Tamyra Gray, Phillip Boykin, More Will Star in National Tour of Once On This Island – Casting is nearly complete for the North American tour of the Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island, which launches October 12 at The Carson Center in Paducah, Kentucky, prior to an official opening October 15 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. The tour will subsequently play over 25 cities in its first year. Cast members from the 2017 Broadway production will lead the touring company, including Courtnee Carter as Ti Moune, American Idol alum Tamyra Gray as Papa Ge, Cassondra James as Erzulie, Tony nominee Phillip Boykin as Tonton Julian, and Tyler Hardwick as Daniel Beauxhomme. They will be joined by Jahmaul Bakare as Agwe, Kyle Ramar Freeman as Asaka, Briana Brooks as Andrea, George L. Brown as Armand, and Danielle Lee Greaves as Mama Euralie, with Mckynleigh Alden Abraham, Michael Ivan Carrier, Jay Donnell, Phyre Hawkins, Savannah Jackson-Page, Alex Joseph Grayson, Tatiana Lofton, and Robert Zelaya. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. – Read more at Playbill
Lauren Daigle Leads 2019 Dove Awards With Six Nominations: Full List – The Gospel Music Association has announced the nominees for the upcoming 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards today (Aug. 14), and Lauren Daigle leads with six nominations. For King & Country and Kirk Franklin are close behind Daigle with five nods, while Phil Wickham, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and TobyMac are each honored with four nominations. Additionally, writer/producer Wayne Haun has a combined 10 nominations for his collaborations. – Read more at Billboard
Simon Cowell Disses ‘American Idol’: ‘I Haven’t Seen the Show in So Many Years’ – When asked about rumors that host Ryan Seacrest might be planning to leave the ABC reality series, Cowell, 59, told Us Weekly and other reporters at the America’s Got Talent live show red carpet on Tuesday, August 13: “I have no idea. I haven’t seen the show in so many years, I honestly couldn’t tell you.” The former X Factor judge then called back to an earlier question about Harry Styles passing on the role of Prince Eric in the upcoming live adaptation of a classic Disney film. “I know more about The Little Mermaid,” he joked. Cowell previously noted that he had never seen the movie and did not “know enough about” it to speak to the 25-year-old former One Direction member’s decline. – Read more at US Magazine
Simon Cowell’s Vegan Diet Helped Him Lose 20 Lbs.: ‘I’ve Found It Quite Enjoyable’ – The America’s Got Talent judge surprised fans with his trim physique Tuesday night on the red carpet, wearing a tight-fitting gray shirt and black pants. Cowell, 59, has credited his weight loss to a strict vegan diet that saw him say goodbye to meat, dairy, wheat and sugar. So far, he’s shed about 20 lbs. — and has yet to indulge in a cheat day, though he’s frequently tempted by pizza, he told the outlet in May. – Read more at People
‘Aretha!’ Music Director Rickey Minor Recalls The First Time He Met The Queen Of Soul — Production Value Video Series – While working with Aretha was a dream for Minor, he didn’t realize at the time that this would never happen, so long as he was working with Whitney. “Because that’s like getting somebody else’s man,” he said. “If you work with Count Basie, you don’t play with Duke Ellington’s band.” One day, though, after Minor parted ways with Houston, he got an unexpected, life-changing call. “[Aretha] said, ‘Clive Davis gave me your number, and I want some new arrangements done,’” Minor recalled. “And I’d like to work with you.” – Read more at Deadline
