New Zealand Woman’s Weekly Issue 37, 2022

Music awards gossip It wasn’t just her historic win at last week’s MTV Video Music Awards that sent Taylor Swift fans into a tizzy. It was also the announcement of a brand-new album from the chart-topper. After taking out the top prize of the night for her self-directed video All Too Well: The Short Film, the 32-year-old became the first artist in history to win Video of the Year three times. It was a triumphant moment for Taylor, who has spent the past two years re-recording her old albums after her former record label, Big Machine Records, sold the masters of her music – and therefore the future profits of the songs – without offering her the chance to buy them back. “We wouldn’t be able to make this short film if it weren’t…

It’s been a tricky few years for everyone, and I’m sure you’ll have read about how people are rethinking their careers and priorities in light of our experiences during the pandemic. I know of many who, either because of redundancy or by choice, have been through a difficult time before landing on their feet and are now much happier. And this is true, too, for our cover star Duncan Garner. As he tells from page six, when he left our screens last year, he was exhausted. For him, the brutal hours of morning television (which included more than 1000 2.30am alarm calls) just got to be all too much, so he left. Unfortunately, it coincided with Auckland’s lockdown of more than 100 days, which took its toll on him, so…

Duncan Garner is a man with a lot of opinions. Throughout his long career as a broadcaster, he’s been a straight-talker and in his current role as the morning talkback host on Today FM, he certainly has plenty to say. But when his mum Sue and son Buster are in the room, he doesn’t get quite so much airtime. Duncan and Sue are very alike, all go and full of life, and young Buster, it seems, is following in their footsteps. This is a family that has a lot of laughs and fun, and they stay close in good times and bad. “It’s easy to love these guys,” says Duncan. “Mum’s my rock – she’s so supportive, and she’s always there for me and Buster.” “You’ve been my rock,” Sue tells him. “I’ve…

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin went to great lengths recently to celebrate their eldest daughter Sophia’s 26th birthday on social media – but behind the scenes, sources say the pair are at loggerheads over their recently announced divorce. “They’ve had lots of issues for years and she just had enough,” an insider has revealed. “They’ve been unhappy for quite some time.” Former model Jennifer, 54, also mum to Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20, filed for divorce from the Rocky star, 76, on August 19, and she’s claimed Sylvester has hidden their marital assets. In the divorce documents, Jennifer has requested that her husband be prohibited from “selling, transferring, assigning, encumbering or dissipating any assets” until the divorce is finalised. The actor has since announced, “I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing…

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This! Annie Lennox has teamed up with daughter Lola, opening a new chapter in her musical career. This time, however, it’s Lola, 31, who’s taking centre stage, with her famous mum acting as producer. Lola began working on her musical career in earnest at the beginning of lockdown, releasing her first single In the Wild in 2020, followed by another single, Pale. Now, she’s about to release an EP. “Initially, I was shy,” says Lola of following in the footsteps of Eurythmics legend Annie, 67. “I did feel insecure because the comparison is quite intense. But she has also given me drive and commitment. “She knows how passionate I am and how hard I’ve worked to make this happen. No one gets it more than her. She is my…

Sir Elton John has revealed the heartbreaking reason he decided to record his new duet with Britney Spears. “Britney was broken,” says Elton, 75, following the release of the single Hold Me Closer, which is a mash-up of his hits Tiny Dancer and The One. “I’ve been through that broken feeling and it’s horrible.” It was Elton’s husband David Furnish, 59, who suggested Britney, 40, as Elton’s duet partner for the track. “I said, ‘That’s a pretty amazing idea.’ She hadn’t done anything for so long. I’ve been following what’s been happening to her for a long time.” Toxic singer Britney – who only recently broke free from the conservatorship that ruled her life – later shared with fans that making the single was overwhelming. “There’s a lot of fear there because she’s been betrayed…