By Wonderwall.com Editors
4:00pm PST, Nov 17, 2020
Megan Fox: Loving Machine Gun Kelly 'is like being in love with a tsunami or a forest fire'
Yep, Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox remain as smitten with one another as ever. What's more impressive — they're also still coming up with new metaphors with which to describe their apparently cosmos-sized love. The couple's latest verbal love fest appears in Nylon's December story, which is pegged MGK's first No. 1 album — his new, pop-punky "Tickets To My Downfall" — but gives the singer's highly publicized new romance almost as much ink. "Love is not what's being encouraged now. In fact, it's exactly the opposite," MGK says when asked if the relationship has anything to do with his "mellower" vibe. "Everything now is isolation, dehumanization, separation … you have in your head that you're this rock star, with multiple women and all that … So finding someone that can take you out of the fast lane and make sure that you're safe, because at any minute you can crash — I love that it can evolve into that." Megan, who met MGK on the set of their forthcoming film, "Midnight in the Switchgrass," after her split from Brian Austin Green, weighs in on what makes the couple's relationship work, too. Calling it a "once in a lifetime thing," the actress says, "There's never an attempt to control him on my end," then elaborates: "It's more that he looks to me to avoid his own self destructive tendencies. And that's where I'm useful because on his own and left to his own devices I don't know how much interest he has in caring for himself." Perhaps referencing their "twin flame" vibe ("we're actually two halves of the same soul," Megan said on a podcast in July) the actress describes their connection as being one of "mythic proportions." Laughing, she adds: "Loving him is like being in love with a tsunami or a forest fire. … The intensity of merging with him is just overwhelming, and the threat it poses is so powerful but so beautiful that you have no choice [but] to surrender with reverence and with gratitude."
Keep reading to find out how Dolly Parton's connected to the newest COVID-19 vaccine and more …
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Dolly Parton, American treasure, helped fund Moderna's new coronavirus vaccine
If the promising new coronavirus vaccine from Moderna turns out to be a go, we have a certain country music legend to thank. No, Dolly Parton isn't moonlighting as an epidemiologist (though we wouldn't be one bit surprised if she were). The 74-year-old singer, songwriter and general American treasure reportedly donated $1 million to the company in April to support its research efforts with regard to both the vaccine and convalescent plasma study at Tennessee's Vanderbilt University, the Guardian reports. It seems Dolly's pal at the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Dr. Naji Abumrad, told her Moderna's work towards a cure involved "some exciting advancements." The two have apparently been friends since Dolly was treated at Vanderbilt after being involved in a car accident back in 1974. "I'm just happy that anything I do can help somebody else," Dolly said on "Today on Tuesday, Nov. 17. "When I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do good and evidently, it is!" As of this week, early data indicates Moderna's vaccine could be 94.5 percent effective, though the New York Times cautions "there's more work to be done" to determine whether the vaccine "is really safe and effective."
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Taylor Swift sounds off on Scooter Braun's sale of her old masters
Taylor Swift is, not surprisingly, far from happy about the latest development in her masters-fueled feud with Scooter Braun, who earned the rights to her back catalog when he bought Big Machine Label Group. Variety reported this week that the pop manager has already sold off her masters, having unloaded them in a deal with an investment fund for a rumored $300 to $450 million. After the news surfaced on Monday, Nov. 16, Taylor weighed in on Twitter, where she told fans she "attempted to enter into negotiations with Scooter" to buy her music back, but Scooter demanded she sign an NDA vowing "never to say another word about [him] … unless it was positive." Without her NDA signature, she said, Scooter wouldn't "even quote my team a price." She went on to recount that she heard from a group called Shamrock Holdings "a few weeks ago." According to the singer, Shamrock said it had purchased "100 percent of" Taylor's old music, album art and videos, alleging that they were prevented from contacting her about it first by Scooter's team. She said it now turns out Scooter "will continue to profit off my old musical catalog for many years." She shared the letter she sent Shamrock in response to its interest in partnering with Taylor in some way. Basically, she told them their deal with Scooter meant she had to decline. In happier news, she told fans she has started to rerecord her old music, as promised, and has "plenty of surprises in store."
RELATED: The biggest music moments of 2020
George Clooney talks marriage, fatherhood and that time he gave his closest pals $1M each
Some people have friends in high places. But 14 lucky people had had a best friend in George Clooney back in 2013 — and one night over dinner, he handed each of them a suitcase stuffed with $1 million. If the story sounds familiar it's because one of the Oscar winner's besties shared it a while back on MSNBC. George, who's honored as GQ's Man of the Year in the mag's new issue, confirms the wild tale in his extensive cover feature. "I just thought basically if I get hit by a bus, they're all in the will. So why the f— am I waiting to get hit by a bus?" the 59-year-old explains. This was before he met his wife, Amal Clooney, with whom he now shares 3-year-old twins Alexander and Ella. At the time, he was divorced from his first wife and getting older and didn't see a second marriage or kids in his future. "And I thought, what I do have are these guys who've all, over a period of 35 years, helped me in one way or another," he shares. "I've slept on their couches when I was broke. They loaned me money when I was broke. They helped me when I needed help over the years. And I've helped them over the years. … And I thought, you know, without them I don't have any of this." Now, of course, part of "this" is being a dad and a husband to one of the world's most respected human rights attorneys. (The interview took place hours after Amal had resigned as the U.K.'s special envoy on media freedom "in protest of Boris Johnson's intention … to pass a bill that would violate international law," according to the outlet.) When he gave away the cash, though, George says he thought, "my life is full, I'm doing well," then adds, "And I didn't know how un-full it was until I met Amal. And then everything changed. And I was like, 'Oh, actually, this has been a huge empty space.'" Reflecting on his marriage, he explains why he's a changed man: "… because I'd never been in the position where someone else's life was infinitely more important to me than my own. You know?" he says. "And then tack on two more individuals, who are small and have to be fed.…"
Tristan Thompson sends Khloe Kardashian a huge bouquet of roses after her PCA win
After winning Reality Star of the Year at the People's Choice Awards over the weekend, Khloe Kardashian was treated to a congratulatory bouquet of flowers from her seemingly on-again beau, Tristan Thompson. In a video posted to her Instagram Story Monday, Khloe shows off the huge cluster of pink and white roses via the pair's 2-year-old daughter, True Thompson, who strikes a pose in front of the bouquet. "Did I get flowers from your daddy?" Khloe asks True (via ET). As True does her best to "read" the card, her mom jumps in to help. "Oh, you're reading it?" Khloe asks. "He says congratulations on winning People's Choice!"
