buy things for her," Paris told Us Weekly in May. "I love all the dresses I got her. There are so many beautiful dresses and little princess outfits. So I can't wait to see her in them." On the heels of their baby news, the new mom and dad are also about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary as they married at Kensington Palace in early July 2015. When E! spoke with the star the follow October, married life was treating her well. "I highly recommend it," she told E! News. "If you find the right person, absolutely. It's so much fun." Hopefully motherhood is even more fun. Congratulations to the proud parents! Entertainment Tonight first reported the baby's birth. (Eonline)

Russell Brand Confirms He's Going to Be a Dad With Hilarious Photo. Russell Brand is getting ready for the most important and most fulfilling role of his life, with the help of his mother. The 41-year-old comedian and Saving Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek actor confirmed on Instagram Friday what was reported a couple of months ago -- that he's soon going to become a father. Several news outlets had said his girlfriend Laura Gallacher is pregnant with their first child. "Right then. My Mum bought me this. Time to get ready! #trewlit #bookstagram #parenting," Brand posted, alongside a hilarious photo of him holding up Dean Beaumont's The Expectant Dad's Handbook, with a wide-eyed expression painted on his face. Gallacher has not commented publicly. She is believed to be in her third trimester, according to The Sun. The U.K. newspaper reported in May the two dated on and off for years and have been "living as a couple for the last six months" and "are thrilled to bits at the prospect of becoming parents." On June 27, The Sun said Brand and Gallacher have gotten engaged and shared the news with a small group of family and friends at a "hippy-style" gathering at their house. The couple has not commented. A day earlier, her sister Kirsty Gallacher, a TV host, posted on her Instagram page a photo of the two siblings wearing flower crowns, saying, "Congratulations to my gorgeous sister." The Sun quoted a source as saying, "Russell didn't want a big fuss this time after his very public relationship with Katy." Brand was famously married to singer Katy Perry. They wed in October 2010 and the actor filed for divorce 14 months later. (Eonline)

Michael Strahan Talks Life After LIVE: "I've Learned to Have Fun." Do you believe in life after LIVE? Michael Strahan sure does. After leaving the daytime talk show after co-hosting it with Kelly Ripa for more than three years and following months of drama related to his departure, the former New York Giants star says he has "learned to have fun." Strahan had left the show in May and will soon join Good Morning America full-time. His departure was announced to viewers around the same time show executives told co-host Kelly Ripa about it and she was "livid" about being kept in the dark, immediately becoming absent from the show for four weekdays. Before he left, they reunited on the air for several more episodes, during which things seemed tense between the two. She even appeared to make jokes at Strahan's expense. She has been joined by celebrity guest co-hosts since his departure and no permanent replacement for him has been announced. When asked what he has learned from the past few months, Strahan told E! News exclusively, "You know what? I've learned to have fun. Life is not that serious." He made his comments Thursday while standing beside his 11-year-old twin daughters, Sophia and Isabella, at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's screening of Ice Age: Collision Course in New York Thursday. Strahan portrays Teddy, a Palaeolagus, or prehistoric hare, in the movie. "We have so many things that happen that make you realize how precious life is, how you'd better enjoy every day and that your attitude is -- you can determine what your attitude is," he told E! News. "You wake up, you make yourself happy, you make yourself whatever you want it to be, and that's how I look at it every day that I wake up and that's been more than in the last few months," he said. "That's just the way I live my life." After he left LIVE, Strahan had said on the Netflix show Chelsea, "I really haven't missed it," adding, "But I loved it. Don't get me wrong. I loved it. When you get a break, sometimes you kind of go, 'Wow, I kind of needed it.' I needed a break." Strahan will join Good Morning America as a full-time co-host in September after serving as a part-time contributor since 2014. "Can't wait to be there full-time," he told E! News. "Great, great family to work with over there. I'm looking forward to it." (Eonline)

Lamar Odom Responds to Khloe Kardashian's Divorce Filing, Asks Judge to Deny Spousal Support. Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian isn't completely over and done with. The NBA star filed a response to the E! star's filing from May Friday in a Los Angeles Superior Court, reiterating that "irreconcilable differences" was the reason for the dissolution of marriage, but also requests that the judge deny the court's ability to award Khloe with spousal support. The court documents, obtained by E! News, also state that Odom has requested all attorney fees and costs be paid by Khloe. In late May, the E! star went forward with the divorce after putting it on hold to tend to his health needs. Khloe's attorney Laura Wasser went into court and asked the judge to withdraw the divorce petition that was awaiting a judge's signature. The judge granted the petition and the divorce case was over. A source told E! News at the time, "Khloe is looking forward to moving on." The pair first filed for divorce in December 2013, but as you might remember, Khloe famously called it off in October of last year. A source told us at the time, "Khloe thinks this was the right thing to do right now." The news came shortly after the E! star rushed to her husband's side at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas after he was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel on Oct. 13. "I just thought it was really insensitive to [expedite the divorce]," she admitted in an interview with KIIS FM at the time. "I get it, I get why it's confusing, I understand all of that. James Harden has been great. He's been very supportive with everything. There's of course times where I'm sure he was really uncomfortable about some of the things, but I'm a very honest person and I have nothing to hide and I was very open with how I feel like I had to handle everything with Lamar." (Eonline)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Leslie Jones Turns Heads in Red Gown at Ghostbusters Premiere After Designer Ordeal. Leslie Jones turned heads and got her Cinderella moment at the premiere of Ghostbusters Saturday, thanks to a certain designer who heeded her call. The SNL actress and comedienne, who plays her biggest role yet in the rebooted film, wowed in a bright red, off-the-shoulder Christian Siriano gown with a thigh-high slit, paired with sparkling Vince Camuto stiletto sandals and a matching chunky DanniJo necklace, Chris Aire earrings and a Judith Leiber clutch. Jones, who is also known best for her no holds barred stand-up comedy rather than her fashion style, had on June 28 tweeted, "It's so funny how there are no designers wanting to help me with a premiere dress for movie. Hmmm that will change and I remember everything." Her post sparked mixed reactions and reignited discussion about high fashion body standards and the pressure women in Hollywood face to conform to them. And there was one man who immediately took to Twitter to offer help: Designer and Project Runway alum Siriano. He and Jones met up days later to consult on the perfect outfit for the Ghostbusters premiere in Los Angeles. And on Saturday, victory was theirs. At the Ghostbusters premiere, Jones' smile said it all, as did several people the actress retweeted. "To all those designers who refused to dress @Lesdoggg, you must be feeling dumb as s--t. She is perfection." one person wrote. Siriano had tweeted last month, "It shouldn't be exceptional to work with brilliant people just because they're not sample size. Congrats aren't in order, a change is." He himself did not attend the Ghostbusters premiere -- he and partner Brad Walsh got married hours earlier. Jones posed on the green carpet alone and with co-stars Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon. Ghostbusters is set for release on July 15. (Eonline)

Celine Dion Proves Her Heart Will Go on With an $885 Titanic Hoodie. We're not sure what we love the most about this photograph, because it's just too good. Singer Celine Dion was spotted rounding out her high-fashion week in Paris with a style statement that is incredibly hard to ignore (especially if you're all about nostalgia, all the time). Dion stepped out wearing an oversize Titanic sweater. Yes, really! The epic casual piece included a graphic of baby-faced Leonardo DiCaprio, a never-letting-go Kate Winslet and the sinking ship. The words "Coming Soon" are sprawled down each sleeve, proving that this is also quite the collectible. But before you start searching the interwebs to cop yourself a sweater, you may want to double check that piggy bank of yours. This incredible sweater is actually a sold-out, $885 piece from Vetements. Did you get that? Nearly a grand for a sweater. That's more than a first-class ticket on the Titanic. And let's be real, the value only goes up if you're Dion wearing it, because nobody will forget her angelic voice singing "My Heart Will Go On" for the film. Ugh, we get emotional just thinking about it. (Eonline)

