Domestic Abuse

Johnny Depp & Amber Heard

The subject of Domestic Abuse has grabbed worldwide focus again in the divorce of world famous superstar Johnny Depp and his Wife Amber Heard. 

Johnny has been vehemently defended by friends and his former partner Vanessa Paradis with whom he has two children. Many of Depp's friends calling Heard a manipulative gold digger.

Let's put the mud slinging and the whole taking sides thing away for a moment to focus on a subject that should always be treated respectfully and with sensitivity. This commentary is not about lying whores or evil pricks. It's about being aware that this is an issue that affects 1 in 4 Women and 3 million Men. 

It's about those who take advantage of someone else's emotional and physical vulnerability. Again this is not about side taking, or about Depp and Heard, it is about educating. Just because someone does not abuse all of their partners, does not mean they will not abuse others.

My good friend Romi Simmons wrote this account about her Mother in the wake of all this:

"Just weighing in .... From personal experience ... Some people don't behave the same with other partners... Usually the dynamics... Brought out by each other.....My Dad beat my Mom... But he didn't beat his other wife or his GF. They never believed the stories I told them. Nor did our community.... Plus they always said women who stay with Men who abuse them Must like it... Lol... I remember that always pissed me off... That statement... We didn't like it.. We just didn't know we had a way out...."

This is something that most people do not consider when they hear that someone is being abusive to another human being that has never done the same to them. It's an important point that needs to be addressed more in the press by those who report it. The sensationalism, insensitivity and ignorance toward this has got to stop. 

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, there is a way out. 

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233   

Congrats! Kirstin Maldonado

Kirstin & Jeremy
Yes They, Can, Can, Can

Normally I don't write about celebrity engagements but in this case since I know the bride to be, and she likes my clothing style, I would like to wish her well.

Kirstin Maldonado of the super group Pentatonix is vacationing in Paris with her boyfriend Jeremy Michael Lewis this Memorial Day weekend. What she didn't know was he was planning to pop the question.

Kirstin took to, what else, Twitter to express excitement:

"'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.' AT THE MOULIN ROUGE. SO HAPPY. @JeremyMichael22 !!!!!!" she tweeted "Paris, I love you. Happy happy."
Congratulations to the two of you! 
Have a great Memorial Day everyone and always remember.
Kirstin on Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/kirstin_taylor  

Tanya Tucker Extended

Live & Extended!
Tanya Tucker


Yes I am completely Rock- n -Roll, but sometimes I am a little bit country.
I love myself some Tanya Tucker...Delta Dawn anyone???

Country music icon Tanya Tucker is taking her 2016 tour up a notch with the addition of new dates to venues across the country. Click here for tickets.

Recently, the Academy of Country Music announced Tucker will be honored with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors™, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. For the first time ever, ACM Honors will be produced for television by dick clark productions and broadcast at a later date on the CBS Television Network.

Currently, Tucker is preparing for the launch of a new album while crisscrossing the country with her instantly recognizable vocal flare and legendary repertoire that includes “Texas, When I Die,” “Some Kind of Trouble,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,” “Love Me Like You Used To” and many more.

Of course, no Tucker performance would be complete without her breakthrough hit, “Delta Dawn.” The Alex Harvey-written classic, which launched thirteen year old Tucker into superstardom in 1972, anchors a performance that showcases her hits as well as stories and anecdotes from her 40 year career.

TANYA TUCKER ON TOUR:
May 28 Cape May, NJ - Cape May Convention Hall
June 03 Beaumont, CA - City of Beaumont Cherry Festival
June 04 Santa Clarita, CA - Santa Clarita PAC
June 09 Evansville, IN - Victory Theatre
June 10 Milwaukee, WI - Northern Lights Theatre
July 15 Branson, MO - Welk Theater
July 16 Emmetsburg, IA - Wild Rose Casino
July 29 New Braunfels, TX - River Road Icehouse
July 30 Hinton, OK - Sugar Creek Casino
Aug 11 Elma, WA - Grays Harbor County Fair
Aug 26 Biloxi, MS - Golden Nugget - Grand Ballroom
Aug 27 Lake Charles, LA - Golden Nugget - Grand Event Center
Sept. 23 Hopewell, VA - The Beacon Theatre
Sept. 24 Huntington, NY - The Paramount

Follow Tanya Tucker on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or visit tanyatucker.com.

Sentimental Saturday - "High School Musical"

Awwwwwwwww....
l-r Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens & Corbin  Bleu

I guess there has been some confusion of late as to whether Zac Efron enjoyed his High School Musical days at Disney.

Since I never really track petty things like that and simply hear about how the star in question puts the kibosh on it that is how you are getting Efron's Flashback Friday photo that he posted of himself, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens & Corbin Bleu from 2008.

He captioned it: "So grateful I came across this picture... with the o.g. crew during one of the most cherished times of my life. #fbf"

See Zac isn't anti Troy Bolton after all and why should he be?! This is what put him on the Hollywood radar. 
I for one enjoyed the first High School Musical it was a throwback to things I used to watch as a kid. Oh, and it didn't hurt that Efron was in it ; )

Time to get Sentimental it's Saturday. 

