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Entertainment Movies Music TV

What’s New? The Latest in Music, Movies, and TV

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MOVIES

What’s new? I’ve been enjoying the summer and thinking about you. Whenever I see a star shining or fan stargazing, I can’t help but get excited. I was inspired to create a Twitter Community which you’re welcome to join. It’s called Stars & Fans. I haven’t personally invited anyone because I want organic growth. If you want to help, I would appreciate it.

I love entertainment even though there’s a fair share of haters. The haters don’t see it the same way as the lovers. Are you a lover or a hater?

Music, movies, and TV are mechanisms of soulful productions. Every song, film, and show do something to the spirit. Without music, movies, and TV our society would be at a severe disadvantage.

I’ve been blogging now for nine years and am still learning a lot about stars and fans. One thing I know is that a common thread unites stars and fans. It’s a trek not a war. Or in the words of H.E.R., it’s the journey. Nowadays, celebrities walk a tightrope and the statement that it’s a thin line between love and hate couldn’t be further from the truth.

MUSIC

Many musicians are on tour right now. Snoop Dogg tweeted on July 5: “Tour time.” Of course, I retweeted. Doggystyle turned 30 years old. To this day, I play songs from the album. Can you believe that?  “What’s My Name?” He has hot lines. Snoop is one of the best rappers.

Did you know Taylor Swift added fourteen more dates to her tour? When her tour first started, she was only touring the United States and Argentina. Going to concerts in the summer seems like a fantastic idea. Also, Harry Styles is doing it big.  

Don’t forget about Drake either. Drake held a concert in Detroit and got fined over $225,000 according to All Hip Hop for staying past curfew. And Cardi B is back at it again in the studio writing and releasing new music. She’s a force in rap and fashion, you better believe it.

MOVIES

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One comes out soon. In 2 days everywhere, the results will start trickling in and we’ll have some monster numbers. How do you think it will do at the box office? I’ve said before that Tom Cruise can’t lose. @MissionFilm should’ve put DJ Khaled’s All I Do Is Win on their soundtrack. Also, I might see this movie three times. 

Barbie: Are you excited about seeing Margot Robbie shine in the film? Have you heard Billie Eilish’s song What Was I Made For? The full song, which is a part of Barbie’s soundtrack, will be released in 3 days. 

Oppenheimer: Do you want a motion picture experience like no other? Oppenheimer is expected to give the audience a bang for their buck. Director Christopher Nolan’s $100 million film stars a dream cast. J. Robert Oppenheimer was a real man who made a real impact on the world. That’s why it’s important for the story to be told the right way. Going back to World War II days and retelling events requires a dynamic vision.

TV

I wanted to write about what’s new on TV but because of the Writer’s Strike there’s really nothing new. Do you know how much I was looking forward to seeing Pete Davidson return on Saturday Night Live as host? 

So, there you have it. That’s what’s new in music and movies. Of course, I could have blogged about more topics, but I’ll leave it there. Who wants to read a wordy blog? It’s about making your words count, not the word count. In the meantime, you can find me on Twitter and Instagram. For what it’s worth, I haven’t joined Threads.

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Celebs Celebrities Celebrity Celebrity Blog entertainers Entertainment Music Music Blogs Music Industry Singers Swifties

Taylor Swift Is Back Better and Bigger Than Ever

Photo By: Raph_PH

Taylor Swift Is Back Better and Bigger Than Ever

Yesterday, Taylor Swift began The Eras Tour. You’ve been living under a rock if you haven’t heard about this tour. Come out of that cave and read a great blog today. 

Thank you for visiting my website. I appreciate your support. Every like, comment, and share helps.

Taylor Swift tickets 

As you may know, Taylor Swift tickets broke the Internet. Previously, Ticketmaster had problems fulfilling pre-orders. It was such a huge disaster that the company issued an apology. Now the situation’s all fixed and Swifties can purchase their tickets without a hitch.

Are you a Swift fan? Will you see her live in concert? Have you listened to her latest albums?

I’ve listened to Lavender Haze and Midnights. This is some of her best work. You can tell the star’s been hard at work on her craft. 

