Ralph to ‘lift every voice’ at big game
Sheryl Lee Ralph is living a career dream:
The “Abbott Elementary” star won her first Emmy last year and will lend her powerful vocals as a Super Bowl pregame performer Sunday in Arizona.
With all her success, the veteran actor-singer only wishes her late parents were living to witness her recent accomplishments.
“I wish that my parents were still alive to see it and experience it with me,” Ralph said in a recent interview. Her father was a college professor, while her mother was a renowned Jamaican fashion designer.
“My parents always believed in me and my success,” she continued. “I know this would’ve been something they would love to have been a part of. I do miss them.”
Ralph will hit the Super Bowl stage to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Other pregame performers include Chris Stapleton and Babyface. Rihanna is the featured halftime performer.
Ralph, 66, won an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy for her role as Barbara Howard on ABC’S “Abbott Elementary.” In her acceptance speech, she bellowed powerful lyrics about being an “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves to implore others to never give up on their dreams or aspirations.
Ralph said she always believed in her abilities. She’s happy to finally receive the positive recognition and energy being served her way.
“Fame and success can be very daunting,” said the actor.
“It isn’t for the faint of heart,” she added. “It is not for those who are weak. You have to be strong to sustain. You have to have the belief to do what is necessary to keep you able to carry on. To get up and talk to people and convey messages. It’s taken years to learn, and I’ve just been
a good student and have paid attention. So now I’m able to do so much of that understanding that this is quite a race. It’s a marathon, I should say.”
Spanish filmmaker Saura dies:
Carlos Saura, Spain’s celebrated filmmaker whose career spanned over seven decades during which he earned three Academy Award nominations for best foreign language film, has died at age 91. Spain’s Cinema Academy said Saura died Friday, a day before he was to receive an honorary Goya award for his career.
Saura earned international recognition for his 1965 movie “La Caza (The Hunt)” which was awarded the Silver Bear at the International Berlin Film Festival, his first of three Silver Bear awards. Saura’s films that earned Oscar nominations were “Mama cumple 100 anos” (1979), “Carmen” (1984)
and “Tango” (1999).
‘La La Land’ to be adapted into musical:
Oscar winner “La La Land,” the 2016 film staring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is being re-imagined for the Broadway stage. Many of the key players from the film are returning for the adaptation. Producer Marc Platt and Lionsgate are again teaming up with the film’s composer, Justin Hurwitz, and lyricist team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, according to the announcement.
Actor Tina Louise is 89. Musician Sergio Mendes is 82. Actor Philip Anglim is 71. Actor Carey Lowell is 62. Singer Sheryl Crow is 61. Actor Jennifer Aniston is
54. Actor Damian Lewis is
52. Singer D’angelo is 49. Singer Brandy is 44. Actor Matthew Lawrence is 43. Singer Kelly Rowland is 42. Actor Taylor Lautner is 31.