The Sunday Mail
MADONNA will kick off her 40th anniversary in music with two career-spanning compilation records.
The Queen of Pop is the only recording artiste to have had 50 number one hits on any billboard chart in the United States, after topping its “Dance Club” chart for the 50th time in 2020 with “I Don’t Search I Find”.
Now she is using a lyric from that song for the two new collections.
“Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones” will be a 50-track record including her favourite remixes of those dance hits, while an abridged 16-track version called “Finally Enough Love” is also being released.
The 50-track album will be out on vinyl, CD and digitally on August 19, while “Finally Enough Love” will be released digitally on June 24.
But there is even more to be excited about from Madonna, whose debut single “Everybody” will turn 40 on October 6.
Her team said recently: “Expect more surprises to be revealed later this year around the celebration of Madonna’s 40 years in music.”
She already has a new album of original music and a biopic in the works but I am excited to see what else she pulls out of the bag.
Hello 34, Adele celebrates birthday
Adele insists she has “never been happier” as she celebrated her 34th birthday.
The “Easy on Me” hitmaker turned 34 on Thursday and reflected on the positive changes in her life as she thanked fans for their well-wishes on her special day.
Sharing two bare-faced photos of herself in a Carolina Herrera minidress on Instagram taken by photographer Raven Varona, she wrote: “What a difference a year makes! If time keeps healing and smoothing out all the creases in my life like it does as the years fly by, then I can’t wait to be 60! I have never been happier!
“So many lessons, so many blessings to be grateful for. This is 34, and I love it here! Thank you for the birthday love as always x (sic).”
Adele — who has a nine-year-old son, Angelo, with ex-husband Simon Konecki and is in a relationship with sports promoter Rich Paul — later donned matching striped pyjamas to celebrate with friends including Raven, stylist Jamie Mizrahi, travel writer Jedidiah Jenkins and Crown + Conquer founder April McDaniel.
Jedidiah shared a post on Instagram Story featuring a smiling Adele and the rest of the group sleeping.
He wrote: “We are all gonna watch ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’. I think I am entering my Julia Roberts era?” — Birthday girl.
“Oooh I have never seen it. Perfect, we are in.” — us(sic).”
The “Chasing Pavements” singer recently teased that she was planning to have another child.
Discussing her delayed Las Vegas residency, she said: “Imagine if I have to cancel because I am having a baby!
“We are now working our a**** off, but I don’t want to announce a new set of dates until I know everything will definitely be ready.
“The sooner I can announce, the better, but I just can’t in case we are not ready in time. It is absolutely 100 percent happening this year.
“It has to happen this year because I’ve got plans for next year.”
The “Hello” hitmaker is keen to add to her brood, but admitted that motherhood had been exhausting.
She said: “It takes me a while to recharge, and I would like to have more children — I only just feel like I have caught up with my sleep from nine years ago when I had my son.”
Forest Whitaker honoured
Forest Whitaker will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The 60-year-old actor feels “incredibly honoured” about being presented with the prestigious gong at the upcoming spectacle, which will take place from May 17 to May 28.
He said: “Thirty-four years ago, attending Cannes for the first time changed my life, and assured me that I had made the right decision to devote myself to finding connectivity in humanity through film.
“It’s always a privilege to return to this beautiful festival to both screen my own work and to be inspired by many of the world’s greatest artists – and I feel incredibly honoured to be celebrated as part of the festival’s momentous 75th anniversary.”
The Honorary Palme d’Or is awarded to those stars whose artistic careers are matched by their humanitarian commitments.
Previous winners have included Clint Eastwood, Jodie Foster and Jane Fonda.
Pierre Lescure, Festival de Cannes president, added: “It is a tradition for the Festival de Cannes to honour those who made its history and Forest Whitaker is one of them.
“He is this young actor that Clint Eastwood revealed in ‘Bird’ and that man who broadens his view of the world to offer it to those who suffer and those who fight.
“The full honours belong to Whitaker. This Palme d’Or is a gesture of gratitude from the world of cinema.”
Whitaker won the best actor award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for his role as musician Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker in Eastwood’s 1988 movie “Bird”.
The star is also known for appearing in movies “Good Morning, Vietnam”, “Black Panther”, “The Butler”, “Panic Room” — opposite Foster — and “The Last King of Scotland”, for which he won an Academy award for best actor.
New cast editions for Gomora
Season three of “Gomora” will see the addition of five new faces to the multi-award-winning telenovela.
Moshe Ndiki jokingly visited the set of “Gomora” a while back and had some fun with the cast.
Little did we all know that he would actually be joining the popular Mzansi Magic series.
Ndiki joins the series as a new teacher Andile Faku at Gomora High.
The new teacher has fallen on hard times due to gambling ruining his life.
He lost his lavish Sandton life and cushy private school job because of it.
While he may think his new gig is beneath him, his humour makes him hard to dislike. Viewers will get to meet Moshe in episode 25, airing on May 20.
There is a new principal at Gomora High now that beloved Mr Dlamini is behind bars.
Fezile Makhanya joins the cast as Nkosinathi Cele, Gomora High’s new charming principal who clashes with parents.
The new principal is trapped in an unhappy marriage, and he soon meets the woman he knows he should have married.
And she recently became single.
The new principal only makes his debut in June, so viewers will have to wait a bit until then.
Viewers have already been introduced to narcissist Duncan Leballo, played by Aubrey Makola, who has a thing for young girls.
The serious and suave wealthy record executive made his debut on the first episode of season three catching Sbongile’s eye.
In episode 16, airing on May 16, Bra Mike’s son, Mike Junior (aka June-July, played by Tiisetso Thoka), is introduced and is here to make sure Sonto does not enjoy life since killing his father.
Episode 17 introduces Nolo Makinta (played by Jessica Sithole), a failed slay queen traumatised by all the things rich men have put her through.
Naturally, her disdain for men draws her to another wounded woman — Thathi. Will their new relationship lead them further into darkness? — Wires
