michael jackson bad tour stage

An Oral History of Michael Jackson’s Bad

As the 25th anniversary of the album approaches, we take a look at the creation and legacy of a record-setting release

• The Legacy of Bad : “It was arguably the most transitional point in establishing his musical independence.”

Michael Jackson performs on stage during his "BAD" concert tour held at Wembley Stadium, London on July 15, 1988.

Nine months and two weeks after the album’s release, five songs from  Bad —”I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (with Siedah Garrett), “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Man in the Mirror” and “Dirty Diana”— had reached the top of the  Billboard  Hot 100, for a collective seven weeks at the top, setting a new world record.

Lee: The legacy of the album is you have two legacies. It has something that Thriller doesn’t have: five No. 1 consecutive singles. But, number two is that it was the album that followed up Thriller , the biggest-selling album of all time.

Branca: Bad was an enormously influential album. It had an enormous impact on many of today’s biggest artists, stars, who point to that album and those videos as being influential in their careers.

Afrojack: All music has always been inspired by the next level of producing. This is a long time later. It’s fun to see how it’s still inspiring.

( MORE :  The Michael Jackson Legacy: Where Are They Now?)

Branca: Like I said, I remember that conversation with Michael where I tried to take the pressure off of him and he said no, he put the pressure right back on his shoulders. I just remember how driven he was. I think he had a great time on the Bad tour. When you see that footage you can see that he’s having a really good time. He stepped out on his own; he was completely in control. I think it was a great time in Michael’s life.

Phillinganes: It was a wild ride. I do remember [the concerts at] Wembley. Princess Di showed up and Michael, that lucky dog, got to be in the receiving line. We could see her pretty well in her bright yellow dress, sitting in her box. Tons of people showed up. Naomi Campbell. Buddies of mine that I had toured with showed up. Eric Clapton. Phil Collins. Barry Gibb. They were all there. We did three at Wembley, and it’s Wembley Stadium, not arena, so that’s like at least 70,000 people. You can never imagine the feeling of watching 70,000 people light torches during “Man in the Mirror.”

Branca: [The concert footage on the BAD25 DVD is] one concert start to finish. There are no edits and piecing together of different concerts. It’s one concert, Michael Jackson at Wembley Stadium in the presence of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. He actually refers to them at the beginning and at the end of the show. We had high-quality footage of other concerts, but the audio wasn’t very good. For Wembley we had great audio but all we had visually was Michael’s VHS copy of the monitor feed.

Phillinganes: I wasn’t with him when he [watched the VHS tapes of his shows], but it was always to improve. He was very meticulous about every aspect of the show, particularly choreography, lighting. He just always strived to maintain that basis that he set for himself.

Forger: For me, it really was that point in time when Michael took the reins of his solo career and you could understand Michael’s personality musically. It’s not that you couldn’t before that, it’s just that in his solo career now he had taken all the encouragement that Quincy [Jones] had given him, and it was just that extension. This was it happening.

Phillinganes: It was arguably the most transitional point in establishing his musical independence. And the songs speak for themselves. It was just a well-rounded collection of great songs.

( MORE :  The TIME Cover: Michael Jackson, 1958 – 2009 )

Forger: To me what I come away with from the Bad album is, ironically, one of the songs that Michael did not write, and that’s Man in the Mirror.   Man in the Mirror to me totally represents that place that Michael started directing his energy to . You start to really see where Michael’s heart is, where his soul is, what his intent was for what he would like to accomplish with his music, and that’s a thing that in much later material is clearly evident, and this is the time when you see that coming to the forefront I think, so strongly.

Branca: Clearly Michael is an artist whose popularity will live on for generations. It’s funny, I was talking to Spike Lee about this, some artists are great singers but they don’t write their songs, and some artists are great songwriters but they’re not excellent vocalists or they can’t dance. You look at Michael, and he could write the songs, he could produce them, he could sing them, he could get out and perform and dance them, and then his sense of style sort of changed fashion trends. He’s a unique artist in that respect.

Lee: To be honest, over the years, Bad has grown in stature… Sometimes you don’t get s–t when it comes out right away. We cannot overemphasize: Bad was a follow-up to the greatest single selling album in the history of human civilization. You cannot overemphasize that.

Next BAD25 : “It’s about why he felt he was put on earth, to make music.”

