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British stars Harry Styles and Adele are among the frontrunners for the 2023 Grammy Awards, shortlisted for the night’s biggest awards alongside Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce – who is now tied with husband Jay-Z for the title of most nominated artist of all time.

Beyonce leads the nominations with nine, taking her career total to 88 – now the same as her rapper husband, who earned five this year for his writing efforts on DJ Khaled’s song God Did, as well as his work on his wife’s album Renaissance and single Break My Soul.

She is up against Styles, Adele, Lamar and Lizzo in the album of the year, song of the year, and record of the year categories, three of the Grammy ceremony’s biggest prizes.

FILE - Kendrick Lamar performs at the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, on June 26, 2022. Lamar was nominated for eight Grammy Awards on Tuesday. The 2023 Grammy Awards will air live Sunday, Feb. 5. (AP Photo/Scott Garfitt, File)
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Kendrick Lamar headlined Glastonbury earlier this year. Pic: AP Photo/Scott Garfitt

The most decorated woman in the show’s history with 28 wins, Beyonce could break the late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti’s record for most awards won if she takes home four gongs next year. Solti, with 31 Grammys, has held the record since 1997.

The nominations put her up against Adele once again – the British star won album of the year in 2017, but said on stage that the award should have gone to the US artists Lemonade.

Following her return to the spotlight in 2021 with fourth album 30, which topped both the UK and US charts, Adele was also nominated in categories including best pop vocal album, and best music film, for Adele: One Night Only – which marked the singer’s comeback with an interview by Oprah Winfrey and a concert performance at the Griffith Observatory.

Meanwhile, Styles continued a standout year which saw him nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize; chart-topping third album Harry’s House scored a nod for best pop vocal album and best non-engineered album (non-classical), while the hit track As It Was received nominations for best pop solo performance, song of the year, best music video, and record of the year.

With 91 categories celebrating genres from rock and rap to country and comedy in 2023, Lamar is the second front-runner with eight nods, while Adele and Brandi Carlile have seven, and Styles joins other artists including Mary J Blige and DJ Khaled with six.

Wet Leg are among the 2022 Mercury Prize nominees. Pic: Hollie Fernando
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Wet Leg – Barack Obama is also a fan: Pic: Hollie Fernando

Upcoming British indie rock duo Wet Leg – who were also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize earlier this year, and tipped by Barack Obama, no less – also scored a nomination in one of the big categories, best new artist, alongside Eurovision 2021 winners Maneksin.

Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Doja Cat, Steve Lacy and Bad Bunny are also among the big-name nominees – with Bad Bunny making history with the first Spanish-language album of the year nomination for Un Verano Sin Ti.

Announced by stars including Olivia Rodrigo, John Legend, Cyndi Lauper, Machine Gun Kelly and Smokey Robinson, almost half of the 2023 nominees are women and more than half are people of colour, according to the Recording Academy, which organises the awards.

New categories include songwriter of the year and alternative music performance, which Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr says will help diversify the 65th edition of the annual awards. There will also be a special merit award for best song for social change, based on lyrical content that addresses a timely social issue.

Joe Wadsworth, musicologist and founder of The Online Recording Studio, said that with Adele and Styles among the big nominees, next year’s awards ceremony could be “the most successful for UK artists in a generation”.

“Nods for Adele and Harry Styles were expected in many of the major categories but it is fantastic to also see recognition for the likes of Wet Leg,” he said. “The Isle of Wight band’s three nominations, including for best new artist, will surely make up for missing out on last month’s Mercury Prize.”

Main category nominees

ABBA are back! Pic: Baillie Walsh
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ABBA are also among the album of the year nominees. Pic: Baillie Walsh

Album Of The Year
Voyage – ABBA
30 – Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
Renaissance – Beyonce
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) – Mary J Blige
In These Silent Days – Brandi Carlile
Music of the Spheres – Coldplay
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar
Special – Lizzo
Harry’s House – Harry Styles

Record Of The Year
Don’t Shut Me Down – ABBA
Easy on Me – Adele
Break My Soul – Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous – Mary J. Blige
You and Me On The Rock – Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius
Woman – Doja Cat
Bad Habit – Steve Lacy
The Heart Part 5 – Kendrick Lamar
About Damn Time – Lizzo
As It Was – Harry Styles

Song Of The Year (songwriter’s award)
abcdefu – Sara Davis, GAYLE and Dave Pittenger
About Damn Time – Lizzo, Eric Frederic, Blake Slatkin and Theron Makiel Thomas
All Too Well (10 Minute Version – The Short Film) – Liz Rose and Taylor Swift
As It Was – Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon and Harry Styles
Bad Habit – Matthew Castellanos, Brittany Foushee, Diana Gordon, John Carroll Kirby and Steve Lacy
Break My Soul – Beyonce, S Carter, Terius The Dream Gesteelde-Diamant and Christopher A Stewart
Easy On Me – Adele Adkins and Greg Kurstin
God Did – Tarik Azzouz, E Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F LeBlanc, Jay-Z, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts and Nicholas Warwar
The Heart Part 5 – Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar and Matt Schaeffer
Just Like That – Bonnie Raitt

Best New Artist
Anitta
Omar Apollo
DOMi & JD Beck
Muni Long
Samara Joy
Latto
Månekskin
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg.