Ricky Martin's Epic Cannonball with Twins and New Boyfriend Jwan Yosef. The video is giving us some serious FOMO. How fun does this look? Ricky Martin is really enjoying this summer, and you know that includes a pool day in Cannes, France. The singer shared a video on Instagram of his epic cannonball with his twins, Valentino and Matteo, new boyfriend Jwan Yosef, and some friends. The 44-year-old star introduced his partner to the world in April at a red carpet in Brazil. Since then, Martin has continued to share photos with the handsome London-based artist, but it was unclear if Yosef had met the twin boys. Then the question was answered when the 31-year-old painter shared a picture of Ricky playing with Valentino and Matteo by the pool. This week, Martin also posted a photo with his beau, the two sported angel wings during their stop in Stockholm, Sweden. This might just be the most handsome family we've ever seen! (Eonline)

Liam Payne and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini Take Their Relationship to the Next Level With a New Puppy. You know a relationship is going well when a puppy enters the picture. As Liam Payne and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini continue their romance, the couple decided to share some exciting news on social media. After some careful thought and consideration, it was time to welcome another dog into the family. "Our new family member, he is beyond cute," Cheryl wrote on Intagram as the One Direction singer rested on the couch with the new four-legged friend. "The dog is adorable too @toosmallforteacups thank you ?." Abbie Sisson, who helped care for the dog before finding the perfect home, also went to social media to express her excitement at the new owners. "Both my little chocolate drops have now gone to their new loving and wonderful homes," she wrote. "? once again with such lovely people @cherylofficial." Back in February, E! News confirmed that Liam was dating Cheryl. The pair first met in 2008 when Liam auditioned for the X Factor U.K. Two years later, he tried out again where the judges helped form One Direction. In May of this year, the twosome would make their red carpet debut as a couple at Eva Longoria's Global Gift Gala. "I saw them together and we had a really nice dinner. They were on good form," Simon Cowell shared with The Sun when asked about the relationship. "They're like two little chipmunks madly in love. Literally, they were so cute." He added, "But importantly they both seemed very happy over here and very relaxed. I'm happy for them." (Eonline)

It was a remarkable moment ... The Game and Snoop Dogg forged an alliance with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck, in an emotionally powerful plea for peace. Game and Snoop, who were in downtown L.A. Friday morning for a peace march, met with the Mayor and Chief behind closed doors and then they all walked out in lockstep to make their case for everyone to stop the killings, the murders, the carnage. You gotta listen ... there's palpable anger about events over the last week from all of them, but it's all tempered by what has become a revelation for salvation. (TMZ)

Levi Johnston needs to pay the piper now that the dust has settled in his custody war with Bristol Palin, and people are responding. Levi and wife Sunny set up a GoFundMe account for attorney's fees they racked up in their fight for Levi. He and Bristol settled the case ... they now have joint custody. But lawyers need to get paid, so they set a goal of $5k, and as of this post they're raised more than $5,600. Who knew? (TMZ)

Music

Selena Gomez Revival Tour Show in L.A. Draws High School Musical Stars and Other Celebs. Star power was in full effect and there was even a High School Musical mini reunion at Selena Gomez's Los Angeles concert Friday, the latest stop on her Revival tour. Celebs spotted at the show included High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens, 27, her sister Stella Hudgens, 20, and her friend and former co-star Ashley Tisdale, 31, who arrived with husband Christopher French. The two actresses were seen walking and talking together. They have hung out several times since their High School Musical days and they and other cast members reunited several months ago for an official onscreen reunion to mark the Disney Channel franchise's 10th anniversary. Halle Berry, 49, Tobey Maguire, 41, Jason Derulo, 26, The Vampire Diaries' Arielle Kebbel, 31, Brooklyn Beckham, 17, Peyton List, 18, Bailee Madison, 16, and Girl Meets World stars Sabrina Carpenter, 17, and Rowan Blanchard, 14, also attended. The Hudgens sisters, Tisdale and her hubby, Brooklyn and Rowan were all spotted at the Hyde Lounge at the stadium. In addition, Gomez's friend and Australian pop star Cody Simpson, 19, was seen backstage, hanging out in a room next to the "Come and Get It" and "Kill Em With Kindness" singer with several guy friends, E! News has learned exclusively. Also spotted backstage was opening act DNCE, Joe Jonas' group. He was seen stretching before their set. Gomez heads to Anaheim, California for another show Saturday, after which she'll perform in Canada and then take almost two weeks off before heading to Asia for more concerts. (Eonline)

Ansel Elgort's "Home Alone" Might Be the Song of the Summer. Did Ansel Elgort just deliver the song of the summer? That's what many of his fans are asking after the 22-year-old-actor released "Home Alone" via SoundCloud at midnight Friday. The track serves as his vocal debut, which he wrote and produced himself. The song was released under his full name, rather than that of his musical alter ego, DJ Ansolo. "I'm so excited to begin this journey with you all," the Divergent actor tweeted after its release. Elgort's fans are listening to his electronic entry on repeat. "DUDE THIS IS AWESOME!" one listener wrote on SoundCloud. Another fan admitted, "I wasn't expecting this to be that good." "Home Alone" will be available on iTunes and Spotify July 22. Whether Elgort's track will become the song of the summer is anyone's guess. Drake's "One Dance," featuring WizKid and Kyla, has been No. 1 five weeks, while other contenders include Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling!," Desiigner's "Panda," The Chainsmokers' "Don't Let Me Down" featuring Daya, and Fifth Harmony's "Work From Home," featuring Ty Dolla $ign. Until Friday, all of Elgort's music had been released under his alias. "I just make whatever music I want," he once told Details of being part of the EDM scene. "It's my obsession, and it's very fulfilling." Shailene Woodley -- who, in addition to the Divergent franchise, co-starred with Elgort in The Fault in Our Stars -- always had faith that her friend would become a successful musical artist. "Ansel is not just an actor. He's a musician and a producer. He can paint miniatures and dance like a mother--ker. If he wants to act forever, then he's going to. If he wants to be a musician, he's going to be a musician," Woodley, 24, told the magazine. "If he wants to climb Mount Everest or become a professional hang-glider dude, then that's what he's going to end up doing." And "Home Alone," it seems, is already taking Elgort to new heights. (Eonline)

Shakira and Carlos Vives' "La Bicicleta" Music Video Will Make You Fall in Love with Colombia. We're ready to book our flight to Colombia after watching this. Shakira and Carlos Vives have finally premiered their highly anticipated music video for "La Bicicleta." In the clip, the two Colombian natives find themselves in some heavy traffic and decide to go on a scenic bike ride through the coast of Colombia. We get to see the beauty of Vives' hometown of Santa Marta and Shakira's Barranquilla. The singers explore gorgeous beaches and even catch a quick game of beach soccer. Of course, we can't forget the dance battle with tons of hip shaking. The two included some scenes with fans, which we're sure were excited to see these hometown stars. Shakira showed support for her beau as she and Vives sported FC Barcelona jerseys. But once we listened to the lyrics, we realized that the 39-year-old singer also referenced him in the song saying, "If you show my Pique, Tayrona, then he won't want to go back to Barcelona." Tayrona is a gorgeous national park located near Santa Marta. We Googled it, and it's unreal. According to Billboard, the song debuted at No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart (dated June 18) and has been in the top 5 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. (Eonline)

Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda Release Orlando Tribute "Love Make the World Go Round." Jennifer Lopez and Lin-Manuel Miranda were given the gift of song, and now they're giving back to those affected by last month's Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. The singer, 46, and the playwright, 36, teamed up for "Love Make the World Go Round." Miranda wrote the song, which was recorded June 27 at Avatar Studios in New York City and released exclusively on iTunes Friday. Lopez, Miranda and Epic Records will donate 100 percent of their proceeds (at least 91 cents) from each U.S. download sale from July 8 to Oct. 5. Proyecto Somos Orlando "will provide bilingual culturally-competent social services to impacted families and the broader community. Needed services include case management, crisis intervention, grief counseling, mental health services, legal assistance and educational programs. It will be housed in the same facility as Hispanic Family Counseling (HFC), building on their culturally competent mental health and expanding services, all to be provided under one roof in the heart of the Hispanic community." While the song is not available to stream, fans can watch the musicians record it via Lopez's Instagram. Earlier this week, Lopez referred to the collaboration on Twitter as "something very special," while Hamilton's Miranda teased "a taste of some new music you don't need tickets to hear." During an iHeartRadio Twitter Q&A, Miranda revealed it was Lopez's idea to join forces. "Jen approached me. After hearing the track she was working on, we realized we could do a lot of good together," the Tony winner wrote, adding that it was an emotional experience. "We talked a lot about love counteracting hate, and fear, and how art can play a role in that effort." The pair will perform their duet live on NBC's Today plaza on Monday, July 11. Lopez has also contributed vocals to "Hands," another song benefiting those affected by the LGBTQ nightclub shooting. Mary J. Blige, Jason Derulo, Tyler Glenn, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Ty Herndon, Imagine Dragons, Juanes, Adam Lambert, Mary Lambert, the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Kacey Musgraves, MNEK, Alex Newell, Pink, Prince Royce, Nate Ruess, RuPaul, Troye Sivan, Jussie Smollett, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Meghan Trainor also lent their talents. (Eonline)

Spice Girls Tease Possible Reunion on 20th Anniversary of "Wannabe." Give us what we want, what we really, really want! The Spice Girls have teased a reunion party for fans in a new released video. The announcement came 20 years after the iconic video for "Wannabe" was released. The song gave the quintet the ultimate bragging rights, as it became the biggest-selling debut single by a female group. Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton all appeared in the video to thank their fans. Victoria Beckham and Mel C were noticeably M.I.A., though the latter tweeted, "Happy 20th birthday Wannabe - you haven't aged a bit!" "We've been thinking, we have the best fans in the whole entire world," B says in the video. Halliwell continues, "You've stood by us for 20 years, and we want to say a big thank you." "We've had our ups and downs but you've always been there," Bunton adds. "And we want to celebrate and have a party," B says. "And when we do, you're all invited!" The girls ended the video with large text printed across the screen suggesting further news, which they plan to announce at a later date. "Happy 20th birthday to all our fans," the text read. "This is a celebration for you! We hope to tell you soon, what you want, what you really really want #WANNABE." The Spice Girls last performed together in full capacity at the 2012 Olympics in London. Although we are all not certain what the future holds for the pop stars, a website was also recently launched using the same title as the video: Spice Girls Gem. Whatever is happening, we can't wait! (Eonline)

Calvin Harris Produces New Breakup Song Called ''Ole'' But It's Not About Taylor Swift (Sorry!). Sorry, guys. As exciting as it might have been to have Calvin Harris pull a Taylor Swift and release a song about their breakup, that's not the case. As soon as word spread that Harris had a new song coming and that it had anything to do with a broken relationship, fans began hoping that it was going to be about his highly publicized split with the singer and her quick relationship with Tom Hiddleston. Wishful thinking, y'all. The music producer did, however, team up with singer John Newman for a reggae track about infidelity which was just released called "Ole." "This song has nothing to do with Taylor," a source tells E! News. "He likes this song a lot. People can interpret the song how they want to, but in the end it's just an artist expression." Another insider explains to E! News that this song was created months before the Taylor drama happened. So there's that. Regardless, the lyrics prove to tell a story about a juicy cheating scandal. "My heart speaks/ I ain't seen you or been with you for weeks/ But I see online that you've begun to be/ A good girl and take trips with your boyfriend/ Being attentive, continue to pretend," Newman sings in one verse. "But no, cause there's no telling how far you can go/ You've hidden my name on your phone so you can/ Call me to tell me you've been going through hell/ Left him alone and you booked in a hotel." Both Harris and Newman spoke about the track months ago. Back in April, Harris talked to Capital FM about an upcoming Newman track, saying, "It's with John Newman but it's much better than 'Blame.'" So, when Newman spoke to MTV in May and was asked about this amazing song, he responded, "We have done a tune together and it's incredible. I don't want to say too much 'cause I didn't know he said that!" "My next single is coming after this [his tune 'Give Me Your Love' with Sigala]. It's produced by Calvin and...it's kind of a reggae vibe which is quite cool and...we've done something else together behind the scenes as well, which is something which has shocked us both. I think because we were so proud of the success of 'Blame' and then we kinda listened to [this new song] and we were like, 'This is totally different to anything we've ever made and done together.'" He added: "[It's] really exciting and I'm excited to keep on working with him and to start bringing new singles and new singles and that's what I'm going to continue to do throughout the year." (Eonline)

Jay Z Releases Police Brutality Song "Spiritual." Late Thursday night, Jay Z released a new song, "Spiritual," as a commentary on police brutality and the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. "I made this song a year or so ago, I never got to finish it. Punch (TDE) told me I should drop it when Mike Brown died, sadly I told him, 'this issue will always be relevant.' I'm hurt that I knew his death wouldn't be the last... I'm saddened and disappointed in THIS America-we should be further along. WE ARE NOT," the rapper said. "I trust God and know everything that happens is for our greatest good, but man.... it's touch right now. Blessings to all the families that have lost loved ones to police brutality." Jay Z's statement, shared via Tidal's Twitter, ended with a quote from abolitionist and author Frederick Douglass. "Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe," Douglass once said. In the song's hook, the 45-year-old Brooklyn-raised hip-hop heavyweight raps, "Yeah, I am not poison, no I am not poison / Just a boy from the hood that / Got my hands in the air / In despair don't shoot / I just wanna do good, ah / I am not poison, no I am not poison / Just a boy from the hood that / Got my hands in the air / In despair don't shoot / I just wanna do good, uh." The release of "Spiritual" came just a few hours after Jay Z's wife, Beyonce, released her own call to action in the wake of Sterling and Castile's murders. Titled "Freedom," after her song of the same name with Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce wrote, "We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities. It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they 'stop killing us.' We don't need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives. We're going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished. These robberies of lives make us feel helpless and hopeless but we have to believe that we are fighting for the rights of the next generation, for the next young men and women who believe in good. This is a human right. No matter your race, gender or sexual orientation. This is a fight for anyone who feels marginalized, who is struggling for freedom and human rights. This is not a plea to all police officers but toward any human being who fails to value life. The war on people of color and all minorities needs to be over. Fear is not an excuse. Hate will not win." "We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action. We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes," Beyonce, 34, continued. "While we pray for the families of Alton Sterling and Philander Castile, we will also pray for an end to this plague of injustice in our communities. We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action. We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes." The singer ended her letter by sharing links to help people contact their local congressman or congresswoman, as well as to voice protest for Sterling and Castile's homicides. Beyonce later paused during her concert in Glasgow to honor the innocent lives lost to police brutality. After she performed "Freedom" a cappella, she and her dancers held a moment of silence in front of a screen that listed many of the hundreds of victims' names. Sterling and Castile's names appeared at the top; the words "and countless others" appeared at the bottom. (Eonline)

Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas and Meghan Trainor were among a string of celebrities recruited in a hilarious new parody of Kanye West's Famous video created by BBC Radio 1. The rapper's bizarre new music video caused major controversy following *that* bed scene when it was released late last month. However, that didn't stop BBC Radio 1 from poking a bit of light hearted fun out of it with the help of some chart-topping popstars. Stars include Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nick Jonas, Meghan Trainor and Cheryl, as well as Australian boyband 5 Seconds of Summer. The funny spoof sees the singers in bed together having hilariously awkward conversations, or in other words, a PG version of the kind of pillow talk Kanye had in mind when he envisioned the Famous video. The video, described as a "safe for work" remake, shows Meghan Trainor making fun of her own hit song 'No' whilst Cheryl and Bieber have a *cringe* flirting session. It's all pretty weird... but we love it! (British Glamour)

Steven Tyler's got a message for Sam Hunt's haters ... learn about the evolution of music. We caught up with Steven Thursday at LAX where the rock legend came to the country singer's defense. You'll remember harsh criticism aimed at Sam by people who think he's not country enough. Save the country! (TMZ)

Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & Jay Rock Join ScHoolboy Q on the Black Hippy Remix of 'THat Part'. Black Hippy back. The Top Dawg family reunites for a gritty remix of ScHoolboy Q's "THat Part." The version featuring Ab-Soul, Lamar and Jay Rock dropped via Soundcloud on the eve of Q's Blank Face LP release (July 7). The original featured Kanye West. The West Coast is represented heavily as Rock spits first, repping Watts before Lamar waxes poetic about how society tried to hold him back because of his Compton roots: "And society kept my IQ vexed/ Deny me from an Ivy school/ Applyin' me to the street I slept/ I quietly had to hold this tool/ Reminding me of the block I repped." Soulo arrives by verse three flipping a 2Pac reference, rhyming, "Father forgive 'em for they know not who they see/ I got all eyes on me, call me 3Pac." ScHoolboy rounds out the set with a new sixteen, where he claims he's "not votin', I'm a Crip, homie." He also name-drops Alton Sterling, the 37-year-old black man who was fatally shot by police officers in Baton Rouge, La. earlier this week. "When Alton Sterling gettin' killed for nothin'/ Two cowards in the car, they're just there to film/ Sayin' #BlackLivesMatter should've died with him," he raps. (Billboard)

AC/DC Bassist Cliff Williams to Retire After Current Tour. The ranks of legendary Australian rock giants AC/DC are thinning by the day. After founding guitarist Malcolm Young left in 2014 following a dementia diagnosis, drummer Phil Rudd split due to some legal difficulties and singer Brian Johnson had to step aside this year because of a battle with catastrophic hearing loss, longtime bassist Cliff Williams has announced that he's retiring. Speaking to Gulf shore Life for a feature about rockers who live in Southwest Florida, Williams, 66, who joined the band in 1978, said, "It's been what I've known for the past 40 years, but after this tour I'm backing off of touring and recording," he said. "Losing Malcolm, the thing with Phil and now with Brian, it's a changed animal. I feel in my gut it's the right thing." Williams' decision comes just after AC/DC played a string of European dates with Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose filling in for Johnson on the band's Rock or Bust Tour. While a spokesperson for the band could not be reached for comment at press time, if Williams does indeed retire it would leave guitarist Angus Young as the only original member of the group. (Billboard)

Nashville Notes: Brad Paisley More Than Halfway to Flood Relief Goal; CMT Tweaks Executive Team. Here is your weekly roundup of goings on -- artist signings, staffing moves, good news and more -- in the wide world of country music. Brad Paisley raised more than half his stated goal of $1 million within the first six days of launching a GoFundMe page to help citizens in his native West Virginia recover from a ghastly flood that hit the state on June 23. He seeded the fund with a $100,000 personal donation and had earned roughly $600,000 in pledges from 5,640-plus people as of July 8. Paisley is unfortunately more familiar with floods than he cares to be -- the 2010 Nashville flood destroyed guitars and equipment that he owned and forced his crew to remake parts of the set for that year's tour at the last minute. Floods also impacted the Midwest: classic country KFTI Wichita, Kan., shut down during the weekend when water in the station's facility put the station's transmitter at risk. Waters were receding July 5, though the station remained offline that afternoon. Five Scripps/Wichita sister stations remained in operation. An Oct. 18 street date has been assigned for Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark. Written by his former publicist Tamara Saviano, who also produced the album This One's for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, the 406-page effort was started in 2008 and finished this spring just days prior to his May 17 death. More than 200 people were interviewed for the work, and Saviano was also granted access to the journals of Clark's wife, songwriter Susanna Clark ("Come From the Heart," "Easy From Now On"). Texas A&M University Press is publishing the book as part of a series on Texas music. Curb duo American Young will release its self-titled debut on Aug. 5 after finishing the 12-song project with co-producer Lee Brice. The pair comprises songwriter Jon Stone, who co-wrote Brice's "A Woman Like You," and Kristy Osmunson, formerly one-half of the female duo Bomshel. The twosome collectively wrote 11 of the album's tracks. 'ROUND THE ROW. CMT made four adjustments to its executive team with two hires and two promotions. New VP consumer marketing Rory Levine spent seven years with BBC America, most recently serving as American Institute of Graphic Arts director of marketing and communications. New VP program planning Tessa Jordan was recently Nickelodeon director of brand and content management. Heather DeVaney Graffagnino was promoted to VP production management from senior director, and Quinn Brown was raised to VP production from executive producer ... Hedley Entertainment hired Anthony Corder as director of publishing and added Dean Dillon ("Marina Del Rey," "Tennessee Whiskey") to the writing roster at the firm. Corder was previously Dark Horse Institute music business instructor ... Warner/Chappell Nashville promoted B.J. Hill to VP A&R from senior director. Hill will split his time between Warner/Chappell and Rhythm House, a new company formed by songwriter-producer Jesse Frasure ("Fix," "Crash and Burn") in tandem with Warner/Chappell and Roc Nation. Frasure was previously Major Bob VP A&R ... Dave Cobb's Low Country Sound and Warner/Chappell Nashville signed co-publishing deals with songwriters Adam Hood, Charlie Pate and Aaron Raitiere... Big Machine Music added Emily Landis to its writing corps ... Average Joes duo The Lacs formed a new label, Barn Burner, with plans to release music by Racket County, a band the duo formed with tour mates Hard Target. Average Joes will handle distribution ... Music Health Alliance will honor Hazel Smith as a Music Row Storyteller on Aug. 15 at Well Placed Smile in Nashville, with receipts earmarked for MHA... Pioneering guitarist Scotty Moore died June 28 in Nashville. His work with Elvis Presley on "That's All Right," "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Don't Be Cruel," to name just a few, set a standard for future musicians. Moore's ventures also included a studio, Music City Recorders, that hosted hit sessions in the 1970s for John Conlee, Moe Bandy and Ronnie McDowell ... Thirty Tigers partner/VP sales Bob Goldstone died July 3 of injuries from a biking accident near his home in Pegram, Tenn. Thirty Tigers president/founder David Macias referred to Goldstone as "the beating, loving heart" of the company. Goldstone's resume included stints with Tower Records, Capricorn and Mercury Nashville. Services are pending. MOVERS & SHAKERS Emmis/Indianapolis senior VP/market manager Charlie Morgan was re-elected Country Radio Broadcasters president for 2016-2017. New additions to the board include Curb VP country promotion Ryan Dokke, Sony Music Nashville chairman/CEO Randy Goodman, Big Machine Label Group director of strategic research Dave Kelly and iHeartCountry senior VP programming Rod Phillips. Registration for the 2017 Country Radio Seminar (Feb. 22-24, 2017) opens July 12 with a discounted rate of $429 for a limited time ... WTRS Gainesville-Ocala, Fla., revamped its format as a country/rock hybrid on June 29, adopting new call letters: WXUS. Bo Hamilton continues as PD ... KOSO Modesto, Calif., traded an adult contemporary format for country on July 1. The on-air lineup includes The Bobby Bones Show, morning; Greg Lane, midday; and Christina Martinez, afternoon drive ... WOMG Columbia, S.C., dropped its country format July 1 in favor of classic hits ... Adams Radio/Las Cruces, N.M. welcomed Scott Brocato for on-air shifts at country KGRT and classic hits KSNM. He was most recently a personality for CBS Radio/St. Louis ... Melinda Coyer and Derek James started July 5 as the morning team at KRMD Shreveport, La., which dropped its "Nash" branding. It's a return to on-air work for Coyer, who went into radio sales and marketing and worked for Business First Bank. James previously did mornings for KRMD and remained in the market with Bayou Outdoor Supercenter ... KXDD Yakima, Wash., morning personality Dewey Boynton retired July 1 after 44 years in radio ... Two changes are afoot at WYCD Detroit, RadioInfo.com reports: Tim Roberts was promoted to CBS Radio/Detroit VP programming from WYCD operations manager, while Roxanne Steele took over WYCD middays, shifting from top 40 sister WDZH ... Scott LeTourneau is hosting mornings at KLEN Cheyenne, Wyo., and afternoons at KWYY Casper, Wyo., according to RadioInfo.com. He was previously a personality at Westwood One ... iHeartMedia appointed Tony Banks as Central division director of talent development, InsideRadio.com reported. He'll work with 300 stations in 52 markets, based in St. Louis. He was previously Midwest senior VP programming. (Billboard)

