Taylor Swift’sThe Eras Tour has been the biggest thing in music for the past few months, but so far, the trek has remained within the US. She revealed today, though, that she’ll soon be taking it international, as she has a Latin American tour in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil set for later this year. On all those shows, Sabrina Carpenter will be opening and her fans are beyond excited: Shortly after the news was revealed, Carpenter (more specifically, just “SABRINA”) was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter.
One thing a number of those tweets pointed to is an old video of Carpenter covering Swift’s “Picture To Burn.” The video, the oldest one currently on Carpenter’s YouTube account, was uploaded on August 3, 2009, so Carpenter would have been 10 years old at the time. Of course, fans couldn’t help but notice that in a Swiftian coincidence, the video was uploaded 13 years ago (13 being an important number in the Swift universe).
Sabrina carpenter went from covering taylor songs on youtube to touring with her. A true swiftie pic.twitter.com/UsowQ78TCc
(It’s more like 13 years and 10 months, so pretty much 14 years ago, but YouTube still says “13 years ago,” so it’s OK. Let the people have their fun.)
As for Carpenter’s own reaction to the Eras Tour news, she shared the tour dates on social media and wrote, “trying to process this but alas i shant CANT WAIT TO JOIN THE ERAS TOUR IN LATIN AMERICA. thank u @taylorswift u the 1 :’) this is a dream come true.”
A story out of St. Louis shows how some students have to overcome many more barriers than others on their road to success. But in this student’s case, people in important positions recognized his perseverance and rewarded him in a way that could make his future less of a struggle.
According to a report from KAKE, 14-year-old Xavier Jones had no ride to his 8th-grade graduation ceremony, so he walked six miles to pick up his diploma.
“I was going to tell an adult, but my grandpa’s car was down. So I was just going to walk there,” he told KAKE.
Jones was graduating from Yeatman Middle School, but the ceremony was held at Harris-Stowe State University, a public historically-Black university in St. Louis.
“I looked up Harris-Stowe University on Google Maps and then I saw the walking distance and then I said I could probably make it,” Xavier told KAKE. “I wanted to walk across the stage.”
Knowing it would be a long walk, he brought along his brother and friend for the journey. To get from his home in West Florissant to Harris-Stowe State University took them two and a half hours.
Darren Seals, Jones’ mentor, called attention to the student’s incredible dedication during a speech at the ceremony.
“I had to stop my speech and call him on board and was like, ‘Hey, everybody get off your feet and give him a standing ovation,’” Seals told Fox 2. “They clapped for him. They were like, ‘Woah, this boy walked.’”
Jones’ journey also caught the attention of Dr. Latonia Collins Smith, the president of Harris-Stowe State University, who was impressed by his determination.
“When I heard that story and to see that young man who was so bright and excited and driven,” President Collins Smith said. “It spoke volumes to me. It spoke resilience, persistence, perseverance. Regardless of what the adversity is, I’m going to press my way to this promotion ceremony. So that is what sparked my interest in saying, ‘Hey, this is the type of kid that we want to recruit to Harris-Stowe.”
President Collins Smith sees Jones as an example of the many barriers that students in the area face to getting an education. “Many of our students come with a story and many of our students come with environmental barriers they have overcome or that they are currently overcoming,” President Collins Smith told KAKE.
To reward his incredible dedication, the school gave him a full-ride scholarship for when he graduates high school. The scholarship includes four years of tuition, books and student fees.
When Jones heard he got a “free ride” to college, he thought it meant transportation. When Seals explained it was a scholarship, Jones couldn’t believe it. “Wait a minute, I don’t have to pay for college?” he asked Seals.
Jones hopes he can be a NASCAR driver after he graduates college.
“At the end of the rainbow, there’s a pot of gold. I learned a lot from Xavier that day,” says President Collins Smith. “Even on your worst day, keep pressing forward.”
It’s officially June, the kickoff of summer excitement, when people’s calendars fill with graduations, weddings, Pride celebrations, barbecues, longed-for vacations and more. So much fun to be had in June!
But with the good comes the not-so-good, of course. Summer also means annoying construction, pesky mosquitos, sticky hot grossness when the temp gets too high, spending a fortune on sunscreen, etc.