It’s safe to say Taylor Swift is one of the top singers in the world. The 33 year-old musician beat a million odds and became great. Everywhere fans are ecstatic about The Eras Tour. 

LOS ANGELES – MARCH 14: Guest arrives for the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography)

Wasn’t the Wait Worth It?

Today, I will blog about my expectations of the tour and thoughts about this celebrity’s new music. Nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder to please fans. The truth is you can’t make everybody happy. However, you can work on fine-tuning your talent and gift.

Taylor Swift is truly talented and gifted. That talent and gift has been established for about 15 years. One song that comes to my mind on her new album is Lavender Haze. Maybe you’ve seen the music video. What do you take away?

To me, the song means that everything must come to a standstill and people must recognize reality for what it is: anything you want. For instance, there’s a verse where she sings everybody sees me as a one night or a wife. Those are some powerful lyrics written by Taylor Swift and true.

Society puts people in categories and expects them to conform and play roles. Swift is using her new music to break free out of the box. Taylor Swift can literally be anything you want.

I would argue we’ve not only turned celebrities into villains but fantasies. The image we see on the screen or even in person is not necessarily real.

My takeaway is this is her time as well as everybody else’s. In fact, the main message behind her music is that this is her time. But she’s leaving the ego out of it all by also suggesting this is our time too.

There are plenty of Swift songs to enjoy. Snow on the Beach and Maroon are two of my favorites. I love Lana del Rey singing the duet.

In total, The Eras Tour will consist of 52 shows from March 17 2023 to August 9, 2023 located in the United States and Argentina. I know Argentina will be excited to see the star. To sum it up, I expect greatness from her in every show.

Photo By: Cosmopolitan UK

Perhaps, Anti-Hero is the most popular song from the Midnights album. How many times do we root for the villain in movies? Check out the Anti-Hero music video and ask yourself, have we turned musicians into villains? The video highlights human nature with different character tropes such as the daughter-in-law and the son.I like the lyrics of the song too.  

Did you see her at the Grammys dancing with Bad Bunny? Over the years, I’ve seen this star shine brightly and become big. Now, Taylor Swift is back better and bigger than ever. 

This blog post tried to capture the magnetism of that opening night. Today, I blogged about yesterday and tomorrow. We don’t know what surprises are in store but we’re going to have a great day in the meantime.

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Singers Celebrities Celebs Entertainment Music music artists Music Blog R&B Singer

Coco Jones & Ella Mai are the Hot New R&B Sounds

Coco Jones & Ella Mai Are the Hot New R&B Sounds

What’s hot? What’s new? Cut off CNN and Fox News, you can find out what’s going on by listening to music. All around the world, music is used as a means of transformation. Who’s excited about Coachella? This year we’ll see Puerto Rico and South Korea come together in California.

This blog post will discuss what’s hot and new in R&B music. I feel R&B doesn’t get enough coverage. Did you miss Coco Jones and Ella Mai’s arrivals on the red carpet at the 2023 Grammys? They were stunning and dazzling in their gorgeous dresses. Besides dressing for the part, these stars lit up the room that night with their smiles. With the Oscars right around the corner, you can relive the Grammys here.

Listening Experience

I believe music is all about coming away with an experience. Listening to Coco Jones and Ella Mai is just not enough for a fan. You have to experience them. Like I wrote in a recent post, to truly get it we have to feel it. But how can you do this when it seems like everything is digitized and virtual? There was a time when music was physical.  

Do you think the R&B genre could receive more respect? Nowadays, it seems pop music has taken over the air waves. But that’s alright.

Music reflects the good or bad times. And we’ll get through the toughness with the smoothness. Coco Jones’s voice is so smooth. And Ella Mai is slick with her sound.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ella_Mai_2019_by_Glenn_Francis-683x1024.jpg

LOS ANGELES – MARCH 14: Singer/Songwriter Ella Mai arrives for the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography)

Success

Coco Jones Photo By: Sidewalks Entertainment

It’s only a matter of time before they do a big duet together. Could Jones and Mai do something similar to Beyoncé and Alicia Keys’ Put It in a Love Song or Jazmine Sullivan and H.E.R.’s Girl Like Me? Is this the new R&B sound? With the help of Babyface, these young ladies have recognized their true potential. Coco Jones is experienced as a Disney singer/actress, She was born in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Her success was by design.

