Table of contents for April 19, 2021 in People

‘That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine’—THANDIWE NEWTON, on using her birth name years after it was misspelled in her first acting credit, to British Vogue ‘When I have tried to rap, my daughters have rolled their eyes, covered their ears. They think it’s painful. They even think my dancing is better than my rapping’—BARACK OBAMA, on daughters Malia and Sasha being embarrassed by him, to Complex ‘I got so many proposals and so many propositions. But I had to ignore all of them. I’m a very busy person’—MARTHA STEWART, on the reaction to her viral pool selfie (inset), on The Ellen DeGeneres Show ‘I love every minute of motherhood so far, and I just feel really blessed and really lucky ’cause she’s…

Six weeks after Tiger Woods was injured in a rollover crash near L.A., mystery remains about what led to the accident that shattered the golfer’s leg and left the future of his career unclear. “A cause has been determined, and the investigation has concluded,” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced March 31. But authorities won’t reveal what they know. “There are privacy issues on releasing information on the investigation,” Villanueva said. “We can’t release it without permission from the people involved in the collision.” The announcement raised plenty of eyebrows, with some experts citing health privacy laws as a possible reason for the secrecy. Others have questioned why Woods, who’s not being charged with any crime, was not tested for drugs and alcohol at the scene, though police said…

In Netflix’s new coming-of-age drama Concrete Cowboy (streaming now), Elba, 48, and Stranger Things star McLaughlin, 19, play an estranged father and son who reunite in a community of Black cowboys. The movie is based on Philadelphia’s real Fletcher Street cowboys. What was it like to tell their story? IDRIS ELBA They opened the doors for us. It was great to meet them. The community was really open-armed about [inviting us in], and it became a little bit of a blur between reality and filmmaking. CALEB McLAUGHLIN We learned so much about everything around our characters and what Fletcher Street represented. ‘AS A PRODUCER, I WASN’T EXPECTED TO ACT IN IT. BUT I GOT ROPED IN, NO PUN’—IDRIS ELBA How was working with horses? McLAUGHLIN I did a month of…

‘I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED TO ME. I’VE BEEN SUPER BLESSED, AND IT’S UNBELIEVABLE’—ON HIS LONG-LASTING CAREER The 44-year-old country superstar—who’s performing a mash-up of his debut single “Austin” and his latest hit, “Minimum Wage,” at the ACM Awards on April 18—just launched a hard seltzer lemonade with his company Smithworks. Can you believe “Austin,” your first No. 1 hit, came out 20 years ago this month? That’s the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around! I remember when I started, someone said, “If you have a great career, you can get seven years out of it.” Here I am talking to you 20 years later. I’ve been so lucky. What advice would you give 24-year-old Blake? I would have told that kid, “Hey man, the mullet’s…

My passion is wildlife conservation. Having my dad [Steve Irwin] for a dad, it’s in my DNA. The Earthshot Prize is a new global prize for the environment founded by Prince William in 2020, which will accelerate change and help repair our planet over the next 10 years. The Earthshot Prize is gathering together some of the most influential voices around the world to reward the most innovative solutions to the hard problems the world is facing. There are five different areas of focus: restoring nature, protecting oceans, fixing the climate, eliminating waste and cleaning our air. I’m proud to share my passion for wildlife while helping build awareness about the need for real and lasting change both at home in Australia and around the world. Prince William and…

It’s been 30 years since you and Jamie did In Living Color. What was it like to reunite? Jamie felt that he and I, together, could really elevate the show. It’s been beautiful. You play his dad. How’d you feel about that? The first thing Jamie said was, “Were you offended?” I was like, “I would have been offended had you not called.” You’re up for a Supporting Actor Tony for A Soldier’s Play. What makes Broadway, now closed due to the pandemic, special to you? To be on Broadway is always a joy. The one thing I hear in New York that I never hear in L.A. is, “Welcome back, welcome home.”…

Emily VanCamp has a productive—and tasty— way of managing stress. “Most of my calm comes from the kitchen. I love to cook,” she says. “I’m big on comfort food. I’m a Taurus, I love to indulge, but I try to put a healthier spin on those indulgent dishes.” The pandemic gave the actress more downtime to perfect her recipes, as well as one of her longest breaks from a career that began in her teens. Known primarily for her work in TV dramas like Revenge and Everwood, VanCamp, 34, also earned superhero-movie cred as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter in Marvel’s Captain America franchise. Now she’s returning to the role in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier : “People will be surprised by who she’s become,” VanCamp teases.…