Scarface and Swizz Beatz Tackle Police Violence in 'Sad News'. The music world has reacted swiftly and decisively in the wake of the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile with an outpouring of concern, and more pointedly, new tracks about rage, injustice and fear. In addition to songs from Jay Z and his sister-in-law, Solange Knowles, Geto Boys member Scarface hooked up with Swizz Beatz for the protest song "Sad News." The Swizz/Scarface collabo opens with the lines, "A little boy got shot down today/ I hope his family is okay/ Is it our race that pay/ I hope the whole world be okay," sending loving vibes to the family of the unnamed boy (who could be Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old black child killed by police in 2014). While the gentle chorus pleads for peace and comfort, Scarface's verse has a more pointed message, "For all the homies shot down by white boys and not one convicted/ Of wrongdoing, is it justice we pursuing/ Freedom from death, beat 'em to death, f--- 'em/ I will awake the sleeping giants, with one last word." Earlier in his verse, Scarface gets more explicit, wondering, "Shot down for the dope and the dollar sign/ I often site and wonder, 'Could this world be mine?'/ Nah, I'd be lying/ If I said I ain't heard 'em when they told me I was just a n---a/ Nothing but a burden to society," later calling for a ban on all the "bad judges" who aren't giving justice. In an Instagram post announcing the song, Swizz wrote "This must stop!!!! @brothermob and I have something to say today on our new song #SadNews." Also on Thursday, Jay Z released a protest song about putting his hands up and fearing for his life on the streets, "spiritual," and his sister-in-law, Solange, posted a short clip of her cover of Syreeta's 1972 anthem "Black Maybe" on Thursday, explaining that the song has been comfort for her weary heart, adding, "but what is comfort when the images of slain black bodies left to bleed are sketched into your being... over and over again." At her show in Thursday in Glasgow, Beyonce asked the audience to take a moment of silence for the victims of police brutality. Sterling and Castile were shot and killed by cops within a 24-hour period. Video shows Sterling being killed by cops on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, La., while Castile was shot at a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, on Wednesday. Their deaths were followed on Thursday night by the sniper killings of 5 police officers in Dallas, who were gunned down during an anti-police protest, marking the deadliest mass incident for U.S. law enforcement since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (Billboard)

Movies

She ain't afraid of no change! Sigourney Weaver, who appeared in the original Ghostbusters flicks in the '80s, opened up to Harper's Bazaar about passing the ghoul gig on to the reboot's female cast: Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. "To be able to hand Ghostbusters over to these incredibly talented women felt perfect, and it was time," the 66-year-old, who starred in the 1984 flick and its 1989 sequel alongside Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, said in the magazine's August issue. "There is such wonderful chemistry between the four of them. That does remind me of the boys because they were old friends and they had worked together a lot too. That kind of comedic pairing is just gold. You just turn the camera on and let them go at it." Weaver -- who played Dana Barrett, a possessed cellist and Murray's love interest -- witnessed the women's dynamic firsthand. After all, she makes a cameo in the movie (in theaters July 15). "I think the fans are going to be pleased by how we pop up," the Oscar nominee added. "It's just a very sweet movie but also very funny and kind of crazy. I think that's a big part of what films can do -- take us to another world." Still, after 32 years, she doesn't buy into paranormal activity. "But I do have a friend who tries to get in touch with the other world," Weaver, wed to director Jim Simpson, admitted. "She does things like go on ghost tours of Grand Central station and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So there's a lot of ghost presence, perhaps, in New York." The August issue of Harper's Bazaar is on newsstands July 19. (US Weekly)

Simon Pegg and Zachary Quinto Challenge George Takei's Stance on Making Sulu Gay in Star Trek Beyond. Star Trek alum George Takei, who is gay, had a surprising, less than enthusiastic response about the big reveal that Hikaru Sulu, the character he originated in the '60s, shares the same sexual orientation in Star Trek Beyond. John Cho, 44, who plays him in the upcoming film, the third in a reboot series, revealed in a recent interview that Sulu and a male partner are parents to a daughter. Sulu is now the first on-air gay character in the Star Trek franchise. Cho said Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin and co-writer Simon Pegg, who also plays Scotty, had made the decision as a partial nod to Takei. "I'm delighted that there's a gay character," the 79-year-old actor told The Hollywood Reporter. "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene's creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate." Takei, who came out in 2005 and is married to a man, was referring to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who died in 1991. The actor told The Hollywood Reporter that the man had always envisioned Sulu as heterosexual. "I have huge love and respect for George Takei, his heart, courage and humor are an inspiration," Pegg, 46, told The Guardian in response to Takei's comments. "However, with regards to his thoughts on our Sulu, I must respectfully disagree with him." "I don't believe Gene Roddenberry's decision to make the prime timeline's Enterprise crew straight was an artistic one, more a necessity of the time," he added. Takei also told The Hollywood Reporter that Cho had told him about Sulu's sexuality last year. He said then "urged" the Star Trek Beyond director to "honor" Roddenberry and "create a new character" who is gay instead of Sulu. Lin has not commented. "We could have introduced a new gay character, but he or she would have been primarily defined by their sexuality, seen as the 'gay character,' rather than simply for who they are," Pegg told The Guardian. "And isn't that tokenism?" "Our Trek is an alternate timeline with alternate details," he added. "Whatever magic ingredient determines our sexuality was different for Sulu in our timeline. I like this idea because it suggests that in a hypothetical multiverse, across an infinite matrix of alternate realities, we are all LGBT somewhere." Star Trek film star Zachary Quinto, 39, also weighed in on Sulu's sexuality reveal, as well as Takei's response. Quinto is gay in real life, while in the movie reboots, his character, Spock, is involved romantically with his co-worker, Uhura, played by Zoe Saldana. "As a member of the LGBT community myself...I was disappointed by the fact that George was disappointed," he told pedestrian.tv. "I think any member of the LGBT community that takes issue with the normalized and positive portrayal of members of our community in Hollywood and in mainstream blockbuster cinema." "I get it that he's had his own personal journey and has his own personal relationship with this character, but you know, as we established in the first Star Trek in 2009, we've created an alternate universe," he said. "My hope is that eventually, George can be strengthened by the enormously positive response from especially young people who are heartened by and inspired by this really tasteful and beautiful portrayal of something that I think is gaining acceptance and inclusion in our societies across the world, and should be." Pegg also told The Guardian the Star Trek Beyond audience "would infer that there has been an LGBT presence in the Trek Universe from the beginning (at least in the Kelvin timeline), that a gay hero isn't something new or strange." Many minor characters are members of the LGBT community in Star Trek novels and comic books. In addition, androgynous species have been introduced on Star Trek TV shows and one of them, the '90s series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, had famously featured a female-to-female kiss, although the context of it was unusual. Meanwhile, Sulu's daughter has been seen before as well -- she appears as an adult in the 1994 movie Star Trek: Generations. Referencing a 1995 Star Trek novel, Takei said her mother was a "glamazon"-like woman with whom Sulu had a one-night stand. However, her parentage and her dad's love life was never explored on-screen. "It's also important to note that at no point do we suggest that our Sulu was ever closeted -- why would he need to be?" Pegg told The Guardian. "It's just hasn't come up before." (Eonline)