Songwriter Of The Year
Amy Allen
Nija Charles
Tobia Jesso Jr
The-Dream
Laura Veltz

The 65th annual Grammy Awards will take place on 5 February 2023 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles fires: Hanks, Affleck, Witherspoon and Star Wars legend among stars evacuated as fires spread

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Los Angeles fires: Hanks, Affleck, Witherspoon and Star Wars legend among stars evacuated as fires spread

Hollywood celebrities are among thousands of people to have been evacuated from their homes as fires rip through areas of Los Angeles.

Sky News’ US correspondent Martha Kelner reported that Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck and Reese Witherspoon were all evacuated on Tuesday as wildfires continued to spread in the Pacific Palisades suburb of LA.

The blaze spreading there is one of four raging in California.

Follow latest: At least two killed as flames spread

The US flag flies as flames from the Palisades Fire engulf a structure during a windstorm on the west of Los Angeles. Pic: Reuters
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The US flag flies as flames from the Palisades Fire engulf a structure during a windstorm on the west of Los Angeles. Pic: Reuters

A wildfire-ravaged property in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Pic: AP
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A wildfire-ravaged property in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Pic: AP

The area, which is home to billionaires as well as Hollywood A-listers, is located between Santa Monica and Malibu.

Other celebrities who have fled their homes include the award-winning actor James Woods, who said last night he had been safely evacuated from his home in Pacific Palisades.

But he added in a post on X: “I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing.”

Actor Mark Hamill, best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, also posted on social media last night saying he evacuated his home in Malibu and his family were “fleeing for our lives”.

This Is Us actress Mandy Moore was also forced to leave her home due to the fires.

She said in two Instagram stories she had fled the Eaton fire, which is raging near Altadena, with her children, cats and dog. They have found temporary refuge with friends.

The actress said: “Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel.

“Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don’t know if our place made it.”

Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore. File Pics: Reuters
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Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore fled their homes. File Pics: Reuters

Ben Affleck Reese Witherspoon Tom Hanks
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Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon and Ben Affleck were all evacuated from their homes. Pics: AP

According to Velvet Ropes, which maps celebrity properties, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Matt Damon, Steven Spielberg, Hilary Swank and Sally Field all have homes close to where fires are raging.

Dr Dre, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Tyra Banks, Martin Short, Anna Faris, Milo Ventimiglia, Linda Cardellini, Mary McDonnell, Adam Sandler, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Love Hewitt are also said to have houses in affected areas.

The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Pic: AP
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The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Pic: AP

The skyline of Los Angeles covered with smoke due to wildfires raging in the area. Pic: Reuters
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The skyline of Los Angeles covered with smoke due to wildfires raging in the area. Pic: Reuters

In neighbouring Malibu, which was also affected by fires in December, stars including Beyonce and Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish are said to be among the celebrity residents.

The Palisades blaze has already burnt through more than 11,000 acres of land while the Eaton one has caused the death of two people, Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone said on Wednesday.

The two other fires are known as Woodley and Hurst, after the main areas affected.

All four blazes are still growing, Mr Marrone said.

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Star of The Hills and Made In Chelsea says family’s homes have burnt down in LA wildfires

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Star of The Hills and Made In Chelsea says family's homes have burnt down in LA wildfires

A reality TV personality known for appearing on shows like The Hills and Made In Chelsea has told Sky News her family have lost their homes in the California wildfires.

Stephanie Pratt, a model and the sister of fellow reality TV celebrity Spencer Pratt, lives in the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, where more than 30,000 people have fled their homes due to the fast-moving blaze.

Los Angeles fire chief Anthony Marrone said on Wednesday that the Palisades fire is still growing and that “well over 5,000 acres” have been burnt.

At least two people have been killed so far, with around 1,000 buildings destroyed.

