The Voice has officially found its winner for season 27.
During the season finale on Tuesday, May 20, host Carson Daly gathered alongside finalists Renzo (Team John Legend), Lucia Flores-Wiseman (Team Adam Levine), Jadyn Cree (Team Michael Bublé), Jaelen Johnston (Team Kelsea Ballerini) and Adam David (also Team Michael) to see who would be crowned the next winner of the NBC reality series.
After millions of votes from across the country were counted, Adam David was announced the winner of The Voice.
The results come after the finalists had the opportunity to perform two songs each on Monday, May 19.
Jadyn — who is the daughter of Season 25 artist Bryan Olesen — brought the ‘80s back with her performance of “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners.
“You’re a star,” Michael shared after the performance. “Everything you are just comes through. You lead with light.”
Meanwhile, John praised Renzo’s rendition of Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away” at the start of the show. “We heard so much texture and beauty at the beginning of the performance,” he explained. “You’re the show starter this week.”
Adam David and Michael BubléGriffin Nagel/NBC
Although Jaelen accidentally flubbed some of the words during his performance of “What Was I Thinkin'” by Dierks Bentley, his coach offered supportive comments during the live telecast.
“I know you had a moment early on when you got nervous, but the way you recovered is all that matters,” Kelsea shared. “You really showed up. I’m so proud of you.”
Regardless of what the votes would reveal later in the week, Adam praised Lucia’s journey on the show after she performed songs from Pink Floyd and Billie Eilish.
“I’ve wanted you to stay pure throughout this competition,” he said during the live show, “and that’s exactly what you did.”
For Michael, who was the only coach with two team members in the finals, he also offered his support to Adam David during the telecast. “America, go and vote,” Michael pleaded. “This young man has worked his butt off. He’s one of my favorite singers.”
During Tuesday’s finale, Michael and Adam David took the stage together for a special performance of “The Weight” by The Band. The collaboration proved the pair built a special bond during the competition.
The winning artist of The Voice will receive the grand prize of a recording contract. Last season’s winner, Sofronio Vasquez, was signed by Republic Records and is currently on tour.
Season 28 of The Voice — featuring coaches Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Snoop Dogg and Bublé — will premiere this fall on NBC. Fans can stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
In an essay penned by Violet, 19, and published on Sunday, May 18, by Yale University’s student-run Yale Global Health Review, the teenager detailed why she and Garner, 53, clashed as devastating wildfires affected the family’s community that month.
“I spent the January fires in Los Angeles arguing with my mother in a hotel room,” Violet, whose essay was titled A Chronically Ill Earth: COVID Organizing as a Model Climate Response in Los Angeles, began. “She was shell-shocked, astonished at the scale of destruction in the neighborhood where she raised myself and my siblings.”
Violet, whose father is Garner’s ex-husband Ben Affleck, explained that she was shocked by her mother’s response to the fires, which lasted for 24 days and resulted in more than 29 fatalities.
“I was surprised at her surprise: as a lifelong Angelena and climate-literate member of generation Z, my question had not been whether the Palisades would burn but when,” Violet wrote before adding that her younger sibling, Samuel Affleck, was also involved in the discussion.
Detailing how she had encountered several people who believed the wildfires were “a burst of bad luck,” Violet wrote, “What, my little brother asked, did global warming have to do with the speed of the wind?”
The passionate change maker, who is a first-year student at Davenport College and spoke out about Los Angeles face mask bans during a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting in July, further noted, “Hopefully, most of us understand the climate crisis better than my little brother.”
Garner shared rare public insight into her relationship with Violet when her daughter became a high-school graduate last year. Taking to Instagram to share a carousel of photos and videos, the actress was seen crying in various locations including Violet’s graduation ceremony and an airplane. “Tell me you have a graduate without telling me you have a graduate,” Garner captioned the celebratory post.
In addition to Violet and Samuel, 13, Garner also shares Fin, 16, with Affleck, 52.
During her July speech, Violet also candidly detailed her own health struggles, revealing that she contracted “a post-viral condition in 2019.” Violet confirmed, as seen in an X clip of the speech that was shared at the time, “I’m OK now, but I saw firsthand that medicine does not always have answers to the consequences of even minor viruses. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown that into sharper relief.”
Her brave declaration came less than three months after her high-school graduation.
It was all hands on deck during the FBI: Most Wantedseries finale — but did everyone make it out unscathed?
Warning: Spoilers below from season 6, episode 22 of FBI: Most Wanted.
During the Tuesday, May 20, finale, the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force, led by SSA Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott) hunted down two former government workers who were involved in a drive-by shooting and paint attack on the Bureau of Government Overreach (BOGO), killing a woman.
Upon further investigation, the team learned that the shooting was a hit so that two separate rogue government operatives could steal data and sell it to the highest bidder.
Remy turned to his agents Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg), Hana Gibson (Keisha Castle-Hughes), Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge) and Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten) to track down the assailants before they could sell the data — called an “internet kill switch” — and give it to the Russians, who would have used it for a terrorist attack.
The finale ended on a high note with a celebratory team dinner after its abrupt cancellation earlier this year caused an uproar among fans. CBS announced in March that the FBI spinoff, which premiered in 2020, would not be returning for a seventh season. (FBI: International was also canceled.)
Mark Schafer/CBS
“It’s bittersweet, but we are invigorated and determined to close out season 6 with hard work and love and give you the best season yet,” Castle-Hughes exclusively told Us Weekly at the time, promising this season was for the fans.
Scroll down to see what happened to every FBI: Most Wanted character during the series finale:
Remy Scott
Mark Schafer/CBS
After hinting earlier this season that he was getting too old for the job, Remy told his team that he was officially retiring to spend time with the “love of my life,” Abby (Susan Misner). The couple hosted the Fugitive Task Force at their new bar, The Muster Room, and toasted to the end of an era.
The series concluded with Remy lighting the sign outside the bar and raising a glass of champagne with his team, saying, “To family!”
Sheryll Barnes
Mark Schafer/CBS
Sheryll was offered the position of Task Force Supervisor in Washington, D.C. earlier this season, which would bring her closer to her two children. While fans thought she accepted the role due to a closed-door conversation she and Remy had at the beginning of the finale, that wasn’t the case.
During the Muster Room’s soft launch, Remy announced Sheryll as his successor, the new head of the New York Fugitive Task Force. He handed her a pair of handcuffs to make it official. Sheryll, who is one of the two original members of the team, had Remy’s badge and shield framed as a thank you.
Hana Gibson
Mark Schafer/CBS
Hana is the second original task force member and the resident tech master. After toying with the idea of whether she should reunite with Ethan (Michael Raymond-James) — who lied about his drug problem — Hana revealed they were, in fact, back together. She told her friends at the dinner that Ethan was officially done with rehab and that they were going to move in together.