Chinese Nationalists Blast Director Vicky Zhao for Casting Taiwanese Actor. The Communist Youth League has called for a boycott of her next feature, 'No Other Love,' which is backed by Alibaba Pictures. Nationalists on Chinese social media have set their sights on actress-turned-director Vicky Zhao after she cast a well-known Taiwanese actor in the lead role of her next film. The Communist Youth League, long a training ground for elite positions within the Chinese Communist Party, has waged a coordinated social media campaign over the past week criticizing Zhao (also known as Zhao Wei) for casting Leon Dai (Assassin, Double Vision) in the lead of her upcoming romance No Other Love. In an article entitled "Zhao Wei's New Film Met with Universal Boycott by Internet Users," the nationalist organization has alleged that Dai is a supporter of Taiwanese independence and Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement -- political issues of particular consternation among the Chinese Communist Party. "The state interests come before idol worship. I have liked you for many years, but you should have known better," wrote one Weibo user, according to the South China Morning Post. Zhao is one of China's most dynamic stars. After a successful run as a leading lady in films such as Shaolin Soccer (2001), Red Cliff (2008) and Painted Skin: The Resurrection (2012), Zhao debuted as a director in 2013 with romantic drama So Young, which grossed $118 million from a budget of $5 million. Nicknamed "China's showbiz Warren Buffett," Zhao is also a noted investor. Prior to last summer's stock-market meltdown in China, her net worth was estimated at over $1 billion. She's also a successful pop singer. No Other Love is backed by Alibaba Pictures and China Film Group, among other production partners. According to the SCMP, both Dai and members of the film's production crew have made public statements denying that the actor has any political agenda or pro-Taiwan-independence stance. Nationalists have exerted political influence over Asian entertainment figures via social media before. In January, 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop singer Tzuyu became embroiled in a controversy after waving the Taiwanese flag during a South Korean online variety show. The gesture was promptly characterized as a statement of support for Taiwanese independence, and her Chinese concerts, along with a local endorsement deal, were canceled. Tzuyu later filmed and posted a video apologizing and stating that she believes there is "only one China." (Hollywood Reporter)

