New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Celebrity gossip and sightings in and around CT
February’s celebrity news was headlined by Beatle PaulMcCartney stopping into Pepe’s Pizza and Beyoncé’s Grammy win for song partially recorded inWestport. Here are some of the famous people who visited or made the news in and around Connecticut in February.
Beyoncé song recorded in CT leads Grammy award wins
Nile Rogers, producer on Beyonce’s Renaissance album and owner of Le Crib studio in Westport, accepted Beyonce’s award for “Best R&B Song” on her behalf at the Grammys. The winning song, “CUFF IT” was recorded in part as Rogers’ Westport studio.
Whether or not Beyonce herself recorded in Connecticut is unknown, but the studio is credited on the album and Rogers is credited on the track directly, according to the Grammys website. Weslyan’s Lin-Manuel
Miranda won his fourth Grammy with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and former Connecticut resident Stephen Sondheim, won a Grammy for “Best Musical Theater Album.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph performed at Super Bowl LVII
Emmy award-winner, Sheryl Lee Ralph sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before kickoff at Super Bowl LVII Feb. 12. TheWaterbury-born actor sang the hymn, known as the “Black National Anthem” and a gospel choir accompanied Ralph as she belted the lyrics of the tune in a black and red jumpsuit.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was written by former NAACP leader JamesWeldon Johnson in 1900 and was used as a rallying cry during the Civil RightsMovement of the 1950s and 1960s, according to the NAACP. Ralph was the first Black person to perform the song on the field before the Super Bowl.
SAG Awards 2023 winners and nominees
The 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards recognized the best television and film performances of 2023 on Sunday. Often considered a forerunner of the Oscars, the ceremony presents accolades voted on by actors themselves. Brendan Fraser,
Jamie Lee
Curtis, Sheryl Le Lee
Ralph, MikeWhite andMeredith Tucker were among the actors with Connecticut connections that either won or were nominated at the 2023 SAG Awards.
Cyndi Lauper nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Award-winning singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper was nominated for the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame early February. Lauper, her husband, actor David Thornton and their son were long-time residents of North Stamford on Saddle Hill Road where they resided for over 30 years before moving to New York City. While living in Connecticut, Lauper wrote several albums before creating the music for “Kinky Boots” on Broadway in 2010. She wrote the music for the Broadway show in a small woodpaneled loft above the garage. The “Girls JustWant toHave Fun” singer has won a total of two Grammy’s and
has been n nominated f for 16. One of those nomi inations was for “best musical theatre album” for “Kinky Boots” in 2017.
Celebrity C connections in this t year’s Super Bowl commercials c
As many were excited to watch the Eagles go against Kansas City during Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, others looked forward to the commercials. Kevin Bacon, Christian Siriano andMartha Stewart are among that the recognizable celebrities with Connecticut connections that were featured in Super Bowl commercials.
Justin Paul’s ‘La La Land’ songs head toBroadway
The Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globes winner “La La Land” is headed to Broadway, Deadline announced early February. The movie, which stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is anchored by music from comp poser Justin Hurwitz a and lyricists Benj Pasek a and Justin Paul, the latter of whom is aWestport native. Paul attended theMusic Theatre of Connecticut School of Performing Arts, ColeytownMiddle School and Staples High S School. Paul was born in St. L Louis, Missouri, but was r raised in Connecticut from a y young age.
Chazz C Palminteri at Tony’s at a The J House
Actor Chazz Palminteri and wife Gianna spent Valentine’s Day at Tony’s at The J House in Riverside. Palminteri is best known for “Modern Family,” “Bullets Over Broadway” and “A Bronx Tale,” co-starring Robert De Niro.