Ray Cannon
Mark Schafer/CBS
Amid all the drama and fighting bad guys, Ray took a moment to tell Nina the good news about his wife Cora‘s (Caroline Harris) pregnancy. Ray, who joined the team during season 4, was beaming with pride as he showed off the ultrasound. Ray is already the stepfather to Cora’s son, Caleb (Ja’Siah Young), but this is their first baby together.
Nina Chase
Mark Schafer/CBS
Nina was the newest member of the task force coming over from 26 Fed (and FBI) during season 5. In addition to helping thwart a potential cyber war, Nina made amends with her father, Jackson (John Finn), after butting heads for years.
Nina began the finale episode in Houston where she helped her sister, Tink (Hannah Adrian), pack up her things and get ready for a new life in Dallas without her deadbeat husband. Before catching a plane back to New York, Nina had a heart-to-heart with her father — who basically left her to raise her sister after their mother died — and he apologized for his past actions.
“You know when I’m happiest? When somebody asks me what you do,” her father gushed. “I am so dang proud of you.” The two hugged and cried together before she returned to her team.
Saving money is much harder during the summer. Instead of cozying up on the couch with hot cocoa, we’re meeting the girls for drinks, booking trips near and far and trying workout classes. With so many events on the calendar, it also means splurging on new outfits — and flattering dresses, we’re looking at you.
But you don’t have to shell out hundreds on a Zimmermann dress to get a designer aesthetic. Some of our favorite dresses for running errands, munching on the patio, closing a major work deal and attending your bestie’s wedding are right on Amazon, all under $30 right now!
These picks are flying off the warehouse shelves, so if you see your size, snag it!
19 Under-$30 Summer Dresses on Amazon
Everyday Errand Dresses
1. Our Favorite: We can’t get over this flutter-sleeve dress that features a knee-length hem, floral print and stretchy material that’s as cooling as it is comfy.
2. Solid Find: Look effortlessly put-together while running errands at Whole Foods or heading to a mani appointment in this pleated short-sleeve wonder.
3. Vacation Mode: This casual tank dress has lengthening tiers and a V-neckline to feel your best, wherever the ocean breeze takes you.
4. Sassy Square Neck: Simple in style, this short-sleeve “everything” sundress transforms from casual to fancy with a quick change of shoes.
5. To a Tee: T-shirt dresses are one of the easiest ways to look sophisticated — effortlessly. Nail it with this drop-shoulder mini!
6. Our Favorite: Short bell sleeves, hidden pockets and a dainty floral print are just a few showstopping features of this modest midi dress.
7. Date Night: Grab your hubbie or round up the girls. This drapey flutter-sleeve dress begs to be worn to Friday night pizza!
8. Must-Have Maxi: Shoppers can’t get enough of this stretchy short-sleeve maxi with a wrinkle-free fabric and hidden pockets.
9. European Flair: Get ready to look European in this floral A-line sundress with spaghetti straps and a retro-inspired floral print.
10. Dining Beachside: Channel yacht wife energy in this striped short-sleeve shirtdress with flirty split hems.
11. Bestseller Alert: Front buttons and a linen-like material give this knee-length dress a Parisian vibe. Complete the look with a sunhat!
In-Office Day Dresses
12. Our Favorite: Look forward to days at your desk in this maxi that seamlessly combines preppy and professional.
13. Sunny Disposition: The midi dress for success has entered the building. Short puff sleeves and a head-turning print will make you the office envy — guaranteed.
14. Petal Sleeves: Have you ever seen such a sophisticated mini dress? We’ve been wearing this dress on repeat since March.
15. Shift Dress: Wear this loose dress with tights and flats for an outfit that’s equally comfortable and chic.
Wedding Guest Dresses
16. Our Favorite: This waist-enhancing wrap dress is soft, cooling and classy with pleats to make you look model-tall.
17. Beach Wedding: Meet your new favorite flutter-sleeve dress that gives pure Hamptons energy.
18. Halter-Neck Mini: There are dozens of timeless colors and patterns to choose from. We won’t judge you for adding a few to your cart.
19. Pretty in Blue: Ruffles, tiers, pleats, oh my! This luxe-looking mini dress is great for weddings, baby showers and beyond.
Billy Ray Cyrus is feeling the rage of destructive weather sweeping through Tennessee.
The singer, 63, took to his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, May 20, to share footage of rain and hail coming down across his Nashville home.
“Look at that, oh my gosh,” Cyrus said from behind the camera as he panned across an outdoor space on his property. “Showing some hail falling from the sky. It is a tornado, oh my goodness.”
The video also captured fallen leaves and shaking branches due to the intensity of wind gusts which resulted in multiple tornadoes rolling across Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys on the eighth consecutive day of severe weather, per Fox Weather.
Per the outlet, widespread tornado warnings were issued that day.
Cyrus’ video arrived as a stark comparison to the idyllic backdrop that has played home to the musician’s budding romance with Elizabeth Hurley. Less than one month prior, Hurley, 59, shared a video of herself and Cyrus riding an off-road vehicle together across Cyrus’ $5 million Nashville farm.
Billy Ray Cyrus’ Instagram StoryCourtesy of Billy Ray Cyrus/Instagram
A source told Us Weekly exclusively as part of a recent cover story that the pair “are enjoying life together and wanted to make it public.” (Hurley and Cyrus hard launched the romance via a joint Instagram post on April 20 that showed Cyrus planting a kiss on Hurley’s cheek as they cuddled against a wooden fence.)
Cyrus even shared a photo of the Us cover via Instagram on Sunday, May 18, captioning the snap, “Saw this at Target ” and captioning Hurley on the shot of the magazine.
Asked on April 24 whether the relationship was genuine, Cyrus said on Apple Music Country’s The Ty Bentli Show, “She’s a great human being. If all we ever were [was] the friends that we are… I would take that.” He continued: “She’s so impressively brilliant.”
Cyrus also delved into details on how the pair got to know one another. “We did a film two years ago down in the Caribbean and we did very few scenes together, but the couple times we were in the same scene,” Cyrus recalled, referring to 2022’s Christmas in Paradise. “There was a chemistry there that [I] felt. We just laughed, and it was at a time [when] I wasn’t laughing a lot and I found out the oddest thing.”
The couple, however, lost touch once filming wrapped.
“Then two more years of life went by, and it was this evolution that some might’ve looked at and certainly I felt like, ‘Wow, can life get any harder? Can it get any tougher for me?’” Cyrus explained. “At a certain point it was like, ‘You can’t get knocked down any flatter than laying on your back when life is kicking you in the gut.”
FBI has been renewed for an eighth season — but based on the season 7 finale, one main cast member might not be returning.
Warning: Spoilers below from season 7, episode 22, of FBI.
The season 7 finale, which aired on Tuesday, May 20, was a giant game of cat and mouse and nonstop action. The episode began with ASAC Jubal Valentine (Jeremy Sisto) going to an undercover FBI meeting location to speak with a defense department employee named Kevin Saxton (Kevin Sussman), who claimed to have knowledge of an attack on 26 Fed.