An Oral History of Michael Jackson's 'Bad'

• Michael Jackson’s Bad Turns 25
• Meeting Michael: “He knew everything that had to happen in a song.”
• The Making of Bad : “He was the architect of the album in every sense of the word.”
• The Release of Bad : “One hundred million. He’d write that on the mirror and look at it every day.”
• BAD25 : “It’s about why he felt he was put on earth, to make music.”
• Michael Jackson in ‘BAD25′ to air Thanksgiving on ABC Orlando Sentinel
• Spike Lee: Michael Jackson was determined Belfast Telegraph
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Bad World Tour - Pensacola Rehearsals (2/18/88)

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Bad World Tour: 1987 – 1989

The Bad Tour was Michael’s first solo tour, which started on September 12th 1987 and ended on January 27th 1989. It consisted of 123 concerts and was seen by approximately 4.4 million people.

It was during this tour that Michael set his own record by performing to 120,000 people in one concert in Liverpool, England. It was also on the Bad Tour that Michael set the world record for playing the most concerts at the legendary Wembley Stadium, England. He performed 7 sell out concerts, beating the previous record of ‘just three’.

Set List – 1st Leg:

• Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
• Things I Do For You
• Off The Wall
• Human Nature
• Heartbreak Hotel
• She’s Out Of My Life
• Jackson 5 Medley
• Rock With You
• Workin’ Day And Night
• Billie Jean
• Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
• I Just Can’t Stop Loving You

Set List – 2nd Leg:

• Another Part Of Me
• Smooth Criminal
• Dirty Diana
• The Way You Make Me Feel
• Man In The Mirror

‘Just Good Friends’ was also performed in one concert during the first leg of the tour, due to a special appearance by Stevie Wonder.

Latest News

Michael biopic set for 2025, the greatest night in pop trailer, ‘we are the world’ documentary, alternate ‘thriller’ album cover photos, ‘beat it’ hits 1 billion.

Michael Jackson Wiki

Welcome to the Michael Jackson Wiki , the encyclopedia intending to honor the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson . Here, you can discover or even share your knowledge about the star. Before doing so however, please make sure to check our rules and guidelines .

Bad World Tour

• View history

You are currently reading the article dedicated to the tour. You may have been looking for the album .

The Bad World Tour is the first worldwide concert tour by Michael Jackson . It was launched in support of the artist's seventh studio album, Bad (1987) and lasted sixteen months, spanning from September 12, 1987 until January 27, 1989. The shows were sponsored by Pepsi .

The tour became the second highest grossing tour of the decade, as well as one of the most attended tours in history. As announced by Jackson himself during the last show of the tour, these were initially meant to be his last performances in history. However, the Bad World Tour was eventually followed by the Dangerous World Tour and HIStory World Tour .

• 1 Background
• 2 Awards and nominations
• 4.1 Cancelled dates
• 5.1 Live at Wembley July 16, 1988
• 5.2 Broadcasts
• 6.1 Creative Directors
• 6.2 Production
• 6.3 Dancers
• 6.5 Background Vocals
• 6.6 Stylists and Assistants
• 6.7 Sponsors

Background [ ]

For the longest time, while already releasing hit solo albums, Michael still toured with the Jacksons . At a December 1984 show of the Victory Tour , Jackson announced his departure from the group, stating it was the final show he was gonna play with them.

On June 29, 1987, Michael's manager, Frank DiLeo announced the singer was going to embark on his first solo concert tour. The shows would be sponsored by Pepsi, a company which previously got Jackson in hospital after a tragic pyrotechnics accident a few years prior.

The tour was originally going to finish in Tokyo, but Jackson suffered from swollen vocal cords after the first of six concerts in Los Angeles in November 1988. The remaining five shows were then rescheduled for January 1989. However, due to this decision, Greg Phillinganes had to leave the band in early January, as his schedule was busy as he was set to tour with Eric Clapton. Instead, John Barnes would be hired to take Phillinganes' place. With the tour ending, Michael sought medical care for vocal-chord nodules.

Awards and nominations [ ]

The Bad World Tour was nominated in 1988 for the Tour of the Year 1988 award at the now non-existent International Rock Awards.

Setlist [ ]

• " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
• " Things I Do For You "
• Off the Wall "
• " Human Nature "
• " Heartbreak Hotel "
• " She's Out of My Life "
• " Jackson 5 Medley " (" I Want You Back "/" The Love You Save "/" I'll Be There ")
• " Rock with You "
• " Lovely One "
• " Bad Groove " (Interlude)
• " Workin' Day and Night "
• " Beat It "
• " Billie Jean "
• " Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) "
• " Thriller "
• " I Just Can't Stop Loving You "

1988-1989 [ ]

• " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' "
• " Another Part of Me "
• " Smooth Criminal "
• " I Just Can't Stop Loving You " (duet with Sheryl Crow )
• " Dirty Diana "
• ' Thriller "
• " The Way You Make Me Feel "

Tour dates [ ]

Cancelled dates [ ], broadcasts & recordings [ ], live at wembley july 16, 1988 [ ].