We can always find things to be happy about and we can always find things to complain about. That’s just life. The more we shift our focus to the positive, even while we grapple our way through the tough stuff, the better off we’ll be. That’s not just airy-fairy fluff—there’s science behind the power of positivity.
Johns Hopkins Medicine says that a positive personality may be something we’re born with, but there are things we all can to do brighten our outlook on things. Their first tip? “Simply smile more.”
“A University of Kansas study found that smiling—even fake smiling—reduces heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations,” Johns Hopkins shares. “So try a few minutes of YouTube humor therapy when you’re stomping your feet waiting in line or fuming over a work or family situation.”
We’ve got something better—or rather, 10 things better. Here’s a roundup of smile-worthy things that crossed our path this week. Enjoy!
1. Melissa McCarthy describes Halle Bailey’s endearing humming habit on ‘The Little Mermaid’ set
Sound up for this one. It looks like he’s about to scoop her right up off the ground in his excitement but then forces himself to be gentle with her. What a sweetheart. Read the full story here.
4. Speaking of grandmas, try not to smile at this Italian ‘Happy Birthday’ performance for 95-year-old Nonna Franca
For those unfamiliar, “recovery day” is simply the day after the wedding, when some folks have a low-key gathering to round out the celebrations before sending the couple off for their honeymoon. What a fun pair these two are!
6. ‘Hotel California’ performed on traditional Chinese guzheng is gorgeously hypnotic
Seeing it done this way really highlights the beauty of the song as well as the instrument, doesn’t it? Just awesome.
7. Woman squeals in delight as raccoon proves that truly everyone runs on Dunkin’
#Raccoon at #Dunkin proves that EVERYONE RUNS ON DUNKIN 🤣🦝🍩
The casual way the person at the window hands the trash panda its doughnut and the way it grabs it with both hands? Too precious. Give that cutie all the doughnuts it desires.
8. South African youth choir pays moving tribute with Nightbirde’s ‘It’s OK’ and brings Simon Cowell to tears
Nightbirde was the stage name of Jane Marczewski, a singer who touched millions with her resilience and positivity in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. The fact that her song reached all the way around the world to inspire young people in South Africa is just beautiful. Read the full story here.
9. Teacher wakes up to find the entire senior class sleeping in her house
That initial shock followed by a quick rally! She’s clearly a seasoned teacher. Impressive that they pulled the senior prank off, but even more impressive the way she responded—”This is the most beautiful sight.” Three cheers for Ms. McGrath.
10. Dance your way through the weekend with the energy of these two delightful dance partners
Ah, the agility and stamina a lifetime of dancing together can give! Total #aginggoals.
Hope this week’s list gave you the smiles you needed! If you’d like to have these roundups delivered to your inbox, sign up for our free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.
VMP Rock is “a celebration of the ever-changing genre that changed the world,” per their site. “Rock was music’s Big Bang, and the particles that started spreading the moment someone plugged a guitar into an amp are still reverberating; from punks in Detroit to Zamrockers in sub-Saharan Africa, guitar shredders in London to arty downtown New Yorkers blowing things up, VMP Rock will capture it all.”
This year, they’re shinning a light on The Strokes’ Is This It, Sublime’s 40 oz To Freedom, Iggy Pop’s Raw Power, System Of A Down’s Toxicity, Stone Temple Pilot’s No4, ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres, and more. It begins shipping in July and pre-orders are available now at this link.
It’s rock season
You asked, we delivered. In July 2023, we’re launching our 5th subscription Track — Rock. Limited spots are available to sign up for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Pre-order now to guarantee your records. We hope you’re as amped as we are. https://t.co/3ODhjEOzOupic.twitter.com/IyEUSLNUFO
About her collaboration with Vinyl Me, Please, Parton said, “I love listening to records, and to know that fans around the world are discovering music on vinyl is wonderful. I am really happy to see some of my favorite albums that have been out of print on vinyl or were never pressed on vinyl be made available. What’s old is new again!”
Justified: City Primeval showrunners have already cautioned their audience that U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens may not get out of Detroit alive, but nonetheless, anticipation is high for the revival. The story will pick up fifteen years after Raylan left Harlan County, and as with a certain essential episode, he’ll take his boots and hat elsewhere. This time around, Timothy Olyphant’s most infamous lawman will be in particular pursuit of “Oklahoma Wildman” Clement Mansell, portrayed by Boyd Holbrook.