While trying to figure out if the intel was legit, the building was attacked by individuals wearing FBI jackets. Jubal was the only survivor from the shooting, fleeing to a nearby bodega.
Before he could call his team for backup, an FBI agent came into the store claiming she heard his distress signal over the radio. When Jubal noticed her wrist tattoos, he tackled her through the window, and they fought for her gun.
Jubal narrowly survived the second attack and was able to identify the Forefront — a terrorist group who has infiltrated the FBI — as the people behind the attempts on his life.
When Jubal made it back to 26 Fed to debrief his boss SAC Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza), their superior ADIC Reynolds (Ben Shenkman) made it seem like Jubal could be the traitor. Deputy Assistant Director Simon Keane (Campbell Scott), meanwhile, watched the interrogation beside Isobel and seemingly agreed with her that Jubal was clean.
Bennett Raglin/CBS
Throughout the episode, Jubal and Isobel worked to figure out what the Forefront wanted and which FBI agents among them were compromised. As Isobel went to tell Reynolds that there are incendiary devices in some of the FBI-issued phones, the office blew up, killing Reynolds.
While Special Agent Maggie Bell (Missy Peregrym) was inspecting the scene and trying to get a pulse for Isobel, Keane and another agent came into the room. She managed to hide but overheard Keane saying the mission was a success in killing Reynolds and Isobel was just collateral damage.
Keane then went to Jubal and the rest of his team and put them on leave, which he was able to do as the interim ADIC. He claimed his reasoning was in hopes of figuring out who in fact was pulling the strings.
Maggie, meanwhile, told the rest of the agents that Isobel was one of the agents killed with the phone bombs and then passed a note to Special Agent Stuart Scola (John Boyd).
Bennett Raglin/CBS
When Maggie and her partner, Omar Adom “OA” Zidan (Zeeko Zaki), met up with Scola and his new partner, Dani Rhodes (Emily Alabi), in an abandoned part of the subway, she revealed that Isobel survived the explosion.
Isobel, Jubal, the four main special agents and their tech team agreed to work together to take down the Forefront and Keane, who they were confident was on the inside. Isobel then showed up to Keane’s office to call his bluff and lay a trap.
Isobel revealed that Jubal’s team was still on the hunt for the traitors and gave Keane their location to stop his efforts. When the men showed up to take them out, Jubal’s agents were ready, picking off one dirty cop after the other.
Once they had Keane’s right-hand man in custody, Isobel flipped the script, arresting Keane as the traitor among them.
The episode concluded with Isobel and Jubal reuniting with their team back at 26 Fed to celebrate their massive win. During Isobel’s speech, she began to slur her words and repeated herself several times before passing out and falling to the ground. (She never saw a doctor after the explosion knocked her out.)
“She doesn’t have a pulse,” Maggie told Jubal, who yelled for help before the credits rolled.
FBI has been renewed for season 8 — FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: Internationalwere cancelled in March — so fans will have to wait until fall to see if Isobel survives.
Tony Romo thinks Travis Kelce’s high-profile relationship with girlfriend Taylor Swift can only benefit the Kansas City Chiefs tight end — both on and off the field.
Romo, 45, who played 13 seasons as quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and now works as an analyst for CBS Sports, argued that Kelce’s life has actually slowed down since he and Swift, 35, started dating.
“People won’t even realize this, but he’s probably doing less than he used to when he was younger,” Romo exclusively told Us Weekly via his partnership with Skechers. “If you get your picture taken going to dinner with your superstar girlfriend, it looks like you’re going out or something. No, he just went to dinner. Almost as if he’s married, going to dinner with his wife or something. He didn’t get photographed when he was going out with his buddies all the time.”
Romo continued, “He’s far less out there. He’s doing far less things than when he was younger. It’s just the fact that if you’re written about a lot and it’s not about football, some people are always going to think that it plays a role. But the truth is that it can be a net positive if you look at it closely.”
Romo expects Kelce, 35, to be just fine after a statistically underwhelming 2024 season, which saw the 10-time Pro Bowler earn career lows in both touchdowns and receptions.
“That was his first whole season being under that microscope,” Romo said about Kelce and Swift, who started dating in September 2023. “It was the first full season and offseason where the public and the world knew. Like anybody, we all learn through experience and we get wiser.”
After all, Romo knows a thing or two about the pressures of being an elite athlete who is dating a pop star. The former quarterback dated Jessica Simpson from 2007 to 2009 during his time with the Cowboys.
“Not that [Kelce] has to do anything,” Romo explained. “The guy is a [future] Hall of Famer who has played at the highest level. He’s won Super Bowls. He’s made some of the biggest plays in the most clutch situations ever. I think he’ll figure things out real quick, even if there was something to figure out. I think everyone should just put their trust in him.”
Romo added, “And I think he’s got himself a wonderful, wonderful girlfriend.”
These days, Romo and his wife, Candice Crawford, are the parents of three sons: Hawkins, 13, Rivers, 11, and Jones, 7.
As a dad on-the-go, Romo has his new Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins®: Max Cushioning Glide-Step® sneakers to keep him on his toes.
Skechers
“Me and my wife are taxi cab drivers these days,” Romo joked. “Going from practice to practice to pickup to games. It’s a blast. It’s really one of the great times in my life doing all of this. That’s where Skechers works because I have the slip-on shoe and can be like, ‘Oh, gotta go to the next one. Oh! Didn’t realize we had another one. Slip it on and go.’”
Romo added, “It’s been a really enjoyable time for us.”
During a Tuesday, May 20, Cannes ceremony that saw Spacey, 65, awarded a lifetime achievement award, the actor took to the stage to relay his thoughts and appreciation, with his words captured via an X video shared that day by Variety.
“I say to you all the most positive vibes, and as my friend Elton John once said, the reason this means so much to me [is] because I’m still standing,” Spacey, who began to tear up during one portion of his speech, said before repeating the title and lyric of John’s 1983 hit single. “I’m still standing.”
Spacey, who has been the subject of sexual assault claims since 2017 when Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rappalleged that Spacey made sexual advances toward him at a 1986 party, also acknowledged the late Kirk Douglas during his speech.
“My thanks again … Kirk Douglas and his friends and tonight for all of you, for making me feel so welcome,” Spacey told the crowd, who applauded him at several points throughout the proceedings. “I would like you all to raise your glasses and just toast to friendship. Which can get us through anything in this life.”
It was not the first time Spacey had expressed public gratitude over support received from John, 78, and John’s husband, David Furnish. After John and Furnish, 62, both gave witness testimonies on behalf of Spacey during his 2022 trial in the U.K., Spacey said on Uncensored with Piers Morgan that the gesture meant the world to him. (Spacey went to trial after sexual offences were alleged by four men during Spacey’s time as artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater between 2001 and 2013. John’s evidence contradicted one of Spacey’s accuser’s accounts, and in 2023, Spacey was acquitted of all offences.)