1 Ariana Grande joins The Voice The pop star will replace Nick Jonas as a coach on the upcoming 21st season of the NBC show, joining Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton in the red chairs. “I am beyond thrilled,” Grande tweeted of the new gig. 2 Michael Strahan minds the gap The GMA host posted an Instagram video showing a dentist closing up the space between his front teeth—but it was just an April Fools’ gag. “The gap is here to stay,” he clarified. 3 Brad Pitt is sharing the tea That’s hot! Well, cold, actually. The actor and his friends Cristina Patwa and John Fogelman launched a new organic cold brew tea brand, Enroot, inspired by the flavors of the Philippines. 4 Ryan and Blake battle over beanies After getting…

Could they be scouting for a wedding location? After confirming their engagement in February, NFL star Aaron Rodgers and actress Shailene Woodley have been taking their romance on a road trip. On March 29 the actress, 29, and the Green Bay Packers quarterback, 37, were spotted leaving Careyes, Mexico, where they rented a luxury oceanfront villa with friends. Later they popped up in Hot Springs, Ark., then made their way to the luxe Blackberry Farm resort in Tennessee. After that they hit Disney World on April 3—and on April 5 Woodley posted a video urging fans to watch her “super sexy” fiancé’s new stint guest-hosting Jeopardy! “Things are happening fast,” a source says of their whirlwind relationship.…

Despite nearly 20 years of success as a singer-songwriter and six Grammy wins, Brandi Carlile still feels she has something to prove. “I don’t know if that comes from being in the closet as a kid, but I’m so averse to living a lie that I feel like I’m always needing to tell my truth,” says Carlile, who—inspired by Ellen DeGeneres—came out at 15. “I’ll read an interview or I’ll see something about myself and think, ‘God, that’s not the whole story, though.’ Everything in me just wants to demonstrate my humanness as much as I can.” Carlile shares her story in her new memoir, Broken Horses, which traces her ups and downs from her childhood to now, including her past abuse of steroids and sleep aids to help her…

Given travel restrictions, the couple—who provided COVID-19 rapid tests for their guests the day of their intimate ceremony—opted to exchange vows at their home in Atlanta. “It was euphoric,” says Mai, 42, who, with Jeezy, 43, created a charity wedding registry on the Knot in support of Stop Asian Hate. The philanthropic pair first met on the set of The Real and began dating in November 2018; they were engaged on March 27, 2020. Now that they’re husband and wife, “I can’t wait to continue our love story,” says Mai. ALL THE DETAILS!…

Need a Hug? Just Cuddle up to a Cow QUEEN CREEK, ARIZ., AND HILO, HAWAII Everybody needs a hug once in a while. But since warm open embraces are in short supply these days—thanks to COVID-19—some are turning to cows for some much-needed TLC. “They can’t hug their grandparents, but they can come and hug a cow,” says Aimee Takaha, 55, founder of Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary in Arizona. She’s offered $75 cow-cuddling sessions for almost six years but says the pandemic has been an “incredibly busy” time. During the hour-long cuddle sessions, guests get to snuggle up, pet and give belly rubs to the sanctuary’s affectionate—and appreciative—rescue cows. “It’s so relaxing,” says Takaha. In Hawaii, James Higgins, the 30-year-old founder of the Krishna Cow Sanctuary, has also noticed an…

The moment the year 2020 went from unusual to down-right weird for Brad Paisley may have been when the country star found himself doing surgery on his 11-year-old son’s puffer fish. Puffers’ teeth can sometimes grow so long they can’t eat, and this one was in dire need of a tooth trim. “Brad was looking up YouTube videos to find out what to do,” says his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 49, with a laugh. “I’ve never seen him nervous before, but his hand was shaking.” Their son Jasper had already lost two fish, and Brad, 48, didn’t want another casualty on his hands. After Internet consultation, he added drops of clove oil to a bucket of water (“to put the fish to sleep,” Kimberly explains) and went to work with…

The waterfall outside the Lost Kitchen, the restaurant Erin French opened in 2014, is a reminder of how far she’s come. “The first year we opened, I would stand at the stove and look out the window,” says French, who started as a home cook and turned Freedom, a remote Maine town with only 719 residents, into a world-famous foodie destination. “It was like, ‘Oh my God, I would have never gotten to this beautiful point without all of that pain.’ I kept telling myself that I had to cry all of these rivers to find one waterfall.” In 2013 French entered rehab to treat an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. At the time, she was in the dark depths of a troubled first marriage, which resulted in divorce,…