Of course, Ella Mai is an R&B superstar in her own right. She was born in London, England, UK. Both singers have something extraordinary to give to this world. Their music is the new R & B sound but they are not newbies. I firmly believe you can tell a lot about a musician by their music. Music is art.

ELLA MAI

The singer has released 2 studio albums called “Ella Mai” and “Heart On My Sleeve” to date. The “Ella Mai” album peaked at number 1 (U.S. R & B). Heart On My Sleeve was released last year and sits in the second spot on the charts. Her sound is that hot and new which inspires other artists. Have you heard the song she recorded with Latto?

COCO JONES

Also, Coco Jones is hot and new. She’s so hot and new she doesn’t have an album yet. However, she has 16 singles and multiple extended plays. Come to expect a groundbreaking album from her in the future. If she seizes the opportunity she can go far in the music business. I believe she has a lot going for her because she’s an actress and can build off her brand name recognition. Bel-Air is a top TV show on  Peacock. What is more, she is exactly the kind of R&B singer the industry needs.

COCO JONES & ELLA MAI

I’m not comparing the two celebrities. They are both experts who deserve appreciation. This blog post recognizes two of my favorite R&B singers. They’re both stars who I hope shine for a long time. Let’s give them their props.

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Music 1960s 1970s music 1980s entertainment 80s music 90s Celeb Blog Celebrities Celebrity Blog entertainers Entertainment music artists Music Blogs Music Legends Musicians record labels Singers Songs

What’s Happening Now: Could Old School Music Be a Trend?

What’s Happening Now?

This might not be a trending blog post but that’s alright. Sometimes, I don’t choose what to write, it chooses me. It’s kind of like that old school song by Willie Hutch “I Choose You.” from the Mack movie soundtrack.

Lately, I’ve chosen to listen to a lot of old school music. I’m in the mood for those kinds of sounds right now. Now, I’m not saying this new music out here is garbage like others are saying. All I’m saying is we’ve got to give peace a chance. Like that song “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon, music must drive a better narrative. In other words, old school music has a different harmony.

Nowadays, music is more explicit and that is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, there’s no need for interpretation. On the other hand, there’s no more mystery. No more, what did she mean with the lyric. Rap music has got a bad reputation for this.

Could Old School Music Be a Trend?

Do the singers live the lifestyle they sing about in their songs? Of course, some don’t. I would say most don’t. Old school music takes us back to a time like the 60s, 70s and 80s. What if you could go back to Woodstock?

How does Coachella compare to Woodstock? Did you know Bad Bunny and Black Pink are headliners for the festival? It’s coming up in April. Are you excited?

How far back do you want to go? For the purposes of this blog post I’m discussing the 60s to the 90s. To me, I consider that old school. There are so many ways to go with this topic. We can talk about the singers and the bands. The Beatles were big. Then, the Jackson 5 had their time in the spotlight. One thing I noticed is that old school had more bands.

The Best/Your Favorite Era

What is the best or your favorite era of old school music? 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s. When I reflect on these songs, I think about timeless pieces. I would argue some artists we will never forget. Then again, with so much sampling and resampling, mixing, and remixing we forget the source sometimes. But I believe nothing beats originality in the long game.

Photo By: hiabba

I want to discuss old school music as a commodity. Music has many brands, from record labels to music artists and promoters. Despite the odds of succeeding diminishing, there is so much talent flooding into the music industry. In the end, why someone chooses to enter the entertainment market depends on their drive and what narrative they subscribed to. Celebrities must have thick skin. Look at Selena Gomez as a prime example. She didn’t become the most followed woman on Instagram by accident and she’s dealt with all sorts of comments along the way. 