Per a report published by The Independent in June 2024, Spacey told Morgan, 60, “You actually just reminded me that Elton was the first email I got on October 30th of 2017 – after the [Anthony] Rapp story had come out – saying, ‘We love you. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.’”
Rapp’s allegations, the first to publicly accuse Spacey of any sexual wrongdoing, claimed that Spacey laid “down on top” of him in a bedroom at the 1986 party and “was trying to seduce” him. (Spacey responded to the allegations at the time by apologizing to Rapp, 53, for the alleged misconduct via a statement. Spacey also claimed in the statement that he did “not remember the encounter.”)
Spacey added that John and Furnace had provided him ongoing support. “Elton has been there, and David has been there, ever since,” Spacey told Morgan. “What’s most interesting about the fact that they testified in the trial in the U.K. is that I didn’t ask them.”
Spacey concluded, “That’s the kind of friends that I have been very fortunate to have in my life.”
Winning American Idol has been a dream come true for many singers, but the prizes have changed a lot over the years.
Kelly Clarkson was crowned the singing competition’s inaugural winner in 2002. She reportedly walked away with a $1 million prize and a record deal with RCA Records, per Parade. In addition to the cash prize and contract, Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini both got a free vacation to Turks and Caicos following the season 1 finale.
Clarkson wasn’t the only one to take home $1 million as it was the standard prize for winners up to season 9. The record deal portion of the prize, meanwhile, is worth up to six studio albums. The winners also received a management contract with American Idol-affiliated 19 Management.
When Carrie Underwoodwon American Idol in 2005, she took home a brand new car alongside the cash prize and record deal. In 2023, Underwood shared that she still has the Ford Mustang convertible.
“I do still have the car that I won when I won American Idol,” the country singer said in a March 2023 interview with Today’s Country Radio With Kelleigh Bannen. “So I have my blue Mustang.”
Underwood added that she will still drive the sentimental vehicle around on occasion.
“It always makes me want to drive it more, because it was such a pivotal point in my life,” she recalled. “That was the car that I was driving around when I first moved to Tennessee, and I’m very, very glad I still have that car.”
While it is not known how much season 10 and 11 winners Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery made, season 12 winner Phillip Phillips took home $1 million, per Today.
Courtesy: Everett Collection
When American Idol ended at Fox and moved to ABC in 2018, the cash prize changed drastically. Winners now receive $250,000, per Variety. Season 16 winner Maddie Poppe revealed in a 2022 interview with Business Insider that winning the show doesn’t get a contestant “set for life.”
“You do get $250,000, but not really because of taxes,” Poppe told the outlet. “And you get half of it before you complete your record, and then the second half you get after you complete the record. So it’s just like an advance from the record deal, but I’m pretty sure I have to recoup it.”
Season 23 crowned Jamal Roberts as its winner in May 2025. In addition to winning the $250,000, Roberts and runner-up John Foster both won a Disney cruise. The pair each received a trip for four on the Disney Wish cruise line. The trip includes world-class dining, Disney entertainment, and character experiences, plus a stay at Disney’s private island, Castaway Key.
While not every contestant can win the grand prize, the ones that make it to the live rounds do get compensated.
“You don’t get paid until you make it to the live rounds, and then you can be paid,” seasons 17 and 18 contestant Margie Mays said in a 2020 TikTok video.
“Hailey tries to be there for him as much as she can,” a source close to the Biebers exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “She is very patient and accommodating and helps him a lot. She is the most supportive wife, and he feels grateful to have her. They have been through a lot, but have been in a good place these last few months.”
A second insider added, “Hailey is a positive, good influence on Justin. She’s been a saving grace for him.”
While the first source said fatherhood was “an adjustment” for Justin, the new role has also led to some encouraging changes.
“When his son was born, everyone was hoping that would be a positive influence for him,” a second insider explained to Us. “It’s what’s made him really want to heal and reflect on everything.”
Justin BieberBruce Bennett/Getty Images
In recent months, Justin spent time in Finland to escape the Hollywood noise and reconnect with creativity.
He also recently enjoyed a trip to Iceland with some of his closest guy friends, where he was able to feel refreshed and inspired to make new music.
“Justin needed a change of pace in order to feel inspired creatively again,” the first source close to the Biebers said. “Justin has had dark days recently and is going through a lot of changes in his life.”
Sources also told Us that the singer wants to get back to making music for his fans forever known as Beliebers.
In 2009, Justin skyrocketed to fame when he released his hit single “One Time.” His most recent single was a 2022 one-off called “Honest.”
“He wants to put music out soon, but is doing it on his own terms,” the first source shared. “He needed to feel inspired, and he is really focused on putting something out soon.”
The second insider said those in the music industry are rooting for Justin and hopeful that he can get back to doing what he loves.
“He has been through so much, and people around him know how hard it is,” the source explained. “They are protective over him in the industry and want him to do well.”
Getting back on top, however, won’t happen overnight. The second source described this chapter of Justin’s life as a “self-reflection and healing period.”
Meanwhile, the first source claimed that Justin’s inner circle is small, with very few people helping him make big decisions.
“It’s a lot at once and he’s trying to adjust to his new normal,” the insider shared. “He just wants to be himself.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Justin and Hailey’s reps for comment.
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name — or in the case of Cheers, watch a show where you feel like family.
The critically acclaimed sitcom Cheers aired from 1982 to 1993, following a group of locals who hung out at a Boston bar of the same name. “Everything I do is because of the popularity of that show,” Ted Danson told Entertainment Tonight in September 2022. “It still makes me laugh when I watch sometimes. It’s funny and it’s great to see my friends and they make me laugh.”
Danson played the bar’s owner and head bartender, Sam Malone, a former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher. For the first five seasons, his character had an on-off relationship with Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). During one of their off periods, Diane dated psychiatrist and bar regular Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). Sam, for his part, pursued savvy businesswoman Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) after Long left the show during season 5.
Despite the lead characters’ undeniable chemistry, Cheers was first and foremost an ensemble show. Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman and George Wendt rounded out the original main cast.
Scroll down to see what the cast of Cheers is doing now:
The California native went on to star in the CBS series Becker (1998-2004), the legal drama Damages (2007-2010) and the NBC sitcoms The Good Place (2016 to 2022) and Mr. Mayor (2021-2022). Danson began playing Charles on A Man on the Inside in 2024.
He has been married to Mary Steenburgen since 1995. He shares daughters Kate and Alexis with ex-wife Casey Coates.
After leaving Cheers in 1987, Shelley appeared in films including Troop Beverly Hills (1989), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and Dr. T. & the Women (2000). She reprised her role as Diane Chambers in the series finale of Cheers and in three episodes of the spinoff Frasier.
The Indiana native also had a recurring role on Modern Family from 2009 to 2018. She shares daughter Juliana with ex-husband Bruce Tyson.
After her portrayal of wise-cracking head waitress Carla won her four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Perlman went on to do films including Matilda (1996), The Sessions (2012) and Poms (2019). She had a recurring role on The Mindy Project from 2014 to 2017.