Follow latest: Two killed in LA wildfires

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House surrounded by flames during wildfire

A firefighter shields their face as the Palisades Fire burns down a home in Los Angeles. Pic: AP
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The flames burning down a home in Los Angeles. Pic: AP

The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
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Some of the damage after the wildfire. Pic: AP

California governor Gavin Newsom earlier declared a state of emergency over the four wildfires in the south of the state.

Speaking to Sky News from London, an emotional Ms Pratt said: “It’s just so crazy, I had no idea what was happening.

“I talked to my dad yesterday and he said ‘The Palisades is burning’. He said that he was at my brother’s house on Chautauqua [Boulevard] and they were just watching the flames come.

“The firefighters came and said you got to leave.”

Former Made in Chelsea star Stephanie Pratt on her brother who has lost his home in the wildfires.
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Former Made In Chelsea star Stephanie Pratt speaking to Sky News

Map showing wildfires in California.
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Map showing wildfires in California.

‘I don’t know if my house is there’

Ms Pratt said her parents and brother Spencer, who like her starred in the reality series The Hills, were safely evacuated from the area.

However, the 38-year-old added that “all of the phones are disconnected” and that she doesn’t know what had happened to her home.

“I talked to my neighbour last night and she told me that [Palisades Charter High School] had burnt down, and that’s directly behind me, and so had Gelson’s Supermarket which is adjacent,” she said.

“I just can’t reach anyone to see if my house is okay. I just Googled it and it said that it’s destroyed and terrible… I don’t know if my house is there.”

Read more:
Terrifying firestorm tears through film stars’ homes
Why are there wildfires in January?

Reality TV personality Stephanie Pratt in 2010. Pic: Reuters
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Reality TV personality Stephanie Pratt in 2010. Pic: Reuters

‘This is where they raised their kids’

When she asked her dad about Spencer, 41, who is married to 38-year-old Heidi Montag – another co-star of The Hills – Ms Pratt said he told her “I’ve never seen him like this”.

“I’m assuming he’s just completely catatonic,” she added. “We don’t care about the material things or anything like that, but this was their family home.

“This is where they raised their two little kids.”

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008. Pic: Reuters
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Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008. Pic: Reuters

The Palisades fire is one of five blazes currently burning in southern California – evacuation orders were in place on Tuesday in Altadena after another fire, called the Eaton fire, started near a nature preserve.

A third blaze, called the Hurst fire, also ripped through Sylmar in the north of the city.

And according to the state department Cal Fire, two more blazes – the Woodley fire in Los Angeles and Tyler fire in Riverside – broke out on Wednesday.

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School Of Rock wedding: Co-stars marry decades after first meeting on set of film

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School Of Rock wedding: Co-stars marry decades after first meeting on set of film

Two School Of Rock co-stars, who met at the age of 10, have got married.

Caitlin Hale and Angelo Massagli, who played Marta and Frankie respectively in the 2003 classic alongside Jack Black, tied the knot in New York on Saturday.

The couple brought some of the original cast of the film, which centres on a pretend substitute teacher turning a group of musically gifted school children into a rock band, together to celebrate their nuptials.

Posting on Instagram, Hale, 33, shared various images of the day, including a photobooth picture with a handful of their former cast mates.

The former actress, who now works as a sonographer, wrote under the post: “Special thank you to everyone who contributed to an unforgettable day!”

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Andrew Schwartz/Paramount/Scott Rudin Prods/Mfp/New Century/Sor Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

School Of Rock - 2003
Maryam Hussan, Cuitlin Hale, Jack Black

2003
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Caitlin Hale (middle) with Maryam Hussan and Jack Black. Pic: Andrew Schwartz/Paramount/Scott Rudin Prods/Mfp/New Century/Sor Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

Rivkah Reyes, who played bass player Katie in the film, also posted about the wedding, sharing a video on TikTok.

The clip, set to Stevie Nicks’s Edge Of Seventeen, included cameos from Brian Falduto, who played Billy, Joey Gaydos Jr, who played Zack, and Aleisha Allen, who played Alicia, among others.

The use of the song was a nod to one of the scenes from the film where Black and Joan Cusack, who plays headteacher Rosalie Mullins, sing the song in a bar.

“Celebrating the marriage of Caitlin & Angelo with my forever fam #schoolofrock #wedding,” Reyes wrote alongside the video, which showed them all dancing together.

After appearing together in the film the only contact Hale and Massagli had was through a WhatsApp chat set up with the entire cast, according to The New York Times.

The pair then both left show business and coincidentally reconnected while studying in schools in Florida.

Massagli, 32, who now works as a lawyer for TikTok, according to The Times, told the paper the familiarity they both had due to working together when they were younger “cut through some of those early relationship hurdles”.

The couple got engaged in June 2023.

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