Will this presumed limited series (whether or not Raylan survives) truly be a one-and-done revival season, however? Olyphant, who’s currently in Austin for City Primeval world premiere events, expressed interest in keeping this shindig going if possible. Deadline passes on the word:
“I’d show up,” Timothy Olyphant, star and executive producer, said at the conclusion of the show’s panel at ATX TV Festival in Austin on Thursday. “I had a good time. Every time we’ve done this I’ve had a good time,” he added.
Executive producer Sarah Timberman echoed the statement, “If he shows up I show up–we all show up.”
This could potentially be good news, of course, but first, a word of caution about getting hopes too high. Olyphant is an effusive fellow, and this is quite charming, but we’ll have to wait and see how things go. Back in 2019 when Netflix cancelled the beloved Santa Clarita Dietafter three seasons, Olyphant insisted that “I’m going to continue coming in and doing scenes. If they don’t want to film it, that’s up to them.” And to my dismay, it doesn’t seem like Netflix took him up on that generous offer. Of course, FX has a long history with Justified and doesn’t cancel shows as readily as Netflix does, so we can keep our fingers crossed on City Primeval longevity. Also, we can hope that Raylan doesn’t, you know, actually die this season. (Don’t take off the hat!)
Earlier this week, Donald Trump was rocked by a recording that threw a significant hole in his defense that he declassified all of the documents found at his various residences and golf clubs with his mind. In the audio captured after Trump ended his term, the former president can be heard boasting about having sensitive documents pertaining to an attack on Iran, and he even states that the intel is classified.
The recording is already a damning piece of evidence for the special counsel investigation, and now, there’s an even more troublesome development. Trump’s attorneys can’t find the documents mentioned in the recording.
The sources say prosecutors made clear to Trump’s attorneys after issuing the subpoena that they specifically wanted the Iran document he talked about on tape as well as any material referencing classified information – like meeting notes, audio recordings or copies of the document – that may still be Trump’s possession.
The fact that Trump’s team was unable to produce the document underscores the challenges the government has faced in trying to recover classified material that Trump took when he left the White House and in understanding the movement of government records that Trump kept.
A major lynchpin of the Department of Justice investigation is the belief that Trump has not returned all of the classified documents in his possession, or worse, may have provided them to other parties. Considering his lawyers can’t locate a specific piece of intel that Trump openly bragged about, those suspicions would appear to be warranted.
If Cardi B ever decides to try basketball in addition to wedding planning, sushi cheffing, and football training, it looks like she’s already got a roster spot thanks to her verse on Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” remix. The Louisana State University Women’s Basketball Twitter account responded to Cardi’s lyrical shout-out in the song (“I been ballin’ so damn hard, could’ve went to LSU”), writing, “ok @iamcardib we’re ready for you,” and including a photo of Cardi in a Tigers jersey. It’s incredible:
The appreciation certainly appeared to go both ways. LSU’s star forward Angel Reese makes a cameo appearance in the video for “Put It On Da Floor Again,” thanks to her impressive performance in the NCAA National Championship — both on and off the court — on the way to LSU becoming the NCAA Champions. Reese became a star after drawing criticism and acclaim for performing the Tony Yayo/John Cena “You can’t see me” gesture at rival Caitlin Clark, mimicking Clark doing it herself just a few games before. The instantly viral moment sparked a slew of discussions from the inane (“sportsmanship!”) to the vital (“Why is the media only lavishing attention on the white girl amidst this historic run by LSU?”)
The only way any of this gets any cooler is if Latto and Cardi do another remix, this time with Reese’s LSU teammate Flau’jae Johnson, who has already been invited to rap with Lil Wayne. Cardi, Latto, if you see this: Make it happen. For me. Please.
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In his memoir, Pageboy, Elliot Page detailed an encounter he had with a famous actor who verbally assaulted him.
In the chapter, “Famous Asshole at a Party,” The Umbrella Academy star writes that in 2014, he was approached at a party by an actor who told Page that “you aren’t gay. That doesn’t exist. You are just afraid of men.” He added, “I’m going to f*ck you to make you realize you aren’t gay.” A few days later, they ran into each other at the gym, and the actor, who Page described as an “acquaintance,” said, “I don’t have a problem with gay people I swear.”
