By Mariel Turner
10:16am PDT, Jun 7, 2019
Dr. John and more celebrity deaths
Dr. John, the legendary New Orleans singer and pianist, passed away on June 6 at the age of 77 due to a heart attack. Roky Erickson, lead singer of the psychedelic band the 13th Floor Elevators, died on May 31 at age 71. Lawrence Leathers, a celebrated jazz drummer, was found dead outside of his Bronx apartment after an altercation with his girlfriend and another man. He was 37.
Rihanna is the world's wealthiest female musician, Forbes says
Rihanna meant it when she sang "B—- Better Have My Money." The 31-year-old star, who has a $600 million net worth, was named the richest female musician in the world by Forbes Magazine on June 4. Her fortune stems from not only her music success but also from her numerous business dealings, including Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty and her new LVMH luxury fashion brand, FENTY.
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Ty Herndon re-releases 1995 country song with new pronouns
Ty Herndon is fully embracing his identity. The country music star, who came out as a gay man in 2014, released a new version of his hit 1995 single "What Mattered Most" with different pronouns to reflect his sexuality. "In the [original] I say the word "she" or "her" something like 36 times," he told People magazine on June 4. "I'm doing this song 25 years later the way I wish I could've recorded it back then."
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Madonna slams New York Times profile, says she feels "raped"
Madonna spoke out against The New York Times on June 6 after the newspaper published a profile on the singer that she feels focused on superficial details about her life and would have turned out differently if she was a man. In the Times piece, Madonna said she felt "raped" when her 2015 album "Rebel Heart" leaked online — a phrase she repeated in her critique. "To say that I was disappointed in the article would be an understatement – It seems. You cant fix society And its endless need to diminish, Disparage or degrade that which they know is good," she wrote on Instagram. "Im sorry i spent 5 minutes with [reporter Vanessa Grigoriadis]. It makes me feel raped. And yes I'm allowed to use that analogy having been raped at the age of 19."
R. Kelly pleads not guilty to 11 counts of sexual abuse
Disgraced singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual abuse in a Chicago courtroom on June 6. The 52-year-old R&B singer has been charged with 21 counts overall, including four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
Bette Midler thanks fans for support after President Trump calls her "psycho"
Bette Midler thanked her supporters for defending her after President Donald Trump called the Golden Globe winner a "washed up psycho" and a "sick scammer." "I want to thank everyone who came to my defense last night during my personal Battle of the Bulge with he who must not be named," Bette wrote on Twitter on June 5. "Your wit and good nature really lifted my spirits; as a newly washed up psycho, I am very grateful for your thoughts and prayers."
Beyonce's reaction to Warrior owner's wife talking to JAY-Z goes viral
The Beyhive was buzzing on June 5 after the wife of the Golden State Warriors' majority owner reached over Beyonce to speak to JAY-Z during game three of the NBA finals. Nicole Curran was sitting next to Queen Bey when she leaned over and asked the star's rapper husband a question — a moment that soon went viral after EPSN posted the clip on Twitter.