Conan O'Brien's long-running TBS show will come to an end next year
As of June 2021, late-night TV will look a whole lot different. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Conan O'Brien and WarnerMedia announced the talk show host's eponymous series will come to end on TBS. Looking ahead, Conan plans to shift over to HBO Max's streaming platform, where he'll present a weekly variety show, according to EW. "In 1993 Johnny Carson gave me the best advice of my career: 'As soon as possible, get to a streaming platform,'" Conan quipped in a statement. "I'm thrilled that I get to continue doing whatever the h— it is I do on HBO Max, and I look forward to a free subscription." The 57-year-old kicked off his TV show hosting career back in 1993 when he took over for David Letterman on "Late Night." From there, he headed to "The Tonight Show" briefly before settling in with "Conan" on TBS in 2010. His "Conan Without Borders" travel specials will reportedly continue to air on the network.
Jennifer Lopez admits her whole family has struggled with their emotions during the pandemic
As the mother of 12-year-olds Max and Emme, Jennifer Lopez has had to do her best to keep her twins' spirits up over the course of the year — while also tending to her own mental health needs. "You know, it's not easy," J.Lo said on Monday, Nov. 16 during an appearance on Washington, D.C.'s El Zol 107.9 (via the Daily Mail). And during this pandemic I think everybody had a moment when they were depressed or they were scared about what was going to happen — I had a lot of moments where I felt really bad, my kids too, everybody in the house." At one point, she recalled, Emme came to her with questions a lot of people around the globe have likely been asking their loved ones."[There was a] moment in which Emme, my daughter, came to my bed and was crying, 'Why is this happening? I miss my friends. Why is this happening in our life?'" the singer and actress shared. "Everything that was going on, and there were protests and a lot of things they were seeing," she continued. "[I told her], 'Sometimes things need to change, and when things change sometimes it hurts a bit. But it will always be for the good of everyone. Sometimes you have to live those moments and you have to stay strong and grateful in those moments, because we have so much. We have our health, we're together, we have love.'"
Katy Perry confirms Kellyanne Conway's daughter, Claudia Conway, auditioned for 'American Idol'
Over the summer, Kellyanne Conway's teenage daughter, Claudia Conway, generated some serious buzz on TikTok for posting videos that criticized Donald Trump — even as her mom continued to work as a top counselor to the president. Kellyanne has since stepped down from her post, but 16-year-old Claudia's turn in the spotlight may wel have just begun. The teen told her large TikTok following on Sunday that she was auditioning for "American Idol." On Monday, Katy Perry confirmed the news in a video on social media. "Well, well, well, let the games begin because Claudia just tried out for 'American Idol,'" Katy says in the clip. Speaking to People this week, Kellyanne said her kids have been, "taught to be independent self-starters and free thinkers who dream big and aim high." Describing Claudia, the former pundit said, "She sets goals and works toward them. … Of course, 'American Idol' is next level!" She added: "We are proud of Claudia for entering the arena and sharing her beautiful voice and inspirational message about mental health with others."
Nick Jonas will replace Gwen Stefani this spring on 'The Voice'
Goodbye, Gwen Stefani, hello (again), Nick Jonas. NBC announced this week the Jonas Brothers sib will return to "The Voice" as a coach for Season 20, alongside John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Gwen's fiance, Blake Shelton. It's the second time he'll be stepping in for the No Doubt star — the first came when she took a break just two seasons ago, when his team went to the finals courtesy of Thunderstorm Artis. This time, Nick's determined to make it to the very end. "Warriors never sleep," he joked on social media on Tuesday, Nov. 17, alongside a goofy video that showed him meditating on the set of the show as his soon-to-be costars walk in, wondering who's taking over for Gwen. "I'm back and ready to win this thing," Nick added. The last time Gwen gave up her red chair was for her Just a Girl residency in Las Vegas. TasteofCountry.com points out this makes a pattern for the singer "of only coaching during odd-numbered seasons." Season 20 is currently slated to air in the spring.
Nipsey Hussle's Marathon clothing store targeted by vandals
The Marathon, the South Central Los Angeles clothing store owned by late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle, has reportedly been vandalized. A video circulating on social media on Tuesday, Nov. 17, showed shattered glass, graffiti-tagged walls and other damage to the shop, according to The Blast. Nipsey, 33, was killed in March 2019 in front of the store. He had reportedly been working with local authorities at the time on plans to reduce gun violence and gang-related conflicts in the area.