The New York native shares three children with Danny DeVito: Lucy, Grace and Jake who were born in 1983, 1985, and 1987, respectively. The two actors separated in 2017 after more than three decades of marriage.
After playing Norm, Wendt went on to do films including Gung Ho (1986), Forever Young (1992), Lakeboat (2000) and Love’s Second Act (2024). He also starred on The Naked Truth, Clipped and Fancy Nancy.
Wendt died in May 2025 at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Burkett, and their three children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel.
The Rhode Island native died of a heart attack in 1985 at age 61. A memorial service held in Los Angeles was attended by the full staff and cast of Cheers. The show’s season 4 premiere episode deals with his character’s death and introduced his successor, Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson).
Alley joined the cast in season 6 and remained on the show until its finale. She went on to do films including Look Who’s Talking (1989) and its subsequent sequels, Look Who's Talking Too (1990) and Look Who's Talking Again (1993), Village of the Damned (1995) and Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). In 2016, she appeared on the Fox comedy horror series Scream Queens.
The Kansas native died at age 71 after a short battle with colon cancer. She is survived by her two children, William and Lillie, whom she adopted with ex-husband Parker Stevenson.
The Juilliard alum went on to star on the Cheers spinoff Frasier from 1993 to 2004, winning four Emmy awards and two Golden Globe awards for his work on the series. His film roles include X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Swing Vote (2008) and Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014). Grammer reprised his role as Frasier Crane in the Paramount+ revival Frasier from 2023 to 2024.
Grammar shares daughter Spencer with ex-wife Doreen Alderman, daughter Greer with ex-girlfriend Barrie Buckner, daughter Mason and son Jude with ex-wife Camille Meyer and daughter Faith and sons Kelsey and Auden with wife Kayte Walsh.
Harrelson joined the cast of the NBC sitcom in 1985. After the series finale, he went on to star in critically acclaimed films including The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), The Messenger (2009) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). The Texas native also received an Emmy award nomination for his role in the crime anthology series True Detective (2014). His most recent roles include 2025’s The Electric State and Last Breath.
The Hunger Games actor has been married to Laura Louie since 2008. The duo share three daughters: Zoe, Deni and Makani.
After playing a trivia-whiz mail carrier on Cheers, Ratzenberger voiced various characters in Pixar movies including the Abominable Snowman in Monsters, Inc., (2001), The Underminer in The Incredibles (2004) and Mack in Cars (2006) and Spellbound (2024). Ratzenberger has also voiced Bernard and Adorable on the series Monsters at Work.
He shares daughter Nina and son James with ex-wife Georgia Stiny.
The New Jersey native played Frasier’s wife on the beloved sitcom and its spinoff. She went on to portray Nora Shepherd in the original Jumanji (1995) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). From 2014 to 2017, she starred in the CBS political drama Madam Secretary.
She has been married to Chris Calkins since 2009.
If you’ve got summer flights booked or you are this close to hitting “purchase” on a weekend escape, now’s the time to upgrade your travel setup. Beloved by celebrities and travel experts, the brand Calpak is running an epic Memorial Day sale stacked with sleek, functional gear that looks like luxury but is marked down up to 60% — just in time for one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
We’re talking cosmetic cases that make TSA less of a headache, totes that somehow fit everything and carry-ons chic enough to double as an accessory. The items are so chic, celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Gisele Bündchen have been spotted using them. Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or heading out for your first trip of the season, these travel-tested picks make packing (and staying organized) way easier. Grab them before they sell out and before you’re stuck trying to cram everything into that bag you swore you’d replace last year.
Calpak’s Memorial Day Sale is Full of Chic Travel Gear
1. See-It-All Beauty Bag: This clear cosmetics case is compact enough to toss in your carry-on, yet roomy enough to hold all your skincare, makeup, and mini tools. Bonus: The mesh zip pockets inside keep everything organized (and unbroken) — was $85, now $72!
2. Desk-to-Gate Backpack: This sleek caramel backpack fits a 15” laptop and features interior pockets keep cords and chargers from turning into a tangled mess — was $139, now $69!
3. Overachiever Tote: Work bag by day, travel tote by weekend. This structured but lightweight tote fits a laptop and all your daily essentials, and when you’re traveling, it expands to carry way more — was $115, now $58!
4. Anything-But-Basic Pouch Set: Use these pouches for cords, meds, receipts, snacks or all of the above. The water-resistant lining and sleek black exterior make them perfect for messy makeup or beach days — was $45, now $35!
5. Under-Seat MVP: This mini carry-on fits under most airplane seats, has dreamy 360-degree wheels and comes with dividers and pockets that actually make packing easier — was $165, now $115!
6. Bathroom Hack: No counter space at your Airbnb? No problem. This toiletry bag hangs on towel racks or door hooks and unfolds into a full-on bathroom command center — was $59, now $49!
7. The Checked Bag That Gets Compliments: If you’re an over-packer, no shame. This medium trunk-style suitcase is super spacious, spins like a dream and has a minimal matte finish that turns heads at baggage claim — was $259, now $159!
8. 3-in-1 Carryall: This duffel does it all. Padded laptop sleeve? Check. Separate shoe compartment? Yep. Room for a water bottle and extra hoodie? Absolutely — was $148, now $119!
9.Hot Girl Walk Sidekick: This tiny-but-mighty belt bag keeps your essentials close without bouncing around while you walk, jog or people-watch — was $58, now $49!
10. Chicest Hat Box: Whether you’re actually packing hats or just want a super stylish weekender bag, this hard-shell trunk-style case brings serious main character energy — was $175, now $89!
She’s the Founding Partner of Skims, the cofounder and CEO of Good American and Forbes listed her as one of America’s richest self-made women. She also does philanthropic work for the Fifteen Percent Pledge and the Obama Foundation.
But that’s not all: the fashion and consumer brand mastermind’s resume just became even more impressive. She recently launched her namesake podcast, Aspire with Emma Grede.
The serial entrepreneur told Us that the inspiration behind the name stemmed from the notion of “believing in something” and then “aspiring” to achieve those goals. For Grede, it’s not just about having hopes and dreams, but “doing the work” to achieve them.
The show, which is now listed at number three on Apple’s Top New Shows list, has since released several episodes, featuring chats with business moguls from Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Rubin to Karlie Kloss. But don’t expect Aspire to be just another podcast in the entrepreneurship space that will leave people “entertained” — it goes beyond that.
Emma GredeJamie Girdler
It’s safe to say the founder’s upbringing helped set the blueprint for this show. “[I] grew up in a place that was not very inspiring,” she said, revealing that she is “super dyslexic” herself. “I need things broken down in a really simple way,” Grede admitted. “And I really want to be able to do that for people.”
And though Grede is quick to also acknowledge how “fortunate” she feels to have “had exposure to so many incredible people,” she understands that’s not the case for everyone.
