Brandy delivered a stunning rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the NFC Championship game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Right before Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, the 42 year old was able to create a moment of nostalgia for us all by channeling her idol Whitney Houston in both melody and personal style!
Brandy stepped onto the platform wearing a red, white and black Prada tracksuit, which was reminiscent of the late Whitney Houston’s sporty attire from her iconic 1991 Super Bowl performance— and people were quick to point out the similarities between the two. The full performance was met with rave reviews from artists like Kelly Rowland, Snoop Dogg and more.
“So to meet her, hang out with her and sing with her,” she added, “it was unbelievable. For her to cast me in such a role, the first Black princess, I don’t know the words to really describe what that feels like.”
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One thing is clear from in brief look: Boseman may be gone, but T’Challa is not forgotten.
“I am queen of the most powerful nation in the world, and my entire family is gone,” Angela Bassett’s Ramonda says at one point. “Have I not given everything?”
But amid the grief that permeates the preview, there’s hope, the birth of new life (literally) and a glimpse at the future, with a clawed sneak peek of a new suited hero.
As a perfect close to Women’s History Month, Beyonce opened the 2022 Oscasrs with a live performance of her single “Be Alive”. This was the first single from her Black Pride album released in 2020 and was featured in the movie “King Richard” highlighting the story of Venus and Serena Williams.
The song was cowritten with artist Dixson and featured on the soundtrack for “King Richard’ in honor of the film and the legacy being created by Venus and Serena Williams. The live performance was done live by satellite on the Compton tennis court where the Williams’ sisters’ dad coached them.
The movie was also nominated for Best Picture starring Best Actor nominee Will Smith as the patriarch of the legendary tennis sister act.
[Intro] It feels so good to be alive Got all my family by my side Couldn’t wipe this Black off if I tried That’s why I lift my head with pride
[Verse 1] I got a million miles on me They want to see how far I go The path was never paved with gold (Gold) We worked and built this on our own (Own)
[Pre-Chorus] And can’t nobody knock it if they tried This is hustle personified Look how we’ve been fighting to stay alive So when we win, we will have pride Do you know how much we have cried? How hard we had to fight?
[Chorus] It feels so good to be alive (It feels so, so, so, so good) Got all my sisters by my side (I got all my sisters by my side) Couldn’t wipe this Black off if I tried (Black off if I tried) That’s why I lift my hеad with pride Now we’re sitting on top of thе world again, huh
[Verse 2] I got a million miles on me They want to see how far I’ll go (They want to see how far I’ll go) The path was never paved with gold (No) We fought and built this on our own (We fought and built this on our own, own)
[Pre-Chorus] And can’t nobody knock it if they tried This is hustle personified Look how we’ve been fighting to stay alive So when we win, we will have pride Do you know how much we have cried? How hard we had to fight?
[Chorus] It feels so good to be alive (It feels so good, so good) Got all my family by my side (And we gon’ sit on top of the world again) Couldn’t wipe this Black off if I tried (And I wouldn’t trade nothin’, and I wouldn’t trade nothin’) That’s why I lift my head with pride (So baby, lift your head, yeah) It feels so good to be alive (Darling, it’s a celebration for you, yeah) I got the tribe all by my side (You’re doin’ everything they said you couldn’t do) Couldn’t wipe this Black off if I tried That’s why I lift my head with pride (Lift your head, yeah)
An Oscar’s official confirmed on Sunday night that Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face during the live taping of the 2022 Oscars was not a planned stunt.
Ramin Setoodeh, the Variety executive editor tweeted from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood saying, “Someone who works for the Oscars told me that Chris Rock was not interrupted by Will Smith at rehearsals yesterday… It was not supposed to happen. It was real. #Oscars.”
Smith (53), surprised the world when he walked on stage and struck Rock (57) in the face after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head — resulting from her struggle with alopecia.
WATCH THE UNCENSORED EXCHANGE BETWEEN WILL SMITH & CHRIS ROCK
VIA JAPANESE TELEVISION: The uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock pic.twitter.com/j0Z184ZyXa
Following this incident with Will Smith’s assault on Chris Rock at Sunday’s ceremony. The organization behind the annual film awards show initially said it condemned violence without mentioning Smith by name, but now it is making its displeasure over the incident more explicit.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” a spokesperson for the organization said. “We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”
It appears that Smith may face some type of disciplinary action or sanction, though it’s unlikely he will be made to forfeit his prize. In its official= standards of conduct, the Academy states it is “categorically opposed to any form of abuse.
Smith was named best actor later in the evening. He used his time at the podium to apologize to the Academy and to his fellow nominees — he did not mention Chris Rock.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Will Smith accepts the Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘King Richard’ onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Smith, who was named best actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard,” had his big night tainted by his outburst. After Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s close cropped haircut, referencing “G.I. Jane,” Smith charged the stage and slapped Rock. He then screamed at Rock to “leave my wife’s name out of your F-ing mouth.” Pinkett Smith has said her hair loss results from alopecia.
“Love will make you do crazy things,” he said, adding, “To do what we do, you got to be able to take abuse. You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you got to smile, you got to pretend like that’s okay.”