Page, who came out as a trans man in 2020, told People, “I’ve had some version of that happen many times throughout my life. A lot of queer and trans people deal with it incessantly. These moments that we often like don’t talk about or we’re supposed to just brush off, when actually it’s very awful.”
He continued:
I put that story in the book because it’s about highlighting the reality, the sh*t we deal with and what gets sent to us constantly, particularly in environments that are predominantly cis and heterosexual. How we navigate that world where you either have more extreme, overt moments like that. Or you have the more, like, subtle jokes. [In Hollywood] these are very powerful people. They’re the ones choosing what stories are being told and creating content for people to see all around the world.”
Page made the deliberate decision to not share the actor’s name, “but he will hear about this and know it’s him.” You can read more from Pageboyhere.
Peter Parker is most well-known for being, well, a nerdy teen who likes to take pictures and has an affinity for science (and sometimes redheads). But the various Spider-Men in Across The Spider-Verseeach have their own stories. Peter B. Parker, for instance, is a young dad trying to balance out his Spider-Man persona while on daycare duty. Then there’s Spider-Punk, who is a cool dude who plays guitar. There really is a Spidey for everyone.
Across The Spider-Verseintroduces Spider-Man 2099 aka Miguel O’Hara, a non-nonsense grump who has to keep Miles Morales in line. This is quite the departure for Oscar Isaac, who voices O’Hara, as he is…. practically the opposite of a grumpy dude. He might even be a little ray of sunshine! Most of the time.
Isaac opened up to GQ about his new character, and why he was the one to bring O’Hara to life. “Miguel O’Hara is pretty amazing as a character,” Isaac said that that’s what attracted him to the voice role. “He’s got this particular unique quality to him, but there are lots of things about him that I think are very surprising and make him such his own thing. The fangs and claws and this violence that’s simmering underneath at all times? He’s just a really interesting character.” Even though O’Hara is a far cry away from Isaac’s more charming characters like our good friend Poe.
Even if fans don’t get any fun Spider-jokes in Oscar Isaac’s voice, he was happy to try out a different type of character. “I do think he gets to by the nature of him being the straight man, you know? So no, I wasn’t disappointed at all. There was so much to do there, we laughed so much. Finding the humor with someone that just is so serious can be really fun.”
Speaking of laughing, Isaac says that if he could bring another Spider on board, it would be Pedro Pascal as a “cranky, old Spider-Person.” Just imagine the dialogue between those two. It would be hard to look away.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is in theaters now.
The silver lining: the LGBTQ community is known for its resilience. Pride festivals were born out of a brutal police protest, after all. As the calendar changes to June — Pride Month — festival season is in full swing.
To celebrate the season, we’ve highlighted ten performers across the rainbow spectrum that will take stages across the U.S. From a former Britney Spears backup dancer who’s finding his own light to a nonbinary artist who reworked tracks by Harry Styles and Phoebe Bridgers to be gender-neutral, read on to discover a new queer fav.
