Ada Limon named US poet laureate
The country’s next poet laureate, Ada Limon, has long thought of her work as a public art form.
“I grew up with poetry being in the community,” says Limon, a native of Sonoma, California. “It wasn’t supposed to just be something read on page; it was supposed be read out loud. … It’s the oral tradition. That part of poetry has always remained true to me.”
On Tuesday, the Library of Congress announced that Limon, 46, had been named the 24th
U.S. poet laureate, officially called the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Her yearlong term begins Sept. 29 with the traditional reading at the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium. Limon, who succeeds Joy Harjo, is an award-winning and unusually popular poet, her acclaimed collection “Bright Dead Things” selling more than 40,000 copies. She has published six books of poetry, most recently “The Hurting Kind,” and also hosts the podcast “The Slowdown.”
“Ada Limon is a poet who connects,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “Her accessible, engaging poems ground us in where we are and who we share our world with. They speak of intimate truths, of the beauty and heartbreak that is living, in ways that help us move forward.”
Laureates receive a $35,000 stipend, along with $5,000 for travel expenses.
Disney+ to launch three shows with BTS:
K-pop boy band BTS and Disney+ are collaborating on three separate projects, their teams announced Monday.
Among the projects are “BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage — LA,” a concert film of the band’s November
2021 show at Los Angeles’ Sofi Stadium.
Docuseries “BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star,” expected to be out next year, “follows the incredible journey of 21st century pop icons BTS.”
Travel reality show “In the Soop: Friendcation” will send BTS’ V, Itaewon Class’ Seo-jun Park, “Parasite” star Woo-shik Choi, Hyung-sik Park and Peakboy on a surprise trip.
“We believe these new titles will captivate consumers worldwide and look forward to introducing more music content on our service,” Jessica Kam-Engle, Disney’s head of content for Asia Pacific, said in a statement.
Mendes cancels tour
dates: The stress of a world tour has gotten to Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes, who announced he is taking a break to focus on his mental health. “Wonder: The World Tour” is on hold for three weeks — affecting 12 concert dates in all.
Mendes said in an Instagram post Friday that he has discussed the situation with his team as well as health professionals and he has decided to prioritize self care.
“I need to take some time to heal and take care of myself and my mental health, first and foremost,” he wrote.
Mendes will resume the North American leg of his tour on July 31 in Toronto.