From band reunions to deaths, this is your weekly entertainment brief from last week’s entertainment news.
Blink-182 Reunite and Announce New Album
Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have reunited with guitarist Tom DeLonge, releasing music together for the first time in nearly a decade.
On Oct. 11, the band tweeted out the news, along with plans to record new music.
“We’re coming,” the post read. “Tour’s coming. Album’s coming. Tom’s coming. Tickets on sale Monday.”
The band also announced a new single, a song called “Edging,” which officially released on Oct. 14.
This announcement marks the first time Hoppus and Barker will perform with DeLonge since 2015. The last time they released music together was the 2012 EP, Dogs Eating Dogs.
Blink-182’s tour will kick off on March 11, 2023, in Tijuana, Mexico. While the band is not planning to stop in Oklahoma during this time, they will be in Texas on July 5, 7, and 8 in Dallas, Austin and Houston respectively.
The band’s album is also scheduled for 2023, although an official release date has yet to be announced.
Tickets for Blink-182’s tour can be purchased here.
Blake Shelton Announces Departure from The Voice
On Oct. 11, Blake Shelton announced the 2023 season of The Voice would be his last.
In a social media post, the country singer gave his thanks to everyone who made the show possible as well as the fans for their support.
“This show has changed my life in every way for the better,” the statement read. “It’s about y’all, the fans, who watch and support these artists, us coaches and everyone here at The Voice who are chasing their dreams. It would not happen without you!”
The last of the original judges, Shelton’s time on the reality show dates back to 2011 when the show first premiered. Throughout the past decade, the country singer has won the show eight times, coaching music hopefuls to victory.
Fellow coach John Legend spoke out regarding Shelton’s departure, calling him the “heart and soul” of the show.
“He’s a good friend of mine and I really enjoy working with him,” Legend said. “We’re all going to miss him.”
Legend will not be spending Shelton’s final season with him as the R&B singer is taking the season off to focus on his family and music.
“My family’s growing, I have a new album out, I’m going to do a little bit of touring, so it’s probably better I take a break,” Legend said. “I’ll be back on The Voice, just not this coming season.
The show’s upcoming season will feature Shelton for a final time and will see Kelly Clarkson brought back as a coach after a brief hiatus. Niall Horan and Chance the Rapper will claim the last two spots, making their coaching debuts on the show.
Angela Lansbury Passes Away
On Oct. 11, actress Angela Lansbury passed away at age 96.
On Saturday, Oct. 15, all the New York Broadway theaters dimmed their lights at 7:45 p.m. to pay tribute to the late actress.
According to Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin, Lansbury was like a family member.
“Angela Lansbury was, without a doubt, one of Broadway’s most endearing leading actresses and her influence in the world of musical theater will live on,” St. Martin said. “We think of her as Broadway royalty and a member of our family while recognizing Hollywood thinks of her the same way.”
While Lansbury got her start on Broadway with 1957’s “Hotel Paradiso,” she also enjoyed a lengthy film career. She received her first Oscar nomination just shy of 20 years old for her movie debut, 1944’s “Gaslight.”
Lansbury went on to star in multiple pictures, playing Sarah Lee Gates in Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii and Mrs. Potts in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast.
Lansbury’s most popular role was Jessica Fletcher from the television series “Murder, She Wrote,” which aired from 1984 to 1996.
Robbie Coltrane Passes Away
Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane passed away on Oct. 14, 2022.
The actor’s agent Belinda Wright confirmed the actor’s death in a statement describing him as a “unique talent.”
“For me personally, I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client,” Wright said. “As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.”
Wright did not disclose a cause of death, although she said he had been “unwell for some time.”
Coltrane is most popular for having appeared in the Harry Potter series, playing the role of Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant and Hogwarts gamekeeper.
Various Harry Potter actors took to social media to send their condolences and share fond memories about Coltrane. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Potter, was one such person.
“I have especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on the Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut,” Radcliffe said. “He was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up.”
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling also tweeted about the actor, saying he was an “incredible talent.”
“I was beyond fortunate to know him, work with him and laugh my head off with him,” Rowling said. “I send my love and deepest condolences to his family and above all, his children.”
Although very private and not typically one to give interviews, Coltrane appeared on the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special which premiered on Jan. 1. He gave some retrospective words about his time playing Hagrid.
“The legacy of the movies is that my children’s generation will show them to their children,” Coltrane said. “You could be watching it in 50 years’ time easy. I will not be there, sadly, but Hagrid will.”
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