'The Secret Life of Pets' -- It All Started With One Question from Illumination's Chris Meledandri. Director Chris Renaud reveals how the movie's four-legged menageries was brought to life. It all started with a simple question: Chris Meledandri, the founder and CEO of Illumination -- the animation house behind Despicable Me and the mega-grossing Minions -- is a dog-lover. He has two Wire Hair Fox Terriers. So pets were on his mind when he asked Chris Renaud, who directed with Pierre Coffin Despicable Me and its sequel, if he'd "ever thought about doing a movie about what pets do when you're not at home?'. "We just started with that idea," recalls Renaud, who would go on to helm The Secret Life of Pets, the $75-million feature that Universal unleashes. "The challenge was how big a concept that was. What do they do? Are they solving mysteries? We had to figure that out, but we wanted it to be relatable, a celebration of our relationships with our pets." That idea was first discussed in the summer of 2012 and after developing the story and characters, it took two more years to produce. In the end, the filmmakers decided to tell a New York-set story built around Max, a quick-witted terrier rescue, who's voiced by Louis C.K. Max is convinced he sits at the center of his owner's universe. But his pampered life is turned upside down when his owner, voiced by Ellie Kemper, brings home Duke, a large, sloppy mongrel with no interpersonal skills, who's voiced by Eric Stonestreet. This reluctant duo must team up when they find themselves on the city streets, and on the run from a cunning bunny named Snowball, voiced by Kevin Hart, who's building an army of pets who've been abandoned by their owners and are out for revenge. The voice cast also includes the likes of Jenny Slate, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks. The making of Pets was highly collaborative in Illumination's own unique way. Renaud works at Illumination Mac Guff's Paris animation production facility, where roughly 700 artists are based and the studio's films are made, while Meledandri works in the studio's Santa Monica headquarters. "The writers and vocal talent are also typically in the U.S. We start with storyboarding but it's very collaborative," says Renaud. The core team, which includes Renaud, Meledandri and producing partner Janet Healy, co-director Yarrow Cheney (who's working on Illumination's upcoming How The Grinch Stole Christmas), and the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (Despicable Me) and Brian Lynch (Minions) all communicated on a regular basis. As is typical on an animated feature, a lot evolved along the way, including the look and personality of the film's antagonist, Snowball the bunny, who started out big and ugly and ended up small and fuzzy. Explains Renaud, "We felt it would be funnier to have a little guy with a big chip on his shoulder, so we started talking about him more as a bunny you would see on an Easter card. We had been talking about Kevin Hart as the voice actor, and we sent the picture to Kevin's people and he was excited. It was the contrast that felt really fun." Louis C.K.'s Max became "a little sarcastic, neurotic," with the flavor of one of Woody Allen's New Yorkers, Renaud continued. "With Eric Stonestreet's Duke, it was finding the contrast. It was a big personality coming out of this big fluffy dog. Eric can play big but also can be a softy. Duke's character was one of most challenging. We had to establish dramatic conflict but not so aggressive that it's off-putting -- like Gru in Despicable Me. We had to establish empathy because you want Duke and Max to come together as buddies. Essentially it's a buddy comedy." As the team built the story, they drew from experiences with their own pets. "The guinea pig is based on my guinea pig," says Renaud, adding that Meledandri "said he didn't want to push the characters toward one of his dogs, but he thinks he did." Having a large voice cast with busy schedules meant that each voice performance was recorded separately and the subtleties of each were combined in the editing. "Editor Ken Schretzmann (Toy Story 3) did an amazing job putting it together. I think it's impossible to tell that they're not together in the same room," Renaud adds. The material seems ripe for a sequel. Renaud agrees but adds "we're waiting to see how the global audience reacts. The concept is certainly big enough with all kind of ideas we can explore. I think there's a desire to find these stories because pets occupy such an important part in our lives." And for those who are missing those Minions, they do appear in an Illumination animated short, Mower Minions, which plays before the feature. Additionally (spoiler alert!) you'll catch a canine in a Minions costume at one point in the new feature. "Someone made a Minion costume for a bulldog, and we thought that was a fun idea to include in the film," says Renaud. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Outlander's Beautiful Finale Just Changed the Show Forever. Now that is how you end a season. A lot has gone down in season two of Outlander. Some of it was fun to watch, some of it was not. Some of it wasn't necessarily fun to watch, but it was moving, beautiful, and necessary to watch. Saturday night's finale was damn near perfect, and made all the hardships of this season more than worth it. It was an hour and a half of all the original reasons I fell in love with this series: time travel, adventure, history, and of course, the tragic but incomparably beautiful relationship between Claire and Jamie (along with great acting and beautiful scenery and all that inherent jazz). I was not expecting the majority of the finale to take place in the '60s, but could not have been more delighted that that's exactly what it did. It also managed to cover a whole lot of ground in a relatively short amount of time, to the point where that was basically an Outlander movie, and it was so worth the wait. After so much time spent in the 1700s, it was sort of jarring to start the episode with a TV screen, and to pull away to see a man in a suit and tie. That man turned out to be Roger Wakefield (Richard Rankin), who was mourning the loss of his father, Reverend Wakefield. Two of the attendees at the wake were a young Brianna Randall (Sophie Skelton) and an older Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe). Claire had come to pay her respects to the reverend and revisit the place that changed her life, and Brianna was just tagging along. Little did she know, her entire world was about to fall apart, and we arrived just in time to see it happen. While Roger fell in love with Brianna almost immediately, she got close to him pretty quickly as well, especially when it seemed to her like he was currently the only person she knew in Scotland who wasn't insane. After uncovering some stories about her mother being kidnapped by fairies just around the time she would have been pregnant, Bree confronted Claire about the guy she had an affair with, and got a story she definitely wasn't expecting about a 6'3" redheaded soldier in a kilt from the 1800s. There was no way Brianna was believing that nonsense, so she and Roger took refuge with some whiskey in a pub. Claire, meanwhile, took a little tour of places like the now abandoned Lallybroch, and a war museum, where she found the dragonfly in amber that Hugh Munro had given her as a wedding gift. As Claire reminisced, we learned exactly what happened at Culloden that brought Claire back to her own time. The Frasers had determined that their only last-ditch chance of stopping everyone dying at Culloden was to kill Charles Stuart. Without the guy to lead them (however ridiculous he was), the battle wouldn't even occur, and thus Jamie and his men would be saved. However, Dougal overheard this plan, and totally lost it. He went after Jamie and Claire with a sword, and it turned into a huge fight. Once Jamie finally had the pointy end pointed in Dougal's direction, Claire helped him finish the job, leaving Dougal to die on the floor. When it became clear that there was no chance of stopping the battle, Jamie told Claire he was sending her home so that their second child could have a chance at survival. Apparently, Jamie had been tracking his wife's periods, and had figured out that she must be pregnant. He didn't want both his wife and his kid to die at Culloden, even if that meant sending Claire back to Frank. Claire tried to refuse, but Jamie had his mind made up, and both Balfe and Heughan acted their faces off as they said goodbye. Jamie's speech about how even if he had to endure 200 years of purgatory, he would still find his way back to Claire was just the kind of speech this genre is made to give, and it was perfect. They made love one last time, and slowly slow danced one last time, kissed one last time, and exchanged tokens -- Claire gave Jamie the dragonfly in amber, and Jamie gave Claire his father's ring -- before they parted for what they thought was forever. Back in 1968, Bree and Roger had met up with a woman named Gillian Edgars, who was traipsing around Inverness preaching about Scottish nationalism and the need for a new Bonnie Prince Charlie. Claire took one look at a picture of Gillian and knew immediately that it was actually Geillis Duncan, just before she went through the stones on her way to her apparent death on the stake. After Claire explained what was going to eventually happen to Gillian, Roger suggested trying to save her (secretly thinking that Gillian could either prove or disprove the whole insane time travel thing), but Claire said they couldn't, because of course, Roger's a direct descendant of Geillis and Dougal. Claire, Roger, and the still disbelieving Brianna headed to Craigh Na Dun thinking they could at least warn Gillian/Geillis. They were just in time to see Gillian disappear through the stones, leaving behind the burning corpse of her husband, since she believed she needed a human sacrifice to make the time travel work. After witnessing that show, Brianna finally admitted she believed everything her mother told her, and told Roger to reveal the discovery he had made: Jamie Fraser didn't die at Culloden. As the sun rose over the stones, Claire declared that she had to go back to her husband, and we're on our way to season three with basically an all new cast of characters to get to know, either because they're actually new or because 20 years have gone by. It's going to be interesting, to say the least, and we can't wait. (Eonline)

Michael Strahan Says He ''Can't Wait'' to Join Good Morning America Full-Time: Watch to Get the Scoop! The last two months have been a learning experience for Michael Strahan. On Thursday, the 44-year-old opened up to E! News about his personal and professional life at a screening for his new movie Ice Age: Collision Course in New York City and revealed he's "learned to have fun" since leaving LIVE. "You know what? I've learned to have fun. Life is not that serious," Strahan told E! News. "We have so many things that happen that make you realize how precious life is, how you'd better enjoy every day and that your attitude is -- you can determine what your attitude is. You wake up, you make yourself happy, you make yourself whatever you want it to be, and that's how I look at it every day that I wake up and that's been more than in the last few months. That's just the way I live my life." Strahan left his co-hosting job with Kelly Ripa in May to join Good Morning America as a full-time co-host. With his September start date quickly approaching, Strahan told E! News he "can't wait" to begin his new job. (Eonline)

Amber Rose's Talk Show Debuts: Host Talks Sex, Small Penises & Taylor Swift. Amber Rose made her big TV hosting debut Friday with the premiere of The Amber Rose Show and joked about celebs, offered sex and dating advice and chatted with celebrity guest and rapper French Montana. "I'm so excited to have my own show!" she said. "Yes, so you guys can get to know the real me. And, actually, people don't know this about me but I'm actually a virgin. Just kidding! I'm a ho." During her monologue, Rose referenced celebs such as Chris Brown, Taylor Swift and even her ex, Kanye West. She talked about Swift and new boyfriend's PDA-filled Fourth of July weekend with the singer's friends at her Rhode Island home, during which the British Thor actor wore an "I ? T.S." tank top. "So cute." Rose said. "Can I please come next year to your party? Please? And Taylor, as long as you know my plus one won't be Kanye, then we'll be straight." In a segment titled "Ask MUVA," referencing her nickname, an audience member shared a story of dating a guy with a small penis and signaled she was reluctant to continue the relationship. "He had a small dick?" Rose asked. "I think you should cut him off. I mean, listen, you just said you 'kind' of like him. You don't want to grow to love him and he has a small penis. Listen, on the Amber Rose Show, we are not about body shaming -- he can't help what he has in his pants, so we're not going to judge him for that, but your personal preference to have a guy with a bigger dick and if it's just not there, it's just not there." While offering advice to another woman with a condom problem, Rose mocked guys who "put on Magnums and they're not a Magnum size." Rose later offered another woman sexting advice. "Don't ever, ever, ever send nudes," she said. "Unless you really don't give a s--t about it being on the Internet. Just keep it all verbal. It actually stimulates the mind more." During her chat with French Montana, the two discussed dating and, yes, sex. The rapper dated Khloe Kardashian for several months in 2014. He made no mention of her on the show and said he is currently single. Rose also got him to admit he once took part in a threesome with another man and a woman. He also revealed his No. 1 turn-off -- when a woman goes Number 2. "What if...she's discreet about it?" Rose asked. "F--k that," he said. Before the show aired, Rose took to Instagram to clarify that the episode was pre-taped. The series debuted a night after a gunman shot dead five police officers in Dallas during a protest against police violence. This marked the deadliest incident for law enforcement since the 2001 Sept. 11 attacks and followed two fatal police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota. The incidents have reignited national debate over gun control and racial inequality and injustice. "We recorded the show earlier this week before the tragic events that shook our nation," Rose's post read. "So unfortunately we were unable to address out outrage on the show tonight." "#BlackLivesMatter," she added. (Eonline)

