While the eyes of the world were on Taylor Swift during Sunday night’s Grammy awards, they may have witnessed the birth of a new pop star for the ages: Ben Affleck.
In a bizarre new ad for Dunkin, the writer/director/actor is seen pursuing his dream of making it big in the music business while leaning hard into his Boston accent. In the spot, an obsessed Affleck knows he’s a “middle-aged white guy with no rhythm” but that doesn’t mean he can’t take the world by storm with a giant donut around his neck. Although, he thinks TikTok is a person, so there may be some bumps on the road.
With Charli D’Amelio along for the ride, and not exactly thrilled with Affleck’s outfit designs, the commercial debuted during the Grammys, but it appears to be just the beginning of his donut-themed music career. The spot ends with an ominous “To be continued…” as a Dunkin-swilling Affleck threatens to show everyone that he’s got what it takes even if his wife won’t put him on her albums. Will that involve a rapping Affleck during the Super Bowl? That definitely seems like where this is heading.
That said, we’re willing to get onboard if Affleck makes his stage name “Wickid Pissah the Donut Kissah.” You will have our sword.
Jay-Z may spent his time onstage at last night’s Grammy Awards ceremony roasting the show’s patrons but he wasn’t above putting the trophy to use as a drinking vessel. Shortly after bringing the gramophone statue back to his family’s table, a video captured Jay pouring himself a drink into it from a bottle of D’usse. He then held it up and took sip, grinning all the while.
JAY-Z turns his GRAMMY into a drink cup after using his speech to call out The Academy on Beyoncé’s behalf. pic.twitter.com/3Srr2mUlRx
Jay had been given the award — the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award — for his influential work in the recording industry. During his speech, though, he put the focus on his wife, Beyoncé, calling out the Academy for snubbing Beyoncé for Album Of The Year multiple years, including last year for Renaissance. “She has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album Of The Year,” he noted. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”
Incidentally, he was joined onstage by his and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy, who Jay said used Grammys as sippy cups when she was little before noting that she has Grammys of her own and is too old to need a sippy cup anymore. You could see the mortal look of teenage embarrassment on her face, which just goes to show, even famous dads are dads like the rest.
Three-and-a-half hours later, “music’s biggest night” has come and gone, and the 2024 Grammy Awards had it all: album announcements, award snubs, and missing underwear. Now, it’s time for the postmortem, to pick apart the broadcast and its results to see who did the best, who probably wishes they did better, and who shocked the world with unexpected moments. Below are our picks for the biggest winners, losers, and surprises of the 2024 Grammys.
(To be clear, the “loser” labels here are more sympathetic than malicious, less of a “haha you suck” and more of a “sorry things didn’t work out how you probably hoped, that stinks.” Just to be nominated and involved with the show truly is an honor and something to be proud of. So, have mercy on me, stans.)
Anyway, let’s start with:
Surprise: The Tortured Poets Department
All’s fair in love and poetry… New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Out April 19 https://t.co/WdrCmvLHyA
If there was anybody who could come out of nowhere and make the Grammys all about them, it was Taylor Swift, right?
Her outfit had some folks suspecting that maybe she was planning to announce Reputation (Taylor’s Version), so the fact that Swift unveiled something new isn’t the biggest shock. What was surprising was when the words “The Tortured Poets Department” left her lips. Before that moment, there had been no public indication whatsoever that she had an original new album on the way. In an instant, Swifties went from knowing nothing to gearing up for a new album that’s just a couple months away (unless there are deep-dive Easter egg Reddit threads I’m not aware of, which, given fans’ dedication, I’m certain there are).
The Tortured Poets Department is set for release on April 19. If you thought before this that you’ve been hearing a lot about Taylor Swift lately, just you wait. Also, check in on any loved ones who may work in the Tortured Dads, Brads, And Chads Department.
Winner: Taylor Swift
Yes, there’s more! Swift was absolutely elated when Midnights won the Grammy for Album Of The Year. This was Swift’s fourth time picking up the award, which means that she now has the most wins ever in the category. In case you needed any more proof that Swift is historic, this win is just the latest in a long run of records and achievements she seems to add to every day.
Loser: Anybody else who hoped to make a splash at the Grammys
Good for Swift and her Swifties, but the reveal of The Tortured Poets Department has absolutely overshadowed any other news that emerged from this Grammys night. Tracy Chapman delivered a rare and fantastic performance (more on that later), Victoria Monét won Best New Artist, and LL Cool J was in one of those hilarious Progressive “becoming your parents” commercials (it’s a month old but I had never seen it and oh how it delighted me). But, over the next couple days/weeks/months/years/centuries/millennia/epochs, all eyes, as they tend to be, will be focused directly on Swift.