“Sometimes you don’t have the people around you that can give you [the right] information,” she shared. “[Aspire] is about giving people actionable, tangible advice that they can listen to and [use].”
Of course, we at Us are also curious about the daily habits Grede has attributed to her success. Discussing the topic of manifestation — a word that seems to be everywhere nowadays, Grede takes a more traditional approach.
Although she’s not completely against the idea of repeating positive affirmations and meditation, she stresses how nothing beats “real hard work and some sacrifice.” Added Grede: “None of it is a substitute for really hard work,” she emphasized. “You need to have a plan and you need to work really, really hard towards it. That’s what’s going to make you successful.”
She brought up another fantastic point. “If you’re gonna be successful to be successful in business, you have to be successful in life, right? You can’t really have one without the other,” she stated. “There’s other things that I do, parts of my routine, that enable me to be successful,” she noted. One of those other things: how she uses her free time upon waking up.
“My first ever job was a paper route. And when you have a paper route, you have to get up really, really early in the morning to go and get the papers,” she explained. “[That’s where] I learned the power of the mornings.”
But no morning is ever the same for the mom-of-four, and that’s completely OK and besides the point. Whether she uses an “hour and a half to work out” or to sip on some hot water with lemon, it doesn’t matter. She’s still avoiding checking her phone right away so she has time to think about how she will own the day.
Speaking of self-care practices, what beauty products can she not live without? “I have to confess: I am a product junkie,” she joked. But her answer is surprisingly simple when it comes to the pampering buys she truly swears by.
An investigation into the death of influencer Valeria Márquez, who was fatally shot during a TikTok livestream, is ongoing.
News broke earlier this month that the 23-year-old influencer died inside a salon, with users taking to her Instagram to share their condolences.
“I had the opportunity to meet her in person, a person with a very beautiful energy,” one user wrote via Instagram, translated to English. “[I] am still in shock, [I] can’t believe I will never see her [livestream] again.”
Márquez was killed on May 13 while she was on a livestream. AP News reported that the influencer was handed a stuffed animal and a bag of Starbucks coffee before she was shot and collapsed on camera. The TikTok appeared to be taken down following her death, but a video of the incident was shared online and confirmed by the prosecutor’s office.
What Has the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office Said About the Investigation?
Denis Rodríguez, a spokesperson for the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office, told AP News that a man posing as a delivery driver and another man on a motorcycle arrived at the Mexican salon in search of Márquez. The men were looking to deliver a gift to her in person, which led her to express feelings of worry on the livestream.
“Maybe they were going to kill me,” Márquez said in the video, per the outlet. “Were they going to come and take me away, or what? I’m worried.”
When the men returned, they asked for Márquez again — which Rodríguez told the outlet led prosecutors to believe that they were hired assassins.
“The aggressor arrived asking if the victim was there. So it appears he didn’t know her,” Rodríguez said. “With that, you can deduce — without jumping to conclusions — that this was a person who was paid. It was obviously someone who came with a purpose.”
The prosecutor’s office previously told The New York Times that the incident was being investigated as a potential femicide, meaning when a woman is presumed to be killed due to her gender.
What Has the Mexican President Said About the Investigation?
AP News reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration is working with local investigators to locate the killer. She also extended her condolences to Márquez’s family.
Jessica Simpson made her return to the stage during the American Idol finale this past Sunday. The singer, 44, sparkled as she performed her new song “Blame Me.” Some may say her gilded dress — or her vocals — were the star of the show, but I beg to differ. Simpson’s blonde hair with brown highlights looked like liquid sand under the lights, and I learned that her colorist, Rita Hazan, used an $18 glaze on Amazon to achieve the desired hue.
The product in question is the Glaze Supergloss Toning Conditioning Gloss in ‘vanilla lights,’ which has a deep blue color to neutralize brassy or copper tones. Because Hazan’s goal was to give Simpson a cool-toned, natural finish, this gloss was the finishing touch to ensure her mane looked extra fresh.
Much like how blondes regularly use purple shampoo to boost brightness, blue-toned products work wonders on hair with brown highlights to prevent warm tones from pulling through too much. In fact, using a product like the Glaze Supergloss can extend the time between your salon visits, keeping your color in pristine condition and saving you money in the long run.
Beyond just enhancing color, though, this gloss offers hair health benefits, too. Consider it like a tinted moisturizer, except instead of for your skin, it nourishes your hair. Ultra lightweight babassu oil provides intense hydration while imparting glass-like shine. You’ll notice that your strands feel softer and more manageable after just one use — and the results will stick around for 10 washes.
Everyday people who have discovered this gloss also swear by this to keep their color looking just as bright as the day they visited the salon.
“I get my hair professionally done every nine to 12 weeks, and I will continue using this product religiously in between appointments,” one Amazon reviewer writes. “The cooling tones in addition to the saturation of nutrients does wonders for my whole head of hair! The final result in regards to color is stunning and my newly nourished texture is incredible — very soft and smooth. Plus, my hair is gleaming, the shine is literally astonishing.”
If one of the world’s most renowned celebrity colorists swears by Glaze Supergloss Toning Conditioning Gloss for her clients, it must be good. So go on and give this glaze a try. Your colorist might miss you, but your wallet will thank you!
Kylie Jenner knows just how to execute a sexy photoshoot.
Jenner, 27, took to Instagram on Monday, May 19, to show off more shots from her Hybrid Blush Kylie Cosmetics shoot. In one pic, the It Girl kicked her toned legs into the air wearing nothing but sheer polka-dot thigh-high stockings and white panties.
The reality star teamed her lingerie with a matching blouse featuring delicate spots, puffy short sleeves and a large bow on her collar. She completed her getup with ivory strappy sandals.
Jenner modeled the blush, which is available for retail on Tuesday, May 20, in the shot. She wore extra rosy cheeks teamed with bronzey eyeshadow, a soft winged eyeliner, long lashes and a lined pout. Her brunette strands were styled in big, bouncy curls and her crown was pulled back.
Jenner originally explained that she was dropping new blushes via social media earlier this month, sharing that they are a combination of cream and powder products.
Kylie Cosmetics
She later shared that the pigment “might be” her favorite Kylie Cosmetics launch “ever.”
“These blushes are the first of their kind. It’s not a cream, it’s not a powder, it’s somehow a combination of both,” she explained. Jenner went on to share that the makeup is “sweat-proof, humidity-proof [and] waterproof” for up to a 12-hour wear.
Kylie Cosmetics
The beauty mogul added that the product has long been in the making, revealing that she wore it to the 2024 Met Gala in the shade Summer Sorbet.
She then used a “dense brush” to apply the rosy pigment to her skin, proving how fast it melted into her cheeks. “So pretty!” Jenner gushed.
Larsa Pippen couldn’t help but gush about her new romance with Jeff Coby.
“I think we do very normal things. I think this is the first relationship where we don’t have to go out,” the Real Housewives of Miami star, 50, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, May 20, while promoting her partnership with Date.com. “We don’t have to do extravagant things. We just like to do simple things and we make each other happy. It’s been really fun.”