Meet The Real Housewives of New Jersey's New Breakout Stars Siggy Flicker and Dolores Catania. There are some new faces in the Garden State. Bravo's Real Housewives of New Jersey is returning after a nearly two-year hiatus following Teresa Giudice's prison sentence and along for the ride with Teresa are veterans Melissa Gorga and Jacqueline Laurita and newcomers Siggy Flicker and Dolores Catania. But don't expect any Real Housewives newbie awkwardness. ?"We're both a lot alike. I have history with every single person on the cast," Dolores told E! News. "That's key," Jacqueline added. Dolores has known Teresa and Jacqueline for years. "She gets me and I get her," Teresa said of her friend she made in her 20s. Meanwhile, Siggy was a friend of Jacqueline's before being added, but whatever beef is happening between Jacqueline and Melissa and Teresa didn't stop them from embracing her. "Siggy was Jacqueline's friend and she has a lot of energy. She owns the room when she walks in... She's got a lot to say," Melissa said. "She's actually one of the first Jewish ladies we've had intertwined with us, right? One of our first, which we love because it brings a whole other dynamic and point of view at some points." Siggy said the ladies all have one thing in common: "We believe old school is the only school," she said. "And we all are in love with our children -- it's family. There's no normal. It's either high or low, you will never see us barely breathing." The Real Housewives of New Jersey returned Sunday, July 10 on Bravo. (Eonline)

Kathryn Edwards Is Leaving Real Housewives of Beverly Hills After One Season. Kathryn Edwards is saying goodbye to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after just one season, E! News has confirmed. The former model revealed to People that she is not returning to the Bravo hit after joining the show halfway through its sixth season. "I walk away from it all with great feelings. I have no regrets at all," she told the magazine of her decision. "It was definitely an adventure for me. I really am kind of a private person. It really just comes down to the time and what I value the most. I value those times with my husband and our friends. And I really didn't want to miss another year. It's nice to be able to live life." Although Edwards made a splash after she memorably sparred with Faye Resnick over revelations in Resnick's mid-'90s tell-all book, she wasn't the center of much drama throughout her stint on RHOBH. (ICYMI, Faye alleged that Marcus Allen, Kathryn's then-husband, had an affair with Nicole Brown Simpson that sparked O.J. Simpson's rage.) "She capitalized on a tragedy. Horrible. She wrote a book back in the day, 21 years ago, and spoke of me. She's never met me, so don't act like you know me when you don't know me," Kathryn told her RHOBH costars, adding, "There's very few people in my life that I've carried a dagger for...She's one of them." In other RHOBH news, Lisa Vanderpump has officially signed her contract and will be returning for season seven. Thank goodness. Will you miss Edwards on RHOBH? (Eonline)

Trevor Noah, Larry Wilmore Skewer Roger Ailes Over Gretchen Carlson Sexual Harassment Claims. The 'Nightly Show' host also pointed out that he predicted she'd be fired for saying she'd support a ban on assault weapons. Larry Wilmore and Trevor Noah took Roger Ailes to task on their respective Comedy Central shows on Thursday night, each discussing the sexual harassment lawsuit that Gretchen Carlson filed against him. Wilmore began his Nightly Show by pointing out that Carlson was let go shortly after he predicted she would be fired for saying she'd support a ban on assault weapons. After joking that he called it, he turned his focus to the lawsuit. He said Carlson's "accusations are far too creepy to ignore." "We don't want to jump to any conclusions," cautioned Wilmore. "It's just a classic case of she said, it said." He congratulated Ailes for winning "The Nightly Show's Inaugural Ain't Nobody Surprised You're a Creepy Ass Motherf---er Award," bringing out a gold trophy of a naked butt with a hand on it. "Oh and by the way, we all know you did it," said Wilmore. Trevor Noah, meanwhile, introduced The Daily Show's coverage with a Game of Thrones joke. "You know when something you always assumed was going to happen finally happens -- and yet when it actually does happen, you're still surprised?" asked Noah. "Like seeing Jon Snow come back to life after months of rumors that he would. You knew he was going to come back but as soon as he came back you were like 'Oh s--t he came back to life!' "That's how we felt yesterday when this happened," he said, showing media coverage of Carlson's lawsuit. He joked that one of the things liberals and conservatives can see eye to eye on is that Ailes is "unf---able." He gave "props to Gretchen Carlson" for coming forward, noting that doing so takes courage. "Even more courage than it would take to have sex with him," he said. After comparing Ailes to Jabba the Hutt, Noah discussed Ailes' response to the lawsuit, in which he claimed that Carlson's ratings were bad. However, Noah claimed Carlson's ratings were actually better than those of her cable-network rivals. "Bigger numbers is bad?," Noah asked. "I think you're thinking of golf." He also described Fox News as a network that "devotes 30 percent of programming to women's legs." Noah said, "I'm inclined to believe Gretchen Carlson, not because we know what happens behind the camera at Fox News but because we definitely know what happens in front of it." Then he proceeded to show a supercut of sexist Fox News coverage, including a moment where Carlson walked off stage in protest. (Hollywood Reporter)

Dallas Police Shooting Sends Network News Anchors to Texas as Cable News Goes Wall-to-Wall. All three broadcast evening news anchors have been dispatched to the scene of the deadly shooting of five police officers. After snipers gunned down five police officers in Dallas on Thursday night, network news divisions were once again scrambling to get their anchors to the scene of the latest mass shooting in America. CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, who hails from Lubbock, Texas, was already in the state on a pre-planned vacation. So he was able to make the trip to Dallas in time to report from the scene for CBS This Morning. He'll also anchor Friday's Evening News broadcast from Dallas. ABC's David Muir was en route early Friday and will anchor World News Tonight from Dallas. Likewise, Lester Holt will helm NBC Nightly News from the scene. NBC News and MSNBC also have a large contingent of correspondents on the ground in Dallas including Joe Fryer, Gabe Gutierrez, Chris Hayes, Chris Jansing, Trymaine Lee, Tammy Leitner, Craig Melvin and Jacob Rascon. Brian Williams anchored the network's breaking news coverage overnight, even appearing on NBC in the wee hours of the morning. Cable news has been wall-to-wall since Thursday night when the shooting began. CNN's Don Lemon first broke in with Dallas coverage Thursday night at 10:09 p.m. ET. The network is relying on Dallas-based correspondent Ed Lavandra, while reporters Sara Sidner and Kyung Lah also are on the scene. Fox News Channel's Megyn Kelly was at the tail end of her 9 p.m. ET program when the shooting began and remained on the air until handing over coverage to Shepard Smith at 11 p.m. After he got off the air at 1 a.m. ET, Smith hopped a flight to Dallas and will anchor from the city on Friday. FNC will present live editions of its primetime line up with On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, The O'Reilly Factor, The Kelly File, and Hannity. Additionally, the network has Dallas-based correspondent Casey Stegall, William La Jeunesse, Rick Leventhal and Rich Edson on the ground in Dallas. The shooting took place during a protest over the recent deadly police shootings of black citizens. Twelve officers were shot, five fatally, in the deadliest incident for U.S. law enforcement since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The suspect died early Friday morning after a standoff with police that lasted several hours. He was killed when authorities detonated a bomb dispatched by a robot. Before he died, he told hostage negotiators that we wanted to kill white people, especially police officers, Dallas Police Chief David Brown revealed during a news conference on Friday morning. "We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was," Brown said. "Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger. The suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb." Before he was killed, the suspect said he acted alone and was not affiliated with any hate groups. (Hollywood Reporter)