Sorry about the timing, Kacey! Bad luck, but we’re looking forward to hearing more about the album!
Winner: Boygenius
Is Boygenius breaking up? At the very least, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker are taking a bit of a break from each other, as they indicated at a recent surprise show.
If it turns out that if we don’t see the supergroup trio together for a while, the 2024 Grammys were about as good a sendoff as they could have asked for. They went into the night with seven nominations, making them one of the most recognized artists of the year. They converted on a lot of those nods, too, picking up three wins in rock and alternative categories. Bridgers also won for her SZA collab.
We’ll be seeing plenty of Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker in the coming years, I’m sure. Them together, though, is something different, and it’s fantastic to see that recognized with some major Grammys recognition, especially if it marks their last hurrah.
Combs has thrust Chapman’s “Fast Car” back into the spotlight with his hit cover, and the surprise duet was a beautiful opportunity for Chapman to publicly re-associate herself with the track and get her moment in the sun amid the 1988 song’s revival.
The Combs-spawned re-emergence aside, Chapman doesn’t perform live a ton these days, so seeing her on stage at all is major. Pair that with the fact that her voice still sounds as crystalline as it did 30-plus years ago and we have a moment that exemplifies why we bother to sit through the usually-too-long Grammys ceremony.
Winner: Fred Again..
Fred Again.. owned 2023 in the electronic music world thanks in part to a star-making, headlining performance at Coachella. He cleaned up at the Grammys, too, getting wins in Best Dance/Electronic Music Album and Best Dance/Electronic Recording (he had two shots at it in the latter category with a pair of nominations). Those were the first two Grammy wins of his career. Congratulations, Fred! It’s a win any time an artist launches their Grammys legacy with their first wins, so congratulations, Fred (again)!
Loser: Nicki Minaj
I’ll preface this one by saying, in full view of Minaj’s enthusiastic Barbz fan base, that I mean no harm and I wish only the best for Minaj and all those who support her. I just said that publicly, so please hang onto that receipt.
Cyrus has been one of pop’s most impactful stars for years now, but you wouldn’t have known it by looking at her Grammys track record. Before this year, she had been nominated only twice and won… neither of them. She upped her numbers in a big way for 2024, though, picking up six nominations and scoring her first two wins, both for “Flowers” (in Record Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance).
Del Rey was in a similar boat to Cyrus heading into last night: She had been nominated for Grammys a few times before but hadn’t yet managed to strike gold. She had five chances to last night, but this is where her and Cyrus’ paths diverged: While Cyrus finally got her first W’s, Del Rey was once again shut out, leaving her with 11 career nominations and no wins. At least she got a flattering on-stage tribute from Taylor Swift… after Swift’s Midnights won Album Of The Year over Del Rey’s Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.
Mike had nominations in three categories this year: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album. He won them all! That’s not surprising because Mike isn’t deserving, but because he was up against heavy hitters like Drake, Doja Cat, and Travis Scott, but still managed to sweep his nominations. That could be seen as a sign that the Recording Academy isn’t beholden to honoring just chart-toppers, but really does look at a song/album and judge it on its merits.
Mike wasn’t able to celebrate long, though, as shortly after those wins, he was seen being taken away in handcuffs (although it appears that whole thing wasn’t as big a deal as it may have initially seemed).
The biggest cultural phenomenon of 2023 still has some legs, as the 2024 Grammys proved. Ludwig Göransson’s Oppenheimer score won Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. Barbie ruled, too, like in the Best Song Written For Visual Media category, for example, where four of the five nominees were from Barbie. A Barbie track was basically guaranteed to win! One did: Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” ended up claiming that category, and it also won Song Of The Year.
Beyond that, Mark Ronson (who helmed the Barbie soundtrack, which won Best Compilation Soundtrack) presented an award with Meryl Streep, “Dance The Night” singer Dua Lipa debuted a new song, and overall, “Barb” put “enheimer” on its shoulders and made the Grammys its Mojo Dojo Casa House.
Loser: Olivia Rodrigo and Jon Batiste
Rodrigo and Batiste were in a many-way tie for the third-most nominations this year, with six apiece. Of the 12 total nominations between them, though, they won exactly 0.
