Celine Dion

Celine Dion

Photo: Tony Barson/Getty Images

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Celine Dion-Inspired 'Power Of Love' Movie Coming In 2020

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French actor and director Valerie Lemercier will be directing the film and playing the role of the lead character based on the Canadian singer's inspirational story
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jan 31, 2019 - 3:22 pm

French film studio Gaumont shared they are going to begin shooting soon for a film—technically not a biopic—inspired by GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse Celine Dion, due out in 2020. The film is tentatively titled "The Power Of Love," from the Canadian singer's GRAMMY-nominated hit song, and will include her music. 

French actress and director Valerie Lemercier will be directing the movie and also starring as the main character Aline, whose story and rise to fame as a teen in a large Canadian family is largely based on Dion's story. While news first circulated yesterday that the film would be a biopic about the star, today Variety shared Gaumont's clarification that it is a "homage" to her with fictional characters sharing a story similar to hers.

The budget is set at $23 million, which, as Variety highlighted, is quite large for French films, and is set to be one of the country's highest-profile movies in 2020. The acting will be primarily in French, with filming to take place in France, Spain, Canada and Las Vegas.

Lemercier felt a connection to Dion after the star lost her manager husband to cancer in 2016, and felt compelled to research her journey and her relationship with her mother and late husband. "I discovered the strength of their love story and their great humor, and I better understood how the alchemy of their three individual ambitions made an unwanted, little girl the greatest star on the planet," she told Variety.

Dion's story is one ripe to be adapted for the silver screen; she was born the youngest of 14 siblings in Quebec in 1968 and rose to fame nationally as a young teen. She began to gather an international following after releasing her first English-language album Unison in 1990, followed by a string of hits, including "The Power Of Love" in 1993, her first No. 1 hit, and "My Heart Will Go On" in 1998. That song, which was the theme song for the blockbuster hit Titanic, earned her two GRAMMY wins, including for Record Of The Year at 41st GRAMMY Awards. She was also one of the first musicians to have a residency in Las Vegas, and has been putting on show-stopping performances for years.

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Celine Dion

Celine Dion

Photo: Design: F. Inomata

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Celine Dion Says She Will Never Forget Singing With Aretha Franklin

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The two GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouses famously shared the stage in 1998 at the first-ever "VH1 Divas" show
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 7, 2019 - 3:29 pm

GRAMMY winner Celine Dion has had plenty of high points in her career, and the "VH1 Divas" performance she shared with fellow GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse Aretha Franklin in 1998 is one she'll especially treasure.

Looking back on that moment, one she would "never forget," Dion said she had an easy decision to make when asked to be a part of the GRAMMY tribute to the late legend. She added her voice to the powerful evening that was "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," singing "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Backstage at the event, which will air on CBS in full this Sunday, March 10, Dion also reflected on the power that Aretha has had on her and many other singers and music fans.

"Whoever believes that music comes from the soul has a part of her," she emphasized. "We've been singing her, we've been feeling her."

"She has been showing us, all of us, how things are being done and no one will ever be doing that again," Dion finished.

Don't forget to catch "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Brandi Carlile Takes Aretha Franklin To Heart With A Special Tribute

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

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Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, Alicia Keys, Common & More Celebrate Aretha Franklin

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Artists across generations and genres convened to celebrate the beloved singer's life with moving performances and tributes at "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul"
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 5, 2019 - 10:41 am

On Jan. 13, 2019, the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles was filled with cheers, laughter and some tears as dozens of stars took to the stage to pay tribute to the late GRAMMY-winning icon Aretha Franklin with a special concert called Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.

Hosted by actor and comedian Tyler Perry, the talent-filled show featured performances from artists spanning generations, including Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, SZA, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Yolanda Adams, Common, Alessia Cara, Brandi Carlile, Chloe x Halle, Celine Dion, Fantasia, H.E.R. and more.

Mar 11, 2019 – 1:10 pm

Brandi Carlile, Jennifer Hudson, More Honor Aretha

Moving Musical Tributes

Every tribute had the packed auditorium either dancing or swaying in their seats; at times the crowd was even moved to standing ovations. As recent first-time GRAMMY winning R&B artist H.E.R. said during her backstage interview, "I don't know one singer that doesn't listen to Aretha Franklin."

H.E.R. brought out her guitar and silky vocals as she sang "I Say A Little Prayer For You." Meanwhile, Fantasia hit all the high notes with grace as fellow GRAMMY winner Rob Thomas joined her for a lively duet of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," Aretha's 1986 song with GRAMMY winner George Michael.

Mar 1, 2019 – 10:47 am

H.E.R. Honors Aretha Franklin

GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams also gave two stunning performances, one a rousing nod to Aretha's gospel choir beginnings with a moving medley with fellow GRAMMY-winning gospel singers Shirley Caesar and Bebe Winans.

Earlier in the evening, GRAMMY-winning rapper and social justice advocate Common joined her for a powerful performance of "Young, Gifted And Black," which brought the whole crowd into a booming standing ovation. The song was originally written and recorded by Nina Simone and covered a few years later by Aretha as the GRAMMY-winning title track for her 18th studio album.