On September 18, 2012, over two decades after the show took place, a DVD of the July 16, 1988 show at the Wembley Stadium was released as a part of the Bad 25 promo and box set. Additionally, the deluxe edition of Bad 25 includes audio from the show on the third disc as well. The full film was later uploaded to the official Michael Jackson YouTube channel.

Broadcasts [ ]

• Tokyo (September 12, 1987)
• Tokyo (September 13, 1987)
• Tokyo (September 14, 1987)
• Nishinomiya (September 1987)
• Osaka (October 1987)
• Melbourne (November 13, 1987)
• Sydney (November 1987)
• Brisbane (November 1987)
• Kansas City (February 1988)
• New York City (March 1988)
• St. Louis (March 13, 1988)
• Indianapolis (March 1988)
• Louisville (March 20, 1988)
• Hartford (March-April 1988)
• Houston (April 1988)
• Rome (May 1988)
• Vienna (June 2, 1988)
• Gothenburg (1988)
• Basel (June 16, 1988)
• West Berlin (June 19, 1988)
• Paris (June 1988)
• Cologne (July 3, 1988)
• Munich (July 8, 1988)
• Hockenheim (July 10, 1988)
• London (July 14, 1988)
• London (July 15, 1988)
• London (July 22, 1988)
• Cork (July 1988)
• Marbella (August 5, 1988)
• Madrid (August 7, 1988)
• Barcelona (August 9, 1988)
• Würzburg (August 21, 1988)
• Werchter (August 23, 1988)
• Leeds (August 29, 1988)
• Hannover (September 2, 1988)
• Milton Keynes (September 10, 1988)
• Liverpool (September 11, 1988)
• Pittsburgh (September 1988)
• Landover (October 1988)
• Los Angeles (November 13, 1988)
• Tokyo (December 1988)
• Los Angeles (January 27, 1989)

Personnel [ ]

Creative directors [ ].

• Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals, Show Director, Dancer and Choreographer)
• Peggy Holmes (Assistant Director)
• Vince Patterson (Choreographer)
• Tom McPhillips (Set Designer)
• Allen Branton (Lighting Designer)

Production [ ]

• Frank DiLeo (Personal Management)
• Sal Bonafede (Tour Coordinator)
• John Draper (Tour Manager)
• Benny Collins (Production Manager)
• Nelson Hayes (Production Coordinator)
• Rob Henry (Production Coordinator)
• Gerry Bakalian (Stage Manager)
• Tait Towers, Inc. (Set Construction)
• Clair Bros. (Sound)
• Kevin Elison (house sound engineer)
• Rick Coberly (Monitor Engineer)
• Ziffren, Brittenham and Branca (Attorneys)
• Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman (Business Management)
• Solters/Roskin, Friedman Inc.(Public Relations)
• Bob Jones (V.P. of Communications, MJJ)
• Glen Brunman (Media Relations, Epic Records)
• Gretta Walsh Of Revel Travel (Travel Agent)

Dancers [ ]

• Randy Allaire
• Evaldo Garcia
• Dominic Lucero
• LaVelle Smith
• Greg Phillinganes (Lead keyboards, synthesizers, musical director)
• Rory Kaplan (keyboards, synthesizers)
• Christopher Currell (Synclavier, digital guitar, sound effects)
• Ricky Lawson (Drums)
• Jennifer Batten (Rhythm and lead guitar)
• Jon Clark (Lead and rhythm guitar)
• Don Boyette (bass guitar, synth bass)
• John Barnes (lead keyboards, synthesizers) (1989 Los Angeles concerts only)

Background Vocals [ ]

• Kevin Dorsey (vocal director)
• Darryl Phinnessee
• Dorian Holley
• Sheryl Crow

Stylists and Assistants [ ]

• Karen Faye (Hair & Make-up)
• Tommy Simms (Stylist)
• Gianni Versace, Dennis Tompkins & Michael Bush (Costumes Designed)
• Jolie Levine (Michael's Personal Assistant)
• Meredith Besser (Assistant)

Sponsors [ ]

• Nippon Television (Japan only)

Gallery [ ]