You’d think either one of them would have gotten something, since they both have a solid history of Recording Academy recognition: Batiste has five career Grammys wins and Rodrigo has three. But, it was a big year for pop nominations competing against Rodrigo, and also in the various genres under which Batiste was nominated. Things just didn’t work out in their favor this time around, but they’ll surely be back to try again soon.
Winner: Joni Mitchell
What a night for Joni Mitchell. Before the Grammys proper even began, she got a win in the one category in which she was nominated, getting Best Folk Album for Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live). Speaking of “live,” she took the stage, too, which isn’t something she has done a ton of in recent years. You wouldn’t know it based on the performance she delivered, though.
Joined by a host of supporting musicians, she ran through a rendition of “Both Sides, Now,” from her 1969 album Clouds. “Sauntered” would probably be a better word than “ran,” as she got comfortable in her space, took her time, and delivered a confident and beautiful performance. Mitchell went through so much to get to this point, including having to re-learn how to talk not all that long ago due to medical issues. Her performance is a story of supreme triumph, but even with that context aside, she just crushed it for what was (somehow) her first-ever Grammys performance.
Saltburn star Jacob Elordi has made it clear that he was “really excited” about the show’s notorious bathwater scene. The scene, in which Barry Keoghan’s character “cleans up” (with his mouth) the bathwater [clears throat] of Elordi’s character, went viral for reasons obvious to the Internet. The scene even inspired a candle that is supposedly fashioned after Elordi’s… bathwater. Elordi has had fun with the phenomenon, even happily sniffing the candle on The Tonight Show.
That doesn’t mean that Elordi enjoys every reference or joke about the scene, and Australian radio producer Joshua Fox learned this the hard way after approaching Elordi in Sydney outside of a beer garden over the weekend. Fox, who works on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Breakfast Show, decided to record Elordi’s reaction to his joking inquiry about receiving some bathwater to gift to co-host Jackie Henderson for her birthday. Elordi wasn’t thrilled to be asked that question and asked Fox to stop filming, as Fox described on the radio show (here’s a recording) during its Monday morning episode.
Fox relayed how he had agreed to pause filming “because the joke didn’t land.” As he told co-hosts Henderson and Kyle Sandilands, the situation then took a turn when Elordi (allegedly) stepped “right in my face” and told him to delete the existing footage. As noted by Variety, Fox described his thoughts during that moment: “I refuse to because I feel uncomfortable right now and this is the only evidence.” Fox then alleged, “And then Jacob kind of just flips and he kind of pushes me against the wall and his hands are on my throat.”
The New South Wales Police confirmed to Variety that the incident is under investigation:
“Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating after a man was allegedly assaulted outside a hotel in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs,” a statement from NSW Police reads. “Police were told about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday 3 February 2024, a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by a 26-year-old man. The man did not sustain any injuries. Inquiries into the incident is continuing.”
BBC Newsbeat further confirmed the statement from police about the incident. While further speaking on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, Fox had emphasized that he wasn’t looking to press charges against Elordi, but he did obviously retain the recording (and Kyle Sandilands stated that he’d viewed the footage), and the police investigation remains ongoing.
Saltburn star Jacob Elordi has made it clear that he was “really excited” about the show’s notorious bathwater scene. The scene, in which Barry Keoghan’s character “cleans up” (with his mouth) the bathwater [clears throat] of Elordi’s character, went viral for reasons obvious to the Internet. The scene even inspired a candle that is supposedly fashioned after Elordi’s… bathwater. Elordi has had fun with the phenomenon, even happily sniffing the candle on The Tonight Show.
That doesn’t mean that Elordi enjoys every reference or joke about the scene, and Australian radio producer Joshua Fox learned this the hard way after approaching Elordi in Sydney outside of a beer garden over the weekend. Fox, who works on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Breakfast Show, decided to record Elordi’s reaction to his joking inquiry about receiving some bathwater to gift to co-host Jackie Henderson for her birthday. Elordi wasn’t thrilled to be asked that question and asked Fox to stop filming, as Fox described on the radio show (here’s a recording) during its Monday morning episode.
Fox relayed how he had agreed to pause filming “because the joke didn’t land.” As he told co-hosts Henderson and Kyle Sandilands, the situation then took a turn when Elordi (allegedly) stepped “right in my face” and told him to delete the existing footage. As noted by Variety, Fox described his thoughts during that moment: “I refuse to because I feel uncomfortable right now and this is the only evidence.” Fox then alleged, “And then Jacob kind of just flips and he kind of pushes me against the wall and his hands are on my throat.”
