H.E.R. will perform during the closing ceremony Sunday at the Paris Olympics. The five-time Grammy winner is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the handover for the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028.
H.E.R. has won Oscar, Emmy and Grammy awards during her decorated career. The 27-year-old from California won the Grammy for song of the year in 2021 for her protest anthem “I Can’t Breathe.”
She also took home an Oscar for best original song for the soulful “Fight for You” from the “Judas and the Black Messiah” soundtrack. The singer also wrote the Netflix animated series “We the People,” which won her an award at the Children’s and Family Emmys.
Paak teams with Tedder, Stefani for Olympic song: When Anderson .Paak was tapped for an Olympic- themed song, the Grammy winner felt eager to record the track until he hit an unexpected hurdle: The normally free-flowing artist had to work within a tight framework.
.Paak embraced the process, seeing it as an opportunity to flex a new creative muscle. It helped him while recording the upbeat joyous track “Hello World” with Gwen Stefani and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.
“We hope to bring a taste of that celebratory spirit to the world that can stay with them,” .Paak said Thursday before he performed “Hello World” for the first time at a Paris restaurant.
Tedder wrote and produced “Hello World,” which is being supported by the International Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola. The trick was to juggle both parties’ demands for the right message to “inspire athletes and fans” before unveiling it to the masses.
.Paak said the song is suitable for people from all walks of life. It’s now available for streaming on all major music platforms.
Farrell honors son with foundation: Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell just announced his newest role: charity foundation president. The “Banshees of Inisherin” star unveiled his eponymous Colin Farrell Foundation, which seeks to benefit people living with intellectual disabilities and their families. At the core of Farrell’s new organization and its mission: the actor’s son James, who lives with Angelman syndrome.
“I want the world to be kind to James,” Farrell said. “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”
James, whom Farrell shares with model Kim Bordenave, is nonverbal and will soon age out of support systems and programs that benefit people with special needs and their families, the actor said. James will celebrate his 21st birthday in September.
The Colin Farrell Foundation seeks to remedy that transition. Farrell said he believes his son would think that starting the foundation is a “no-brainer.”
Aug. 10 birthdays: Musician Ian Anderson is 77. Musician Gene Johnson is 75. Singer Patti Austin is 74. Actor Rosanna Arquette is 65. Actor Antonio Banderas is 64. Drummer Jon Farriss is 63. Singer Michael Bivins is 56. Actor Angie Harmon is 52. Actor JoAnna Garcia Swisher is 45. Actor Ryan Eggold is 40. Actor Lucas Till is 34.