_SANTI_
For fans of: Bad Bunny, Ice Spice
Despite sharing a home state with Gov. Rob DeSantis, no U.S. city goes harder for Pride Month than Miami; in fact, they already had a two-week festival in April. Their month-long programming for June starts with Friday’s (June 2) kick-off party, which features a performance from Venezuela-born artist _SANTI_. The reggaeton rapper garnered a fanbase with Spanglish remixes of Kim Petras’ horniest tracks, but showed off his versatility with an EP of original party anthems, dripping with his distinct erotic energy. Fans can also catch him alongside Tinashe and Ty Sunderland at the Wynwood Pride Music Festival (June 10). Check out: “perreON,” “Treat me like a slut”
Tolliver
For fans of: Janelle Monáe, CeeLo
Growing up, Chicago-born Tolliver couldn’t escape the church: he’s the son of a pastor and a gospel choir singer. It’s evident in his soulful sound, and in the core message of his latest album, Daddyland. The record doubles as a letter to his deceased father, unraveling worries that he’d be condemned for his lifestyle. Tolliver brings his fabulous brand of sass to the WeHo Pride stage opening night (June 2), with Grace Jones, Jessie Ware, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Passion Pit set to perform throughout the weekend. Check out: “Jimmy,” “Call Me A Freak”
Lorelei K
For fans of: Florence and the Machine, Lykke Li
Among the acts taking the Dallas Pride (June 3) stage is hometown heroine Lorelei K. Known for her haunting vocals and ethereal production, the avant-pop artist creates her own arresting album artwork to match. She described her latest release “I Want To Be Alone,” as music for inked stoner babes and freaks with daddy issues. Check out: “Lying Love,” “Blue Part Four”
Siena Liggins
For fans of: Charli XCX, Shygirl
Pop artist Siena Liggins is truly doing the most this Pride season, appearing at LGBTQ festivals in Detroit (June 10), Sacramento (June 11), Columbus (June 17), and Seattle (June 24-25). Exploring genres from hyper-pop to hip-hop, Liggins blends it all together under her masterful wordplay: “Friends, girl, I come with all the benefits / Total package, no subscription,” she teases on her latest release, the slinky “Sneaky Links.” Check out: “Sneaky Links,” “thicc”
Maude Latour
For fans of: Lorde, Oliva Rodrigo
When the pandemic hit, bedroom pop singer Maude Latour was forced to cancel live shows, including her debut at South By Southwest. Not one to give up, Latour turned to TikTok where her stream-of-conscious style songwriting helped her land a passionate audience (and a record deal). She’s since returned to the stage, and Midwest fans can catch her at Indy Pride (June 10) alongside Saucy Santana and Of Montreal. Check out: “One More Weekend,” “I am not the sun”
Allegra Hernandez
For fans of: The Pretty Reckless, Ethel Cain
“How many times does it take / for you to address me in the right way?,” screams Allegra Hernandez on their succinctly titled “Use My Fkn Pronouns.” Given the political climate in the Des Moines-native’s home state, they have a lot to be pissed off about. But Hernandez is more than angst; as attendees of Capital City Pride (June 10) will experience, they also know their way around a guitar. Check out: “Use My Fkn Pronouns,” “Serious”
Mad Tsai
For fans of: Yungblood, Conan Gray
Growing up, Taiwanese and Peruvian musician Mad Tsai felt disillusioned by coming-of-age films where he didn’t see himself represented. Now, he’s reclaiming the narrative, envisioning a world where queer Asian and Latinx heroes can take center stage. Tsai plays out his main character fantasy in his latest pair of music videos “in my head” and “stacy’s brother,” the latter being a queer twist on the 2000s pop/rock anthem “Stacy’s Mom.” And for his next role? Tsai will join LA Pride (June 10) with a stacked lineup that includes Mariah Carey, Megan Thee Stallion, King Princess, and RuPaul’s Drag Race current reigning winner Sasha Colby. Check out: “stacy’s brother,” “killer queen”
Willie Gomez
For fans of: J Balvin, Maluma
Willie Gomez may have toured the world as a backup dancer for pop titans like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Kylie Minogue, but the Dominican heartthrob is prepared to step into his own spotlight. With his party-forward debut album, last year’s Del Cibao, Gomez is taking the stage at Omaha’s Heartland Pride (June 15) to show off his solo star power. Check out: “Morjadoes,” “Yun Yun”
Mila Jam
For fans of: Idina Menzel, Victoria Monét
A self-described “artivist,” NYC-based Mila Jam has built her fanbase by combining her outspoken LGBTQ advocacy with soulful, pop melodies. Her latest anthem, “Say Your Name,” was released on Transgender Day of Visibility to empower the transgender and drag community amidst the ominous political climate. She’ll join Christina Aguilera and Angelica Ross for Stonewall Day (June 23) in her home city. Check out: “Fierce,” “Say Your Name”
Mika Ratsula
For fans of: Phoebe Bridgers, MUNA
For Nashville Pride (June 24) performer Mika Ratsula, visibility is key. They don’t shy away from vulnerable subjects; instead Ratsula, who identifies as nonbinary, leans into them, exploring topics like coming out and gender envy with honest storytelling over lo-fi soundscapes. On last year’s Made For Them EP, the singer-songwriter reimagined tracks by Harry Styles and Phoebe Bridgers to be completely gender-neutral. Check out: “jealous of my brother,” “Missing June”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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(@NotFancy_) June 2, 2023
