BROUGHT TO YOU BY ONE HOUR HEATING & A/C!
Aretha Franklin — the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, dubbed the Queen of Soul for powerful anthems like “Respect” and “Chain of Fools” — died on Thursday at her home in Detroit. She was 76 years old. The singer’s publicist confirmed the news to the Associated Press. Earlier this week, members of her family had told NBC affiliate WDIV-TV in Detroit that she was “gravely ill.”
ELLEN DEGENERES TO DESIGN LINE FOR WALMART: The comedian Ellen DeGeneres is launching a clothing line based on her casual personal style for Walmart. In 2014, DeGeneres founded luxe lifestyle company ED, which offers clothing, home goods and pet products. She also teamed up with the Gap to release a clothing line. EV1 stands for “everyone” and will hit Walmart shelves September 10th. Each of the 60 clothing styles cost $30 or less.
Rayna James’ Nashville Mansion is for Sale: The elaborate mansion that the TV show “Nashville” used for the interior shots of Rayna Jaymes’ home is now for sale in Music City, and you won’t believe the price tag. Jaymes was a Country superstar on the show, but the real-life mansion is even more luxurious than most real Country stars’ homes. The jaw-dropping home features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and three half-bathrooms, and covers over 20,000 square feet. It’s currently on the market for almost $18 million. That’s a pretty steep price, but according to Zillow, it would break down into payments of just $102,130 per month.
A former pal is suing Terry Crews, claiming the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star owes him more than $1 million for managing his social media accounts. Darwin Hall also alleges that Crews defamed him on Twitter and recruited fans to track him down and threaten him. The lawsuit states, “Plaintiff Hall was terrified and feared for his safety as well as that of his family.” In a series of tweets last December, Crews wrote that he was the victim of a “revenge shakedown” from a former friend. Though he didn’t mention him by name, it’s believed Crews was talking about Hall. Talk About It: Do social media managers really make that much money?
KELSEY GRAMMER TATTOOED WIFE’S NAME ON CROTCH: Kelsey Grammer has an innovative tactic for preventing adultery. The Frasier star told Conan O’Brien that he got his wife’s name tattooed on his crotch to discourage cheating. “It was more of sort of an ownership thing,” he said. “My wife said, ‘Why don’t you get a tattoo?’ I guess maybe it was based on the idea that if ever I thought maybe a peccadillo outside the marriage was a good idea, that whoever might be, you know, would read this particular piece of equipment was already signed and owned by someone named Kayte.” Grammer, 63, began dating Kayte Walsh, 39, while he was still married to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Camille Grammer. Their split was documented on the Bravo show. He and Walsh married in 2011 two weeks after the divorce became official.
Matt Lauer is “bending over backwards” to give his estranged wife Annette Roque whatever she wants in their divorce because he feels guilty for his infidelity, sources tell Page Six. The former Today show co-host has already agreed to cough up $20 million. Annette seems pleased with the settlement as the couple are now said to be “getting along amicably.” A source says, “Things really have settled down. Matt and Annette are getting on and they’re both spending time with their kids. They hope to settle the divorce very soon.” Matt was fired by NBC in November for sexual misconduct.
AND FINALLY, TODAY’S CELEBRITY TWEET OF THE DAY. WORDS OF WISDOM FROM AN NFL SUPERSTAR:
We’ve all faced adversity at some point in our lives. It’s how you respond to it that controls your destiny. https://t.co/FfXs88Apfq pic.twitter.com/JPPFXFtX2V
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 16, 2018