• On this tour, Jackson performed " Thriller " live for the first time.
• During the concert in Brisbane on November 28, 1987, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance during the song " Bad ."
• The set list would be changed around for shows in the European second leg, performing " Human Nature " & " Smooth Criminal " after " Rock with You ".
• " The Way You Make Me Feel " was sometimes taken out of the set list for time constraints or other unknown reasons, so " Man in the Mirror " was performed in the " Bad " jacket, instead of classic "The Way You Make Me Feel" blue shirt. During other shows, both "Man in the Mirror" and "The Way You Make Me Feel" were removed, leaving Jackson ending the show with "Bad", as he'd done in the first leg.
• During the last 1989 Los Angeles show Michael wore a white shirt for "The Way You Make Me Feel" instead of a blue one.
• Jackson would only wear the black shirt for the first show and only time wear he would wear it. He would not wear it again due to the costume & lighting obscuring his dancing.
• 1 List of unreleased songs
• 2 Bigi Jackson
• 3 Brandon Jackson

Old News, Vintage News, Historical News, Retro News

Photos of the michael jackson’s biggest and most iconic world tour “bad” back in 1987-1988.

Bad was the first ever solo concert tour by Michael Jackson, launched in support of his seventh studio album Bad (1987). Sponsored by Pepsi and spanning 16 months, the tour included 123 concerts to 4.4 million fans across 15 countries making it the second highest grossing tour of 1988. When the tour concluded it grossed a total of $125 million, adding two new entries in the Guinness World Records for the largest grossing tour in history and the tour with the largest attended audience. In April 1989, the tour was nominated for “Tour of the Year 1988” at the inaugural International Rock Awards.

On June 29, 1987, Jackson’s manager Frank DiLeo announced the singer’s plan to embark on his first solo world concert tour. T he tour began in Japan, marking Jackson’s first performances in the country since 1973 as part of The Jackson 5. The first nine scheduled concerts that began on September 12 sold out within hours, and five more were added due to high demand. Over 600 journalists, cameramen and fans waited for Jackson’s arrival to the country at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. His pet chimpanzee Bubbles, who took a separate flight, was greeted by more than 300 people.A chartered jumbo jet was used to carry 22 truckloads of equipment, along with Jackson’s entourage of 132 for the tour.The stage set used 700 lights, 100 speakers, 40 lasers, three mirrors and two 24-by-18 foot screens. Performers wore 70 costumes, four of which were attached with fiber optic lights.

While in Tokyo, Australian pop music critic Ian “Molly” Meldrum conducted an exclusive interview Jackson and DiLeo that was featured on 60 Minutes in the United States.On September 18, Jackson was handed the Key to the City by Yasushi Oshima, the mayor o fOsaka. He was accompanied by Bubbles, who was the first animal allowed inside the city’s town hall. Jackson dedicated his Japanese concerts to Yoshiaki Hagiwara, a five-year-old boy who was kidnapped and murdered, and gave £12,000 to the parents of Hagiwara.Attendance figures for the first 14 dates in Japan totalled a record-breaking 450,000. Crowds of 200,000 were what past performers could manage to draw for a single tour.Nippon Television was a co-sponsor with Pepsi for the Japanese dates.

Jackson performed five concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia in November. While off stage, he spent time visiting sick children at their homes in the Sydney suburbs.

Rehearsals for the tour’s 1988 leg took place at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida from January 22 to February 18, 1988. Vincent Paterson, who had worked with Jackson on several videos, was brought in to choreograph and co-direct the tour with Michael. On the last day of preparation, Jackson allowed 420 school pupils to watch him rehearse after the children made him a rap music video in his honour.The first performances were to begin in Atlanta, Georgia, yet Pepsi officials objected as the city was home to rival drinks company Coca-Cola.For both Atlanta shows, Jackson gave 100 tickets to the Children’s Wish Foundation for terminally ill children.The first of three concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City in March served as a benefit to raise $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund. Jackson presented a check of $600,000 to the fund. On March 2, 1988, Jackson performed at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards, receiving an enormous standing ovation after performing “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Man in the Mirror”. Jackson’s album, Bad was also nominated for Album of the Year at the ceremony.

Jackson began his European tour in Rome at the Flaminio Stadium on May 23, 1988. Police and security guards rescued hundreds of fans from being crushed in the crowd of 30,000.Police reported 130 women fainted at the concert in Vienna on June 2. On June 17, Jackson travelled to the town of Vevey to meet Oona O’Neill, the widow of comic actor Charlie Chaplin. “I have fulfilled my biggest childhood dream”, said Jackson after the visit. The most successful of the European dates were those in London atWembley Stadium. Ticket demand for the five July dates exceeded 1.5 million, enough to fill the 72,000 capacity venue 20 times.Jackson performed seven sold out shows, beating the previous record held by Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and Genesis. More shows could have been added, but the venue had reached its quota for live performances.The third concert on July 16 was attended by Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles. On September 8, Jackson was entered into the Guinness World Records , the first of three times from the tour alone. The Wembley shows were attended by a record 504,000 people. Management also presented him with a special award. On July 30, NBC aired Michael Jackson Around the World , a 90-minute special documenting the singer on tour. On August 29, after a birthday performance in Leeds, Jackson donated $130,000 to Give For Life. The final European show was held in Liverpool on September 11, staged at Aintree Racecourse. 1,550 fans were reported injured among the crowd of 125,000.

