Hanks to host inauguration special
Actor Tom Hanks will host a 90-minute primetime TV special celebrating the inauguration of Joe Biden as president of the United States, with performances by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Ant Clemons.
“I was left speechless when I was asked to perform!” Lovato wrote on Instagram. Clemons was also effusive: “To say that this is a dream come true, would be an understatement!”
Timberlake said he and Clemons would perform their song “Better Days,” adding: “This song was our way of doing what little we could to encourage everyone to stay hopeful.”
The Jan. 20 special will be broadcast live on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC. It will also be streamed live on several platforms, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
According to producers, the show “will showcase the American people’s resilience, heroism and unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild.”
Duchess of York to publish novel:
Sarah, the Duchess of York, has landed a book deal for her debut novel for adults, a historical romance fictionalizing the life and loves of her greatgreat-great aunt.
In a video posted Wednesday on Twitter, the former Sarah Ferguson said the novel, “Her Heart for a Compass,” is set in the Victorian era and is “about daring to follow your heart against the odds.”
Publisher Mills & Boon said the story is based on Sarah’s ancestor, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott, who fled an arranged marriage and “the confines of polite society.”
Sarah was married to Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s third child, but the couple divorced in the 1990s. The novel is set to be published in August.
Shakira sells music rights:
The Board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, a U.K.-based investment company, has acquired 100% of Grammy winner Shakira’s music publishing rights.
Hipgnosis made the announcement Wednesday. Shakira’s catalog includes 145 songs, such as “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever,” “La Tortura,” “She Wolf ” and “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” Shakira has won three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammys. Overall, Shakira has sold 80 million albums.
Rodgers says he’s a ‘Jeopardy!’ guest host: Green
Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he will be a guest host on “Jeopardy!” during the offseason. The show is using a series of interim hosts to replace Alex Trebek, who died Nov. 8.
Rodgers made the announcement Tuesday during a appearance on Sirius XM’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” A representative from “Jeopardy!” declined to comment and said no announcement has been made about future guest hosts.
“I may have jumped the gun a little bit, so I apologize to ‘Jeopardy!’ if they wanted to announce it,” Rodgers said.
Jan. 14 birthdays: Singer Clarence Carter is 85. Actor Faye Dunaway is 80. Actor Holland Taylor is 78. Actor Carl Weathers is 73. Director Steven Soderbergh is 58. TV host Shepard Smith is 57. Rapper LL Cool J is 53. Actor Jason Bateman is 52. Musician Dave Grohl is 52. Actor Emayatzy Corinealdi is 41. Actor Grant Gustin is 31.