Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Harry, Meghan drop holiday podcast
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are bidding adieu to 2020 with their first podcast for Spotify — along with a host of celebrity guests and a few (very) brief words from their young son, Archie.
Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle on Tuesday released a standalone holiday special exclusively on the Spotify global streaming platform.
In the 34-minute special, the royal couple shares a collection of personal anecdotes and inspirational stories from a variety guests around the world, including Stacey Abrams, José Andrés, Rachel Cargle, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Matt Haig, Sir Elton John, Naomi Osaka and Tyler Perry.
In addition, the special features a cameo by Archie, the couple’s 19-monthold son. With some gentle coaxing from his parents, the toddler provides the signoff for the holiday podcast, saying, “Happy new year!”
The podcast also includes a performance of “Amen, This Little Light of Mine” by Karen Gibson and London’s The Kingdom Choir.
The special comes under a multiyear pact between Harry and Meghan’s newly formed Archewell Audio production company and Spotify for a slate of exclusive podcasts designed to “build community through shared experience, narratives and values.”
Menzel launches kids’ show: Fresh from taking over family home entertainment centers for the holiday season with her vocal appearances in the “Frozen” films, Idina Menzel is un-animating herself with a new web show aimed at kids and parents, “Idina’s Treehouse,” which premiered Monday on her YouTube channel.
Technically, the iPhoneshot series takes place in her son’s treehouse where the Tony- and Grammywinning actor will share songs and stories aimed at the younger part of her fan base.
“Just something I started working on during quarantine,” Menzel said in a statement. “Hope you all like it. In search of a little peace and quiet during lockdown and stressful homeschooling, I took refuge in my son Walker’s treehouse. Started talking and singing to myself. Delirium? Stir crazy? Mother gone mad? I offer up myself for your children’s amusement.”
Jessie J hospitalized for ear disorder: Jessie J spent her “BIG weird non traditional Christmas Eve” dealing with symptoms of Ménière’s disease, a chronic inner-ear disorder that sent her to the hospital and resulted in brief deafness in one of her ears over the long holiday weekend.
The singer, 32, explained on Instagram that she woke up Thursday and felt “completely deaf” in her right ear. She couldn’t walk in a straight line and it sounded “like there’s someone trying to run out of my ear” when she sang loudly.
Jessie J said that she spent Christmas Eve in the hospital, was given medicine and is feeling “a lot better.”
Dec. 30 birthdays: Actor Russ Tamblyn is 86. Singer Noel Paul Stookey is 83. Singer Mike Nesmith is 78. TV host Meredith Vieira is 67. Actor Sheryl Lee Ralph is 64. Comedian Tracey Ullman is 61. TV host Sean Hannity is 59. Actor Daniel Sunjata is 49. Singer Tyrese is 42. Singer Andra Day is 36. Singer Ellie Goulding is 34.