We can learn something valuable from the 2023 Grammys Watch and Recap. At the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party, he hosted legends and new stars. In his career, he’s made stars into legends as a record executive. Today, his impact in music is universal. Do you agree that Mariah Carey is one of the greatest female music artists of the 90s?

Old School Music Options

We’ve got “Just the Two of Us,” “Love and Happiness,” and “Your Song” among others that are great options. No, Meghan Trainor music is not all about the bass. We need lyrics combined with rhythm.

My aim is to write this blog post in a way that you can hear the music I’ve listened to this fine Saturday. I’m not going to tell you every song that I’ve listened to, but you can guess. Don’t just read. While on my music journey, I’ve discovered and rediscovered songs.

Listen to Don McClean’s American Pie. Then, feel it.

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Celebrities Celebrity Blog Entertainment Famous Famous Blogs Famous People Hollywood Hollywood Stars Movies Music

7 Celebrity Success Stories: How These Hollywood Stars Became Famous

7 Celebrity Success Stories: How These Hollywood Stars Became Famous

I want to write something different. Aren’t you tired of reading the same stories on the Internet? Where is the originality today? I believe blogging is an art. No one discusses how to survive as a blogger. But, I’m an artist, surviving.

Before I begin this post, thank you for reading. I appreciate your support anyway you can. Every subscription, follow, like, share, and comment counts.

Let’s begin!

So, the algorithms have taken over the world. I know you’ve heard about so-called software replacing real human work. How do you feel about this? Robots are even making lists reserved for humans to make. For example, it made a list of the 10 greatest basketball players. The question is are its opinions credible?

What are your thoughts about Artificial intelligence (A.I.)?

I want you to know I’m not a robot. This list I’m about to give is unique. I chose seven celebrity success stories from my brain and heart. Take that Recaptcha! 

    • Steven Spielberg
    • Stephen King
    • Jim Carrey
    • Beyoncé
    • Lady Gaga
    • Jennifer Lopez
    • Denzel Washington
Steven Spielberg Photo By: Gage Skidmore

First, you need direction to succeed in life. If you don’t have a director are you really an actor? Do you know how much responsibility falls on the shoulders of a director? One must hire all the cast and crew then manage fragile egos and maneuver through all sorts of hurdles. 

When it comes to directors, Academy Award winning Steven Spielberg is one of Hollywood’s biggest names. One might say it doesn’t get any bigger than him but those are fighting words. Still, He’s as rich and famous as they come. Forbes reports his net worth at $4 billion.

But why do I call Steven Spielberg a celebrity success story? Because the University of Southern California film school rejected him three times, and he still kept trying to make films. It goes to show you what tenacity can do. Despite difficulties, he made his way into Hollywood’s ethereal gates and that wasn’t easy. Based loosely on a true story, The Fabelmans are nominated for seven Oscars. You’d bet Spielberg will win something for The Fabelmans.

Stephen King Photo By: Pinguino Kolb

New York Times best selling novelist Stephen King is second on my list of celebrity success stories because he can write directions down better than anybody if needed with few exceptions. The horror genre novelist also dabbles in screenwriting. King became rich and famous despite difficulties. How many times do you think his debut novel got rejected before finding a publisher? The name of the game is to never give up. But, it’s not easy to keep going when it feels like you’re living in hell and suffocating.

Jim Carrey Photo By: Ian Smith

Third, Jim Carrey is another celebrity with a success story. Coming from a working class Canadian family to Hollywood was an uneventful trip. Early on in his career, few gave him a chance. When the so-called tastemakers doubt you, keep working hard at your craft it pisses off the right people. Carrey worked hard and he made his own atomic bomb and became the Einstein of comedy. 

Beyoncé Photo By: Sassy

Fourth, there’s Beyoncé. One thing people like about her is that she generates buzz and has the money to go along with the honey. Some call her Queen Bey, the ruler of the Beyhive. She became successful by doing the little things right. A whole bunch of small things add up to big ones. Like the next person on my list, she’s rich and famous because of her work ethic. 

After winning three Grammys this year and setting an all time record, she’ll go on tour and perform new music from the 2022 Summer Renaissance album. Dare I say Beyoncé is one of the best to ever do it. Check out the 2023 Grammys Watch and Recap for more. So, why is she a success story in my book? Because of her extremely successful solo career after leaving Destiny’s Child, she’s a success story. 