Pippen and Coby, 31, were first linked in March. The couple subtly confirmed their romance in April after they were spotted packing on the PDA in Miami. That same month, Pippen and the international basketball player made their red carpet debut at the Los Angeles premiere for The Accountant 2.
Pippen shared that she and Coby have “so much in common,” which is a big difference compared to her past romances. (Larsa was previously married to Scottie Pippen from 1997 to 2021 and dated Michael Jordan’s son Marcus Jordan from 2022 to 2023.)
“I feel like Jeff and I are kind of the same in that way. We both are traditional in a lot of ways,” she explained. “We both love to be around our family, and I feel like in the past I dated guys that weren’t like that, [they] didn’t necessarily care to spend time with their family [or] weren’t as close to their family as I was. So they thought that [it] was weird that I wanted to always be around my parents or my siblings.”
Earlier this month, Coby teased that he and Larsa planned on tying the knot next year. However, Larsa clarified it was “probably a joke.”
“We definitely are serious,” she said. “We love being around each other, and we’re having a good time.”
As far as a potential proposal goes, Larsa isn’t ruling out the idea but is unsure what the future holds.
Phillip Faraone/WireImage
“I feel like I definitely do enjoy being with him. We have a great relationship and I do love him,” she told Us. “So we’ll see.”
Scottie, Marcus and Jeff are all basketball players, and Larsa is aware that she has a preference for dating athletes.
“I think what I do like about athletes is the discipline,” she told Us. “I feel like most athletes are disciplined when it comes down to their regimen and how they go about their food and how they work out and sleep well.”
Larsa noted that while she’s been “surrounded” by athletes her whole life, it’s not the defining quality she looks for in a partner.
“I feel like if you’re smart and you have goals and ambitions, I like to be motivated,” she said. “I want to surround myself with guys that are motivated.”
Larsa added that she also likes men who are “really kind” and “smart.”
While Larsa is happily taken now, she knows the struggles of dating. That’s why she decided to team up with Date.com to help others find their matches.
“I was single in Miami. My girlfriends were single. We started researching dating apps and we couldn’t find the dating app that suited us. I just wanted a dating app that felt safe,” she told Us. “So I helped create Date.com and it is legit the most amazing dating app.”
Date.com is powered by AI and has facial recognition features to help prevent catfishing. When a user makes a profile, they have to take their profile picture directly from the app, so the image cannot be altered. Larsa also loves how the app has communication features.
“I never wanted to give guys my phone number. I wanted to get to know them first and not necessarily give them my number so quickly,” she explained. “But there’s no fast way of getting to know someone and let you hear their voice or see them. And so data.com has voice calling, video calling, and you could send mass text messages.”
The Date.com app is available to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
If you thought woven bags were going out of style . . . think again! Julianne Moore just rocked a black tote that proves the textured look isn’t going anywhere this summer. Her designer pick is a mere $4,400, but luckily we found a more affordable version — and it has Us running to check out!
The actress was spotted attending the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, wearing a look that was basically the definition of the rich mom aesthetic. She went all monochromatic black, pairing a Bottega Veneta knit cardigan, matching trousers, Le Monde ankle boots, oversized black shades and a Sidney Garber gold cuff bracelet.
Clearly a fan of the designer brand, Moore carried the Bottega Veneta Pinacoteca Tote Bag, and it’s making Us think harder about our summer office style. While it would eat up more than a whole paycheck to grab hers, this $22 version is way easier to justify — and just as stylish.
Get the ERWUBA Imitation Woven Leather Tote Bag (Originally $31) on sale for just $22 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, May 1, 2025, but are subject to change.
We seriously can’t believe we were able to find a lookalike that channels Moore’s designer pick almost exactly. Like the pricier version, this tote bag has a chic woven texture, a top handle design and a rectangle silhouette. It’s made entirely of a PU leather, so it has the look of the designer pick but with an eco-friendly twist.
Don’t let the vegan leather fool you though, this bag is just as tough and can stand up to years of wear and tear. Whether you use it as a travel bag or an office tote, you’ll need it to function with this level of durability. You’ll appreciate its large size that can carry everything from laptops, to books, makeup bags and more. Plus, several inner compartments keep the essentials organized.
This bag makes commuting that much easier thanks to the convertible strap — it goes from a shoulder bag to a crossbody in a cinch! Carry your iced latte, put on your sunglasses and talk on the phone . . . all while being hands free.
With its sleek black leather look, this bag will have you rolling around looking like you wear designer! It levels up any outfit from simple leggings, sneakers and a casual tee to a midi dress and kitten heels. It can truly be a capsule wardrobe pick that never goes out of style.
Jennifer Lopez is proof that a big white gown isn’t reserved solely for a walk down the aisle.
The four-times-married star — who finalized her divorce from Ben Affleck back in January — stepped out in New York City on Monday, May 19, hand-in-hand with her voice coach and confidante Stevie Mackey, en route to a lavish birthday celebration for acclaimed composer John Kander.
Her chosen ensemble for the evening was nothing short of spectacular. It embodied a sophisticated bridal aesthetic without the pretense of wedding bells.
Lopez, 55, opted for a slim-fitting white gown from Stephane Rolland’s Fall 2023 Couture collection for the star-studded occasion. The satin masterpiece featured elegant long sleeves and a high neckline, lending a sense of timeless grace.
However, it was the gown’s dramatic details that truly elevated the look: a statement structured thigh-high slit that added a daring edge, complemented by intricate waist detailing that sculpted her frame. The dress’s most dazzling feature was its embellished diamanté collar, meticulously designed to mimic a tiered choker necklace, showering her neckline with sparkle and shine.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Lopez took it a step further with metallic silver platform heels, each strap adorned with subtle diamond accents. For glam, her signature long brunette locks were swept back into a sleek bun that lent her avant-garde dress an Old Hollywood twist. The updo also perfectly emphasized her brilliant diamond hoop earrings, ensuring all focus remained on her radiant visage.
Lopez is far from the only unattached A-lister embracing neo-bridal style. White gowns, lace details and sweeping silhouettes are having a moment, divorced from traditional matrimonial contexts.
Angelina Jolie.Samir Hussein/WireImage
At the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, May 16, Angelina Jolie demonstrated the power of a Brunello Cucinelli white ball gown, highlighting the shade’s versatility for grand occasions.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Kylie Jenner took to Instagram to show off a sheer white lace mini while vacationing in Turks and Caicos. It was the naked dress version of the non-bridal bridal trend.
Whether tying the knot or making a statement, wearing white this season is unequivocally stylish, and Lopez is leading the charge with her signature glamour and dramatic sartorial flair.
Owen Patrick Joyner is willing to do just about anything when it comes to delivering a killer good time.
Warning: Spoilers for Final Destination: Bloodlines.