The New South Wales Police confirmed to Variety that the incident is under investigation:
“Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating after a man was allegedly assaulted outside a hotel in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs,” a statement from NSW Police reads. “Police were told about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday 3 February 2024, a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by a 26-year-old man. The man did not sustain any injuries. Inquiries into the incident is continuing.”
BBC Newsbeat further confirmed the statement from police about the incident. While further speaking on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, Fox had emphasized that he wasn’t looking to press charges against Elordi, but he did obviously retain the recording (and Kyle Sandilands stated that he’d viewed the footage), and the police investigation remains ongoing.
“This is my 13th Grammy, which is my lucky number; I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that,” Swift said during her Best Pop Vocal Album acceptance speech. (She has told us that.) “I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way, but I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans, so I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19.”
She continued, “It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m gonna go and post the cover right now, backstage.”
So, yes, Swift’s new album (her 11th original studio album, excluding re-records) will arrive in 2024. And in what feels like not a coincidence at all, The Tortured Poets Department will drop on National Cat Lady Day.
The Tortured Poets Department is out 4/19 via Republic. Find more information here.
It took Bijan Robinson three years to beat Iowa State during his stellar collegiate career at Texas. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that final matchup during his junior year in 2022 was the first where someone other than Brock Purdy was under center for the Cyclones. Purdy and Robinson go back — the two went to high school about 90 minutes from one another in Arizona, and both were named the state’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year — and in Robinson’s eyes, it’s not a shock that Purdy is where he is now.
“I think Brock’s always had that fire of, ‘I want to be the best on the field,’ and that dominance of, ‘I’m gonna get the job done, no matter what it takes,’” Robinson tells Uproxx Sports. “It’s more so grit and mentality that he brings to the game, and obviously he’s very talented. But I think what sets him apart is just his mentality and how he approaches the game.”
Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers, of course, are in Las Vegas as they prepare to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII next Sunday. Robinson has also made his way out there as part of a partnership with Courtyard by Marriott that is celebrating a pair of frans ahead of the game. And before his old high school buddy tries to take down Patrick Mahomes, Robinson caught up with Uproxx Sports to discuss Purdy, his partnership with Courtyard, his rookie year, the Falcons hiring Raheem Morris, and much more.
What do you have going on with Courtyard?
Courtyard by Marriott
Yeah, so this is the ultimate upgrade with Courtyard by Marriott, their Super Bowl sleepover, and we’re surprising two fans, Jametta and Chance. They’re here right now. They have a literal room in the stadium, and they’re gonna stay here for a couple of nights before the Super Bowl.
It’s such a big opportunity — Chance, his [Unforgettable Soles] foundation, his donations with shoes, it’s been such a big thing and his mom, Jametta, she took the time, took the courage to try to get him something special, get something nice, and Courtyard by Marriott was, I feel, the best thing that she got for him. Just the opportunity and the appreciation that she gave to him, it was so huge. But yeah, man, that’s why I’m here, and I love to give back — to make people happy, make people smile — and this is definitely an amazing opportunity for them, for Courtyard by Marriott, and just for everybody that was involved in this. So, that’s why I came.
Obviously, you’re out in Vegas because the Super Bowl is going to be there next week. What are your thoughts on the matchup, because these are two teams that you didn’t get a chance to play against this year, correct?
Yeah. I think it’s gonna be a great game. Two great teams, two explosive offensive, two great defenses, Pat Mahomes, and I know Brock Purdy personally because we’re both from Arizona, so we’ve talked a lot. I think it’s gonna be a great matchup there, I’m excited to see how it comes about. They’re all obviously in Vegas, so they’re indoors, no elements that they have to worry about and I just know that it’s gonna be a great atmosphere. It’s gonna be a big defensive game, whoever stops them on defense the most, that’s who’s gonna win the game. So, we’ll see how that pans out.
I knew you were from Arizona, originally, not too terribly far from Brock. And obviously, you guys played a ton in college. Did you play against him in high school? Did you know him at all going into college? And what are your thoughts on why he has become a guy who could lead a team to the Super Bowl?
We knew each other in high school, me and him were up for player of the year, like, every year we were in high school. And even just playing him in college, it was awesome as well being able to get to compete with him at the college level, just two Arizona guys going back and forth.