“There were two people within my mother,” says Kitt Shapiro, 59. “One was Eartha Kitt. The other was Eartha Mae.” Eartha Kitt was the seductive cabaret singer Orson Welles called “the most exciting woman in the world.” Eartha Mae was the dirt-poor girl from South Carolina who was abandoned by her mother and taken in by a family who “treated their animals better than they treated me,” she later said. It was a pain she never let go. “That’s what made me who I am,” Kitt told her daughter. “I’ve used the manure thrown on me as fertilizer.” For over six decades, Kitt captivated global audiences (she sang in seven languages and spoke four), performed on Broadway and purred to perfection as Catwoman in the late ’60s television series. But…

For Longer Lashes A few coats of this formula— which went viral on TikTok— gives the effect of extensions without the upkeep. For Glittery Lids These gel-based liquid shimmers add a touch of sparkle that won’t budge. For Rosy Cheeks This no-fuss cream blush blends easily for a natural glow. For Sheer Coverage Like an Instagram filter in a tube, this lightweight tinted serum smooths and evens out skin. For a Natural Mani Trends in polish come and go, but pale pink always looks pretty. Bonus: This eco-friendly find also nourishes nails. For Full Brows Filling in sparse spots and keeping each hair in place is a cinch with this thickening gel. For Matte Lips A long-lasting, nonsticky formula in a neutral shade is a mask-friendly option. Plus, Quick Organizing…

Across 1 Journey 5 Cry out loud 8 Pie ___ mode (2 wds.) 11 CBS’s eye, e.g. 12 Month before May (abbr.) 13 Tesla billionaire Musk 14 Paul Newman classic ___ Hand Luke 15 Peeples or Vardalos 16 “Gosh darn it!” 17 Star of Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2 wds.) 20 Argo spy group (abbr.) 21 “Ready, ___ , go!” 22 17 Across’s Ghostbusters castmate Leslie 25 17 Across’s SNL castmate Amy 29 1980s TV alien 30 Ending for “velvet” 31 In the past 32 17 Across’s Bridesmaids castmate McCarthy 35 17 Across’s Wonder Woman 1984 castmate Gal 37 Be a couch potato 38 The “A” in MoMA 39 17 Across’s Bridesmaids castmate (2 wds.) 44 Kelly or Wilder 45 Prez on a $5 bill 46 “Woe is…

See If You Can Find the Differences in These Two Pictures The hills—of San Francisco!—are alive with the sound of music in the second season of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. In the comedy-drama series, which airs Sundays on NBC, computer coder Zoey Clarke, played by Jane Levy (with Andrew Leeds), navigates the tech industry while learning to appreciate her sudden—and inexplicable—ability to hear the innermost thoughts of those around her through popular songs. 10 Changes to Keep Score! 1. The gap between the refrigerator doors is gone. 2. A third door handle has been added to the refrigerator. 3. The gray seam on Leeds’s sweater has been removed. 4. The sidelight on the back door is now completely opaque. 5. The white rug in front of the door behind Levy…

Heating Up Vanessa Hudgens & Cole Tucker The actress, 32, and the 24-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop—who began dating last fall—enjoyed a March 31 beach day in Florida, where Tucker was staying for spring training. Happy Anniversary! Michael Bublé & Luisana Lopilato The singer, 45, and his wife, 33, celebrated 10 years of marriage on March 31. “You’ve helped lift me through some of the hardest times imaginable,” Bublé wrote of the actress, with whom he has three young children. New Couple Lily James & Michael Shuman The Cinderella star, 31, and her new beau—Queens of the Stone Age bassist Shuman, 35—held hands in L.A. on March 27 as they stepped out reportedly to meet his parents. The pair were spotted kissing in England in February. Getting Serious Brian Austin…

Lori Loughlin’s husband, Mossimo Giannulli, had an emotional homecoming on Easter weekend after he was released from federal prison on April 2, nearly five months into his sentence for paying bribes to get their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California. In December the actress, 56, was released from prison herself after serving a two-month sentence for her part in the scandal. “Lori is relieved,” a source says of Loughlin, who was “very happy” to spend the holiday at home with her husband and their daughters Isabella Rose, 22, and Olivia Jade, 21. While fashion designer Giannulli, 57, will serve the remaining few weeks of his sentence under home confinement and must complete community service, both he and Loughlin are ready to leave the scandal behind them. “Lori and…

