People: Swift to headline ABC’s ‘Rockin’ Eve’
Taylor Swift will be shakin’ it up in New York City’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
ABC announced Monday that Swift is the headliner for “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” the annual countdown show hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The show plans about 38 musical performances over five and a half hours on the air. No other musical acts have been announced yet.
Swift’s hit “Shake It Off” is currently on the charts, and she’ll be promoting her pop-oriented album “1989.”
It will be Seacrest’s 10th year hosting the annual celebration that was originated by Dick Clark.
Singer apologizes for botched anthem
Aaron Lewis has apologized for botching the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during his performance before Game 5 of the World Series.
The lead singer of the metal band Staind turned country singer published a note on his website Monday after stumbling during his rendition of the national anthem the night before in San Francisco.
“All I can say is I’m sorry and ask for the Nation’s forgiveness. My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened,” he wrote. “America is the greatest country in the world.”
After starting with “O say can you see by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed,” Lewis diverted from the lyrics. Instead of singing “at the twilight’s last gleaming” he sang “were so gallantly streaming,” words that appear later in the song.
No joke: World thinks Finn is funniest
The results are in and the world’s funniest person hails from … Finland?
Who knew?
Ismo Leikola outpolled his nearest competitor by more than 2-to-1 in online votes this past weekend to win the first Funniest Person in the World competition. Results were announced Monday at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood.
Leikola was one of dozens of comics from Egypt, Israel, France, Spain and elsewhere to enter the competition. Winners were chosen from among five finalists who took part in a live competition streamed on the Laugh Factory website.
Club owner Jamie Masada says he hopes the contest will help lead to world peace by getting people to laugh together.
The birthday bunch
Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 87. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 78. Actress Jane Alexander is 75. Actor Dennis Franz is 70. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 65. Actress Annie Potts is 62. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 59. Actress Lauren Holly is 51. Actress Jami Gertz is 49. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 48. Actress Julia Roberts is 47. Singer Ben Harper is 45. Country singer Brad Paisley is 42. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 40. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 35. Singer/rapper Frank Ocean is 27.