But, to your question, I think Brock’s always had that fire of, “I want to be the best on the field,” and that dominance of, “I’m gonna get the job done, no matter what it takes.” It’s more so grit and mentality that he brings to the game, and obviously he’s very talented. But I think what sets him apart is just his mentality and how he approaches the game. And I feel that when you have a guy like Kyle Shanahan that can put him in the best position possible, he’s gonna be at his best and he’s gonna thrive in all facets of the game. I feel like for him getting a chance to go out there and show what he can do, it’s all been a blessing for him. I feel like that’s why he’ll potentially lead his team to a Super Bowl win.
You’re pretty good running back yourself, so I’m interested in your thoughts on the running backs in this one. Two very different paths to the league and where they are now, but they became two really exceptional players. What do you like when you sit down and watch Christian, and what do you like when you sit down and watch Isiah?
Obviously Christian, he’s a guy that I’m inspired by as far as my game. Whether it’s catching the ball out of the backfield, lining up at receiver and catching the ball, obviously running the ball and just being physical and making the defense uncomfortable. I think that he does a really good job of doing that, and with how they scheme up things for him in the run game, I feel like it’s perfect for his style, just to get downhill as fast as possible and rack up those those yards in a hurry, I love how he takes advantage of it. And now, he can make people miss, make people hesitate coming up to him, that’s what I love.
And then with Isiah, he’s just extremely physical in how he runs the ball. I know that people joke around, saying that he bites rocks when he runs, but I think it’s true! He gets the ball and he’s looking to find content, and he’s looking to create contact. Nowadays, you don’t see a lot of running backs that want to find contact, they want to either make you miss or find a way to get around you instead of go through you. But with him, he’s always trying to find a way to just punish you going through you, and I really respect that with his game.
Are you a prediction guy? Can I get a prediction from you or are you gonna keep that one close to the vest?
I can give you a prediction.
Let’s get it.
I think it’s gonna be the Chiefs, 27-23.
What gets you to that point?
I just know when they get to the Super Bowl, Pat Mahomes and those guys, Travis Kelce, even all the receivers — I feel like all those receivers are gonna be locked in, and they have Isiah to run that ball. I feel like they’re always just locked in when it comes to games like this, and it’s kind of hard to stop them. But then, I feel like the 49ers aren’t gonna let down and they’re gonna give it one hell of a game. They might come back and just win. But I feel it’s two good teams, it’s two perfect teams for the style of play. I don’t think it’s gonna be a big shootout, but I think it’s gonna be one of those games where it comes down to the wire and that fourth quarter is going to be the most important.
Let’s turn the focus to you. Your rookie year has come to an end, what are your general thoughts on how it went for you and how it went for the Falcons?
I thought it was a blessing. I felt God did so many great things for me. And you know, so many learning experiences I went through, from adversity to highs to lows. Me as a rookie, I was glad that happened because I learned a lot, it taught me a lot about patience and understanding that your opportunity comes at the right moment.
Even just my teammates, those are the best teammates that I’ve ever had, and I’ve had amazing teammates in college and high school and Pop Warner. Having those guys back and having their support for me, it was definitely a big deal. Obviously, we wanted to do a little more, do things different, make the playoffs, win a couple more games and get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to be here. But I believe that everything is in God’s timing and everything happens for a reason. Now that we have a new coach and a new OC, and potentially a whole bunch of new, other pieces to help us win these games, that’s why I feel last season had to happen the way it did.
You mentioned the new coach in Coach Morris. He’s a guy who’s actually spent time in Atlanta very recently. Have you gotten a chance to speak to any of the vets on the team who have been around him from that last stint that he spent there? And if you have, what have you heard about him?
I even talked to him myself, we talked right after he got hired. He’s an amazing dude, like, an amazing guy. He’s the perfect player coach, you definitely want to play for him, play your heart out for him. And then even just talking to the guys, they’re saying you’re gonna love this dude, you’re gonna love this dude, you’re gonna love to come to work every day and put in the work, and you’re gonna love the environment that he’ll bring around the whole facility. The whole environment change is gonna be super awesome, those guys really loved him when he was here. Even just talking to coach Sark, they’re best friends, so he was saying you guys hit the nail on the head with this one. Just hearing that from him, and how much I respect coach Sark, that was a big deal for me. So, I’m definitely really excited to get to be with him.
And then my last question: Did you have a welcome to the NFL moment? And if you did, what was it?
I think my welcome to the NFL moment was when I played the Jets and I tried to chip Quinnen Williams. And you know how big he is, and then there’s me. He got through the line pretty quick, and I tried to just give him a chip. And he kind of blasted me. My feet left the ground. I got up really quick so people didn’t see it, and so I thought I was slick. But I felt it all, I felt all 310 pounds of him just come right through me. And I was like, man, this is crazy. But I think that was probably my only welcome to the NFL moment where I was like, yeah, this is a real dude right here.