Lady Gaga Photo By: themollusk

Next on the list is Lady Gaga. Let’s not get it twisted. Gaga did not become rich and famous overnight. She worked hard to prove she belonged in show business. Looking at her work, you can see she made some tough choices. But, she was born to be a star. That’s why I wasn’t surprised Gaga’s duet with Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born won an Academy Award. 

Many fans are thrilled to see her star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker 2 movie. I believe her acting skills are underrated and she’s shown why she’s a creme de la creme entertainer. I included her as a celebrity success story because her record label dropped her when she was 19 years-old, yet she didn’t quit trying to sing. 

Jennifer Lopez Photo By: Salvatore Delle Femmine

Sixth, when it comes to work ethic, Jennifer Lopez may work harder than anybody else in Hollywood. She has humble beginnings like Jim Carrey. They’re both connected to In Living Color. JLo, Jenny from the Block, however you like to acknowledge her deserves the accolades. Before we had A.I. making decisions, sending text messages, controlling relationships, JLo’s body language communicated with the world on the silver screen and stage. I can remember watching movies like The Cell, Money Train (although before my time), and Selena and being mesmerized. 

Denzel Washington Photo By: MTV UK

Finally, you need an actor who can end the script or blog post. Denzel Washington delivers amazing performances and will close out the blog post. Like Alonzo in Training Day: “King Kong ain’t got nothing on him.”  In all seriousness, Washington is the seventh celebrity success story because despite difficulties the director/actor succeeded in life as a husband, father, and man. He became rich and famous and many owe their careers to him. What is more, he stands for something bigger than himself.

Conclusion

I believe people must stand against Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) being used as a means of labor force exploitation before this thing gets out of hand. I feel it’s doing way more harm than good. Ask yourself what does OpenA.I. feel when it replaces you and/or your loved one’s job/career? Who knows what this so-called technology is really capable of doing? And who cares?

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Actress Actors Celebrity Celebrity Blog Entertainment Music Singer/Actress Singers

Selena Gomez Is in the Building So Calm Down Now.

Selena Gomez Is in the Building So Calm Down Now.

Selena Gomez is in the building so calm down now. Stop worrying about the small stuff and take time for yourself to read a good blog. Maybe, even check out a very good one by some standards. I blog about the best of the best in entertainment. If you like celebrities, you came to the perfect place.

Let’s get the cat out of the bag. I am attracted to Selena Gomez. She’s my cup of tea. Now that I got that out the way, I’ll try to compose myself and write an entertaining and informative post.

Contrary to popular opinion, I know celebrities are people too. So, I won’t say she can do no wrong and fly spaceships. Like me, everybody makes mistakes sometimes. But there’s so much to admire about Selena Gomez. I’m older than the celebrity but I grew up understanding her rise to fame from the Disney days. Mostly, I appreciate her music and personality. 

I’ve listened to the My Mind & Me record, but I haven’t watched the Apple TV+ documentary. Her openness is a strength, not a weakness. The celebrity shows the soft and rough sides of her life and that deserves some respect. 

Also, I’m now more familiar with her TV work. No, not Barney & Friends. Although I did watch it as a child, I’m referring to none other than Only Murders in the Building. I will discuss this TV show in this space. In one word: brilliant. That’s the way I describe Only Murders in the Building.

Original Content

If you’re into mysteries, this show will get you going. I not only strive to create original content, but I also seek out original content. This Hulu original like another isn’t going anywhere anytime soon except straight to the top of streaming. 

Right now, the filming of season 3 is in progress and some big names have been added. Jesse Williams from Grey’s Anatomy and Meryl Streep will make appearances. How do I know? Well, I follow Selena Gomez on Twitter. Best decision in a while. 

Hulu has twenty episodes of the show available for streaming. There are two seasons so far at ten episodes apiece. There is Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez not only starring in the TV program but executive producing. There’s so much talent on the show, the rumor is they got audited last year. Okay, I made that up. But you get my drift. 