Joyner, 24, stars as Bobby Campbell in Final Destination: Bloodlines, which hit theaters on Friday, May 15, and is already the No. 1 movie in the world. The actor is undoubtedly a standout in the latest installment of the beloved horror comedy franchise, but much like his costars and predecessors before him, he couldn’t escape being brutally killed off in one of the most off-the-wall ways possible.
Joyner is given the honor of death by anaphylaxis in the film, as his character is deathly allergic to nuts. It’s actually kind of a nut allergy and vending machine coil through the skull combo, but his demise begins when he decides to eat a peanut butter cup in a last ditch attempt to outsmart his family’s death curse.
Luckily for Joyner, he’s no stranger to food-related deaths — he famously died by a car engine-heated street hot dog in his critically acclaimed series Julie and the Phantoms. Nor is he, it turns out, a stranger to severe nut allergies.
“I brought my real EpiPen and we were doing the scene and [directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein] were like, ‘So do you know anything about [allergies]? Like, have you ever experienced something like that?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, actually I brought my EpiPen!’” Joyner told Us Weekly exclusively. “And I saw a little twinkle in their eye. I feel like that’s when I booked it.”
Joyner heard from a friend who was also auditioning for Bobby that there was a scene involving an EpiPen. His pal also shared insight into how keen Lipovsky and Stein were to take big swings. The directing duo rented out an entire set when pitching their concept to Warner Bros. in hopes of giving execs an immersive experience.
“During their director pitch, [Zach and Adam] had a conversation and they were talking to camera while the back of their fireplace caught on fire. And then it spread to the walls, the paintings went to the roof and the entire room was on fire,” Joyner explained. “And it turned out they were in a set and they had staged that whole thing because they were just such big fans.”
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Joyner, of course, didn’t have “the money” to set up an entire stage, so he worked with his own real-life experiences — and the effort clearly paid off. His sitcom experience likely also swung the pendulum his way, as Final Destination is known for its unique comedy elements.
That comedy, however, felt particularly tricky with Bloodlines as so much of the plot revolves around a single family unit dying off one by one. Joyner told Us it was a “big conversation” between the cast and creatives to figure out tonally where to land with each big death.
“With the family dynamics, it was so different, because it almost felt like it was accepted that people moved on with the other movies because they were friends. But we have to keep pushing,” he said. “Like, how much do we commit if our sister dies or if this person dies within our family? How deep do we go?”
A huge focus, Joyner noted, was figuring out what the audience would want above all else — “If you lose them, you already lost on the first day,” he told Us — but ultimately, the film opted to lean on the humor. That’s where the improv came in.
“Kudos to the directors and the creative team because they totally let us go on our own,” Joyner said. “We would do two takes by the book and by the lines and then we would do two that were just kind of crazy improv or as many as they let us do. And they would come to us and [say], ‘Go crazy. Say whatever you want.’ So there’s some crazy footage out there of us saying stuff that does not work.”
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
As the rest of Us anxiously await the blooper reel, Joyner is celebrating what did make it to the final edit. Bloodlines — the sixth film in the franchise — follows a family who realize they are part of a decades-long death curse after their relative (Brec Bassinger) escaped a tragic accident years prior. Being part of such a hefty legacy is a responsibility that Joyner hasn’t taken lightly.
“It’s pretty intimidating, you know? Obviously, as an actor, it’s super exciting with a big piece of IP like this … and there’s millions of people that love it,” he confessed. “But at the same time, being 14 and a half years later, they were gonna have to — not reinvent the wheel — but maybe paint it a little bit, and change things up for the audience. Like, a little bit of a roll of the dice. So I was nervous.”
Joyner was put at ease after seeing the script from Jon Watts, Lori Evans Taylor and Guy Busick. “And then, of course, [producers] Craig [Perry] and Sheila [Hanahan Taylor], who created this entire universe, certainly gave me more confidence,” he added. “Obviously, I was gonna jump into it. I wasn’t gonna let something like this slide.”
Another weight on Joyner’s shoulders? Transitioning from family-friendly content to something with a little more bite. The actor made a name for himself on Nickelodeon shows like 100 Things to Do Before High School and Knight Squad before skyrocketing to success with the Netflix musical series Julie and the Phantoms in 2020.
“I loved every moment of [being on Nickelodeon], just getting to kind of do humor and comedy. And then I was lucky enough after that I was 19 and I went into the Julie and the Phantoms. That felt like a little step up,” Joyner explained. “As a young actor, you’re always nervous. Like, ‘Can I make it to a different step? Even if it’s lateral, can I do something that’s more mature and grown up?’ I wasn’t seeking horror, but I was excited to do something that was … a little riskier.”
While Joyner may be happy to be moving forward in his craft, he’s well aware — and endlessly grateful — for the love Julie and the Phantoms still receives five years after the one-season series first made waves.
“There’s still people that are excited and once in a while you’ll see a petition for season 2 and I wanna find those people and give them a hug,” he said. (The actor confirmed that despite hopes, a second season is “probably not gonna happen.”)
Joyner admitted that he didn’t know JATP would have the profound effect on audiences it has — rumors have swirled that Netflix wasn’t anticipating the series would resonate so deeply with older generations — but he felt “pretty confident” in being part of a project led by Kenny Ortega.
“You can kind of go, ‘You know what? I don’t think this has to be my greatest work for it to be successful,’” Joyer said. “Obviously, a lot of people have success [with] him. He’s the magic man. I don’t know how else to put it. So I wasn’t that surprised when it was an older group [who loved the show], because Kenny Ortega started High School Musical. Then I think he brought some of that fan base to us and they accepted us with open arms.”
The series, which dropped amid the coronavirus pandemic, followed 15-year-old Julie (Madison Reyes), who, in grieving the death of her mother, discovers an old CD that brings three teenage ghosts who died in the ‘90s into her life. Joyner portrayed Alex: the sensitive, often anxious drummer.
Like his EpiPen for Final Destination, Joyner tapped into his own experience when it came to bringing Alex to life. “I find that most of my characters just end up being anxious because I’m anxious. So they’re just like, ‘That works, push that side of you,’” he said with a laugh.
Portraying an openly queer character was slightly more “nerve wracking” for Joyner, who didn’t know Alex’s sexual identity when he landed the part and wanted to make sure he did the character justice.
“I remember getting all nervous and then Kenny called me and I said, ‘Kenny, if you give me the green light, then I know it’s OK.’ And he did, and I think it was important to him,” Joyner recalled. “He said, ‘Well, this isn’t about him. He’s a character with struggles, but he just happens to be queer. Take it and run with it, Owen.’ And I said, ‘OK Kenny, if you say so.’”
Joyner’s interpretation clearly paid off, as Alex quickly became a favorite among fans.
“Everyone was so loving and so accepting,” he told Us. “It meant a lot to a lot of people, which is something I wasn’t expecting or didn’t know I’d have the honor to be for some people, you know?”
” and captioning Hurley on the shot of the magazine.