Dune: Part Two isn’t out yet, but Zendaya is already thinking about Dune: Part Three.
“I feel like it’s heartbreak,” the Euphoria actress explained to Comic Book about the ending to the sequel to 2021’s Dune, and how it sets the stage for a potential trilogy. “You know, there’s heartbreak. There’s betrayal. There’s loss and confusion, and, I feel like, it’s a quite painful ending. It doesn’t end like, ‘someone won,’ it’s not that. Broken dreams and hearts.”
Florence Pugh, who joined the cast as Princess Irulan for Dune: Part Two, revealed her reaction when she read the end of the script. “I think, for me, when I read that final few pages, it made me suddenly go, like, ‘Oh, she’s far more knowledgeable than I thought she was,’ from Princess Irulan’s perspective,” she said. Pugh added, “So there’s a lot going on underneath everything. You’re right. It doesn’t feel good, which surely makes you ready for what’s going to happen next, which is very, very exciting.”
Of course, this assumes that Dune: Part Three — likely with the same title as author Frank Herbert’s second Dune book, Dune Messiah — gets made. Director Denis Villeneuve hasn’t received the go-ahead from Warner Bros (at least not publicly), but he’s hopeful. “Dune Messiah – which, Dune 3, the title would be Dune Messiah – we’ll see the day when the screenplay will be ready and I want to make sure that there will be no compromise,” he told Comic Book. “It has to be tremendous. All is there to make the fantastic film, and I don’t want to mess it up.” Villeneuve is batting 1.000 so far.
Yellowstone has never been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys, but it should win Outstanding Behind-The-Scenes Drama Series every year for the next five years.
You already know about the tiff between star Kevin Costner and creator Taylor Sheridan (if you don’t, ask your dad). Now Puck is reporting that cast members Cole Hauser (Rip), Kelly Reilly (Beth), and Luke Grimes (Kayce) are asking for huge raises to star in a present-day Yellowstone spinoff that’s being set up in the final episodes of the original series. Complicating matters is salary negotiations (“Reilly initially asked for a whopping $1.5 million an episode, according to two sources, at or above the very top tier of TV stars, though in recent communications that number has come down to $1.2 million”), as well as Reilly and Hauser wanting top billing over above top potential newcomers to the Yellowstone universe: Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Matthew McConaughey is still the top choice to star, but reports of his commitment to the project are overstated; he won’t sign on until he sees a script, which hasn’t happened yet, per his agent. But producers are much closer on Michelle Pfeiffer, who is in negotiations for the female lead and should either close a deal or walk away in the next week or two… Oh, and Reilly and Hauser also asked to be in first position on the call sheet — above McConaughey and Pfeiffer (or whoever play the leads). That’s probably never happening.
It was previously reported that McConaughey was this close to exiting the spinoff due to, among other issues, potential concerns about working with Sheridan. “Taylor’s got a reputation for being a jerk with a God complex,” an insider said. “Matthew doesn’t particularly like behind-the-scenes drama.”
Yellowstone will return — with or without Costner — in November 2024.
Taylor Swift owned the 2024 Grammys last night (February 5) for multiple reasons, but the most notable one was the fact that she, completely out of nowhere, announced a brand new album (not a Taylor’s Versionlike some suspected might be the case). It’s called The Tortured Poets Department, and it’s coming out soon.
What Is Taylor Swift’s New Album Release Date?
The project is currently set for release on April 19, so just over a couple months from now.
Swift announced the album during her acceptance speech for the Best Pop Vocal Album award (her 13th Grammy win, as she noted). As part of her thank-you’s, Swift said, “I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the past two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19th. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m going to go and post the cover right now, backstage.”
That’s just what she did a few minutes later, also sharing a poem on social media that reads:
“And so I enter into evidence
My tarnished coat of arms
My muses, acquired like bruises
My talismans and charms
The tick, tick, tick of love bombs
My veins of pitch black ink.
All’s fair in love and poetry…
Sincerely, The Chairman
of The Tortured Poets Department.”
So, there you have it: The Tortured Poets Department, coming soon.
Find the full list of 2024 Grammys nominees and winners here.
The Tortured Poets Department is out 4/19 via Republic. Find more information here.
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Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
: Beth Garrabrant 