Feb 28, 2019 – 11:27 am

Patti LaBelle: No One Can Channel Aretha Franklin

Performers also included GRAMMY-nominated R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle, who sang "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" in coordinating sparkly fringe dresses. GRAMMY-winning Godmother Of Soul Patti LaBelle took it home as she wowed with "Call Me" in a shimmery black pantsuit number. She closing the song singing "We love you Aretha, we'll never forget you," to another standing ovation.

Alicia Keys and John Legend bookended the evening with their powerful voices and mesmerizing piano skills, Keys offering a medley with GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer SZA while Legend took on "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Mar 28, 2019 – 11:00 am

John Legend Performs At Aretha Tribute

More Aretha Accolades

In addition to performances from Aretha's admirers and peers, the show featured moving speeches and archival footage, which offered background to the songs and recounted milestones from Aretha's career, including videos of her singing at both Bill Clinton's and Barack Obama's Presidential inaugurations.

Fellow GRAMMY-winning, Detroit-raised music icon Smokey Robinson even took it way back as he shared the heartfelt story of meeting a six-year-old Aretha, whom he said would go on to become his "life-long friend" and the "Princess Of Soul." Another longtime friend and music industry icon, GRAMMY-winning producer and all around legend Clive Davis, also gave a powerful speech, asserting "there will never ever be another Aretha."

Stay tuned to GRAMMY.com to watch several full performances from the evening, to be released soon.

You can also sign up for our newly relaunched weekly newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube channel for keep up with all of our fresh GRAMMY video content and news.

Aretha Franklin's GRAMMY History: Remembering The Queen Of Soul

Lady Gaga at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Lady Gaga at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

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Lady Gaga To Perform An Intimate Show At The Apollo Theater In June

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The nine-time GRAMMY winner will play the historic 1,500-capacity venue in Harlem, N.Y. during Pride Month
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
May 22, 2019 - 12:48 pm

Today, SiriusXM announced a special event to celebrate their February merger with Pandora: one night with Lady Gaga at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater on June 24.

"Performing at The Apollo has always been a dream of mine. Thank you to SiriusXM and Pandora for inviting me. I'm excited for my fans to see a special show at this iconic venue," Gaga said in a press release.

Tickets for her performance at the iconic 1,500-capacity venue are by invitation-only for SiriusXM subscribers. The company is also giving away two tickets plus transportation and accommodation for new subscribers since May 5, including those in the trial period; more info here.

"After getting her start in New York City, Lady Gaga went on to conquer the world with her talent. We are thrilled to have Lady Gaga perform this exclusive show at the world famous Apollo Theater in her hometown as we celebrate SiriusXM and Pandora as one company," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of SiriusXM. 

More: Lady Gaga's 2019 Oscars Acceptance Speech: "If You Have A Dream, Fight For It"

The intimate performance will be Gaga's first in almost two years in her hometown of N.Y.C. (not counting her Met Gala fashion show, of course), and her first-ever at the Apollo.

The theater has been a cornerstone of entertainment and culture in New York since the turn of the 20th century. It has hosted scores of major musicians over the decades, like Aretha Franklin and George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s. SiriusXM, meanwhile, hosted Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen at the Apollo in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

Gaga's performance will fall during World Pride Month, while the 2019 N.Y.C. Pride Parade will take place on June 30 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

Feb 14, 2019 – 3:52 pm

Lady Gaga: "Shallow" | 2019 GRAMMYs Performance

Before heading to New York, the Queen of Camp will wrap up a second round of shows (May 30–June 15) for her Las Vegas residency. The shows, which gives fans a choice between a stripped-down "Jazz & Piano" or the cutting-edge technology-supported "Enigma," will pick back up in the fall.

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ZZ Top

ZZ Top

Photo: Rick Kern/WireImage/Getty Images

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A ZZ Top Musical Is Coming To Las Vegas In 2020

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"'Sharp Dressed Man' is an outrageous, bawdy musical romp about a Lone Star auto mechanic who becomes a modern-day Robin Hood," a press release states
Ana Yglesias
GRAMMYs
May 21, 2019 - 2:04 pm

Texas classic rockers ZZ Top and Caesars Entertainment have teamed up for a new musical featuring the GRAMMY nominees' lively, brash brand of Southern rock, Variety reports. "A Sharp Dressed Man," named after the group's 1983 hit song, will debut in Las Vegas in 2020.

"'Sharp Dressed Man' is an outrageous, bawdy musical romp about a Lone Star auto mechanic who becomes a modern-day Robin Hood, stealing hearts—and car parts—with the help of his merry band of beer drinkers and hell raisers," a press release said.

Variety states that surviving band members Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are executive producers on the play. The story is written by screenwriter/playwrights Robert Cary and Johnathan Tolins and features classic ZZ Top tracks like "Legs," "La Grange," "Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Cheap Sunglasses."

ZZ Top's manager, Carl Stubner, along with film producer Prem Akkaraju are the lead producers, as are several executives of Caesars Entertainment. The company runs several large venues in Sin City, including The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood, two Vegas residency hot spots. The venue for the new musical has not yet been named, nor has the specific show dates.

"The show will utilize the band's music and tremendous energy in a new immersive realm," Stubner told Variety. "Just like ZZ Top, it's all about having a good time at a great party and telling fun stories through their music."

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