Babies One Night in Miami star and double Oscar nominee Leslie Odom Jr., 39, and his wife, actress Nicolette Robinson, 32, welcomed their second child, son Able Phineas. They are also parents to Lucille “Lucy” Ruby, who turns 4 in late April. • Malcolm in the Middle actor Christopher Masterson, 41, welcomed his first child, daughter Chiara Darby, with his actress wife, Yolanda Pecoraro, 36. • Bachelor in Paradise’s Krystal Nielson, 33, welcomed her first child, daughter Andara Rose, with boyfriend Miles Bowles. Weddings Jedidiah “Jed” Duggar, 22, son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, married Katey Nakatsu on April 4. The two had been quietly dating for the past year. Health Rapper DMX, born Earl Simmons, was in critical condition and on life support after suffering a heart…

On rare quiet days inside their Los Angeles home, 17-year-old Nickelodeon megastar JoJo Siwa and her mom, Jessalynn, 46, like to play What If: “What do you think we’d be doing if we’d never been on Dance Moms?” Stepping through the space-time continuum back to 2012, Jessalynn doesn’t film 9-year-old JoJo grand jeté-ing across the floor in their Omaha home. She doesn’t secretly mail the tape to the producers of the Lifetime reality show about bickering stage moms. They imagine Jessalynn would be operating her small dance studio. Her husband, Tom, 50, would still be a chiropractor. JoJo’s brother Jayden, 20, would be in college. And JoJo would be in high school, doing homework and playing softball. Maybe, JoJo thinks, she would be preparing to graduate and applying to premed…

Bright and vivacious, Helene Pruszynski seemed to have a limitless future ahead of her. A broadcasting major at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, she moved to Denver in January 1980 to begin her dream internship in the news department at KHOW radio and was happily assisting with reporting on breaking-news assignments. But just two weeks into the job, on Jan. 16, the ambitious 21-year-old left the station following her shift to began the hour-long commute to her aunt and uncle’s house in suburban Englewood, Colo.—and never made it home. The next day her partially nude body was found in a field, her hands bound; she had been raped and stabbed nine times in the back. While investigators found footprints and tire tracks at the scene, they were unable to close in…

Monique Morris knew she was in trouble in March 2020 after her lungs began to fail from COVID-19. She was rushed into the ICU at the downtown Detroit hospital where she worked as a nurse. “They wanted to put me on a ventilator, and I was terrified,” recalls Monique, who had just picked out her wedding dress a week earlier. “I knew that 80 percent of the patients who were intubated never came off the ventilator. Which is why it took seven people to hold me down.” These days it’s hard to hold her back. After spending 16 days in the hospital and months learning how to walk and breathe on her own again, Monique, 38, is not only back at work at Henry Ford Hospital—she’s determined to get the…

1 Grilled Vegetable Naan Flatbreads Layer store-bought naan with a tangy yogurt sauce and smoky charred vegetables for a meal that comes together in less than 15 minutes 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt • 1 small green chile, minced • 1 tsp. lemon juice • ¼ tsp. ground cumin • 2 tsp. salt, divided • 1 red onion, sliced into thick rings • 1 red bell pepper, sliced • 1 zucchini, sliced • 2 Tbsp. olive oil • ½ tsp. black pepper • 4 garlic naans • ½ cup microgreens or watercress Stir yogurt, chile, lemon juice, cumin and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Toss onion, bell pepper, zucchini, oil, pepper and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cook vegetables on a hot grill pan over medium…

Last Wardrobe Malfunction I’ve always had issues with zippers. You’re so squeezed in, like a Christmas turkey. Or wearing nipple pads, and then with a flashbulb, you only see the pads. Note to self: I’m okay with a nipple showing as opposed to two white circles on a black dress. Not pretty. Last Guilty Pleasure There’s been so many in lockdown. Chocolate for me is the biggest, especially when I know it’s there. I have a snack cupboard in my kitchen with bags of British chocolate that my mother smuggles in. I just know where all the naughty things are. Last Time I Danced I was walking my dog trying to convince him to pee and poop in the snow: “It’s just like my white carpet!” I had my…