Go Back To "High School"on IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475293/  

Dolly "Singing Chicken" Parton

Like Dolly, Like Chicken

Dolly Parton is playing a singing chicken of all things! Let the chicken breast jokes commence!

Global music legend Dolly Parton is lending her distinctive voice to play a singing chicken called Noleen for a special episode in the new series of Sixteen South’s award-winning pre-school animation Lily’s Driftwood Bay. Starting on Nick Jr. in the UK on 6th June and Sprout, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network, in the US on 27th June, the new series will also feature the smooth Welsh tones of actor and comedian Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey, The Rob Brydon Show) as a seafaring, and rather handsome, silver fox.

Lily’s Driftwood Bay is about a little girl who creates an imaginary world from treasures she finds washed up on the beach. Lily’s world is filled with a cast of adorable beachside characters, voiced by an array of talent including Stephen Fry (QI, The Hobbit), Peter Mullan (Harry Potter, Top of the Lake), Tameka Empson (EastEnders, 3 Non-Blondes), Jane Horrocks (Sunshine on Leith, Absolutely Fabulous), Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Ted, London Irish), Annette Crosbie (One Foot in the Grave, Hope Springs) and Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones, Fortitude) alongside Orlagh O’Keeke as Lily.

In Dolly Parton’s special double length episode, ‘The Salty Chicken’,which will air next year - Dolly voices Noleen, a famous singing chicken whose luxury yacht gets beached on Driftwood Bay during a storm, much to the surprise of her greatest – and rather star struck fan, Lord Stag (Stephen Fry). An impromptu concert sees old sea dog Salty (Peter Mullan) duet with Noleen, who’s astonished by his talent and tries to persuade him to come on tour with her. Will she persuade Salty to give up the sights and sounds of Driftwood Bay for an international singing career…?

Dolly Parton says: “I’ve never played a chicken before but I have been known to lay a few eggs! Noleen is a very famous chicken, probably one of the most famous chickens ever there was. She washes up on Driftwood Bay and she’s trying to get Salty to go with her on tour. Now whether he does or whether he doesn’t, you’ll just have to watch and see!”

Meanwhile, in ‘The Proposal’, Rob Brydon pops up as handsome silver fox Tom, a dredger captain and former squeeze of Nonna (Annette Crosbie). When Nonna and Tom realise they still have feelings for each other after all these years, Tom throws caution to the wind and proposes. Delighted, Nonna accepts, but when she realises it might mean leaving Driftwood Bay she wonders if she might have been a little hasty…

Rob Brydon says: “Tom is a charming old rover and it’s a lovely show, beautifully made. It’s always great to do jobs that my younger children can watch and enjoy. There’s something magical about good children’s programmes and it’s lovely to be a part of that.”

Show Creator and Producer Colin Williams says: “What a thrill to welcome Rob and Dolly to Driftwood Bay! We’ve three generations of Lily fans – children, parents and grandparents and I was looking for two very special people who are loved by all three generations to be our special guest. Who else to play a handsome and smooth Welsh fox than Rob Brydon! ‘The Salty Chicken’ was the first story outline that we wrote for series two and it was always Dolly that I wanted. It took me a year to convince her but what an honour to meet her, work with her and have her part of our special show. She’s an amazing and lovely lady - and a Lily fan too!”
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DOLLY PARTON, VISIT:

www.dollyparton.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/DollyParton
Instagram: Instagram.com/DollyParton
Twitter: Twitter.com/DollyParton
Tumblr: OfficialDollyParton.tumblr.com
Google+: Plus.Google.com/+DollyParton  

Time For FUN-Raising - It's Red Nose Day!

Photo:
Michael Shinafelt

"Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight" - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 

It's Red Nose Day an event designed to bring people together and do some FUN-raising for kids who need it most. 

The slogan for Red Nose Day is: Laugh. Give. Save A Kid. I have been seeing billboards everywhere for weeks on buses and in subway stations. Like the photo of the one I took above at the one on Hollywood &Vine. 

Oh and there is also a two hour event tonight in honor of it on NBC at 9/8 central.

To find out how you can get involved check out the link below! Happy Red Nose Day!!! 

Get Your "Nose" On!
http://rednoseday.org/     

We Are The Champions: Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd

Victory!
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd

As predicted by myself and many others Nyle DiMarco and his partner Peta Murgatroyd walked off with the Mirror Ball on Dancing With The Stars. Making Nyle a champ of two competition shows, America's Next Top Model being the first of course.

Here is a statement from Nyle about his DWTS win via his Facebook page:

"I CANT BELIEVE IT!! WE WON! WE WON THE MIRROR BALL!!! The first DEAF WINNER! This is for 70 million of Deaf people in the world! This is for all the Deaf kids suffering language deprivation. Only 2% of 70 million of Deaf people have access to education in sign language. More than 75% of parents don't sign to their Deaf kids. Winning this is a HUGE step to ending LANGUAGE DEPRIVATION of millions.

Thank you all for your continuing support. It means A LOT!"

Congratulations Nyle & Peta you guys truly earned and deserved your win!

Nyle on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/NyleDiMarco/

Peta on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PetaJaneMurgatroyd