So exactly, what is OMITB all about? Three people bond over the same mystery podcast. Ultimately, it’s about a podcast stemming from another podcast. A podcast spinoff. Ha ha! Together, they try to solve only murders in their building. It’s quite creative. 

Currently, I’m watching season 1 and will be watching season 2 soon. But first, I must calm down because I’m so excited. Her new song with Rema called Calm Down is a hit. Have you seen the music video? The video premiered on September 7, 2022.

Social Media

According to YouTube data, the video is now number nine globally. With an international reach, the singer/ actress/ producer is only getting the ball rolling down the lane. And she’s not staying in the lane. She’s running the streets and making money moves. 

Lately, Selena Gomez is trending on Twitter and the Internet. Whoever is writing some of these (gossip) stories need to stop. It all seems manufactured. Society must do better. My goal is to stay positive no matter how negative it gets.

Selena Gomez is the best of the best in entertainment. Although she is not perfect, she’s in the perfect place…no, not in New York…in the building. 

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Country music Celebrity Country Singers Music music artists Music Blogs Music News signers

Why Soulful Chris Stapleton Is Country Music’s Chief Storyteller

Music School

You learn a great deal about musicians through their music. Every singer has at least one song that gives you goosebumps. Which Chris Stapleton song is it? Lately, Stapleton songs have made my playlist. Hearing him sing sounds like thunder. I believe Kane Brown can learn from this music artist. I bet he’s willing to share some of his secrets. 

The last time I wrote about the music artist was at the 2023 Grammys. Who in their wildest imagination would dream of a Stevie Wonder and Chris Stapleton collaboration on live television? If you didn’t watch the Higher Ground performance, you missed out. Talk about a man stringing the guitar like a fiddle on a horse.

He should trend for the next week or so on social media and the Internet. Now, I’m unable to rewrite the future but I can write the present. Living in the moment is life’s greatest joy. Like Stapleton, born and raised in the United States, I’m proud to be an American. I’m just jealous I can’t sing the National Anthem like him.

Who Is Chris Stapleton?

Chris Stapleton is a country music singer you can listen to for hours because of his dynamic sound. What is country music without Chris Stapleton? In the past, I asked a similar question about other singers. In the past, I wrote about Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and others. Overall, I feel country music as a genre deserves more recognition.

So why is the soulful singer Country Music’s chief storyteller? Because he is a spectacular songwriter and record producer. Like most great songs in the genre, his songs tell a story. Let the record speak for itself. As a singer/ songwriter/ producer Stapleton’s built a durable brand and long career. That’s why today when the tickets went on sale, fans reacted with enthusiasm. Staying relevant since 2001, required hard work and dedication. Just think, he dropped out of engineering school to become a full-time musician is a story all by itself. 

In Conclusion

Neil Gaiman teaches a Masterclass called The Art of Storytelling. He is a brilliant fantasy novelist. But you don’t have to write a novel to master the art of telling a story. Like Stapleton, you can compose your lyrics and/or sing it. There are many ways to publish music just like novels now. I like the celebrity Chris Stapleton because he seems genuine. You’re not going to shave his beard. No mam, you won’t. Plus, he’ll wear his cowboy hat all night long. 

This celebrity from Lexington, Kentucky knows where he came from and where he’s going. I believe he’s not only one of the best country music singers, but overall, he’s one of the best singers in the industry. The Tennessee Whiskey song released seven years ago might be old but it’s still potent. By last count, it had 673 million views on YouTube. Stapleton knows what the fans want and gives it to them. And let’s face the music, sometimes the fans have no clue what they want.

I admire that he appears to be a family man. He married his wife Morgane Stapleton in 2007. Also, it seems every time he accepts an award, he’s gracious and mentions his family. When everything is said and done, the music stops playing but family is a constant. Country music singers/ songwriters are some of the best storytellers around in the galaxy. NASA has yet to confirm aliens. But one thing is for sure, Chris Stapleton is 100 percent down to earth. 

On this Pale Blue Dot in space, this star is a cool person. I like cool people.