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All Setlists

• All setlist songs  ( 330 )

Years on tour

• 2006  ( 1 )
• 2002  ( 2 )
• 2001  ( 3 )
• 2000  ( 1 )
• 1999  ( 2 )
• 1998  ( 1 )
• 1997  ( 43 )
• 1996  ( 45 )
• 1995  ( 6 )
• 1993  ( 34 )
• 1992  ( 53 )
• 1991  ( 1 )
• 1989  ( 6 )
• 1988  ( 101 )
• 1987  ( 19 )
• 1984  ( 1 )
• 1983  ( 1 )
• 1980  ( 2 )
• 1979  ( 2 )
• 1978  ( 1 )
• 1975  ( 1 )
• 1974  ( 1 )
• 1973  ( 1 )
• 1972  ( 2 )

Show all tours

• Bad World Tour  ( 125 )
• Dangerous World Tour  ( 82 )
• Dick Clark's The Music Thing 1975  ( 1 )
• HIStory World Tour  ( 84 )
• Michael Jackson & Friends  ( 2 )
• Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special  ( 2 )
• Avg Setlist
• Concert Map

Average setlist for tour: Bad World Tour

Note: only considered 123 of 125 setlists (ignored empty and strikingly short setlists)

• Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Play Video
• This Place Hotel ( The Jacksons  song) Play Video
• Another Part of Me Play Video
• She's Out of My Life Play Video
• I Just Can't Stop Loving You Play Video
• I Want You Back / The Love You Save / I'll Be There ( The Jacksons  song) Play Video
• Human Nature Play Video
• Rock With You Play Video
• Smooth Criminal Play Video
• Dirty Diana Play Video
• Thriller Play Video
• Bad Groove Play Video
• Working Day and Night Play Video
• Beat It Play Video
• Billie Jean Play Video
• Bad Play Video
• The Way You Make Me Feel Play Video
• Man in the Mirror Play Video

Show Openers

Main set closers, show closers, encores played.

This feature is not that experimental anymore. Nevertheless, please give feedback if the results don't make any sense to you.

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LACMA’s big (risky?) bet in Vegas, new stuff at the Getty and your guide to L.A. culture this week

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Welcome to another edition of the Essential Arts newsletter. As the warm weather turns up the heat on L.A., we take it as a sign to do the same by firing up a new week in review of art and culture around town, sparking curiosity of what’s out there to experience this weekend and maybe roasting a museum and a bad play or two for your cackling enjoyment. Let’s dive into what we wrote about on the arts beat this week...

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1. “John Valadez: Chaos Anime” A leading figure in the Chicano Arts Movement launched in the 1970s, Valadez is among the finest socially engaged figurative painters working in Los Angeles. His debut with the Luis de Jesus gallery opens Saturday and will include a mural-scaled painting, “Chaos,” that press materials say seeks to unravel common cliches around the “haves and have-nots.” Through June 8. Luis de Jesus, 1110 Matteo St., L.A. luisdejesus.com — Christopher Knight

2. “Projecting L.A. 2024” The power of photojournalism will be on display in a most unusual way Saturday: projected at a scale of 80 feet wide and three stories tall. The work of documentarians, street photographers and photojournalists (including Times photographers) forms an hour-long video with images accompanied by music. Gates open at 6 p.m., first screening at 7:30 p.m., second screening at 8:45 p.m. 713 N. Hill St., L.A. thelaproject.org — Jessica Gelt

3. “Ghost Waltz” Five years ago I caught the Latino Theater Company production of “The Mother of Henry,” which sticks in my memory as glorious proof of the power of song to lift theater. Now the company is back with a new play by Oliver Mayer that celebrates the underappreciated life and work of Mexican composer Juventino Rosas, with a cast that includes vocalist and violinist Quetzal Guerrero, Madonna’s touring keyboardist Ric’Key Pageot and Latin Grammy nominee Nathalie Peña-Comas. Previews through Friday , opening night May 4, runs through June 2. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., L.A. latinotheaterco.org — Craig Nakano

4. Big Mouth at the Greek Nick Kroll and the Emmy Award-winning cast of “Big Mouth” bring their hilarious voices and cartoon visuals of the popular animated Netflix show to the Greek as part of this year’s Netflix Is a Joke Fest. Merging the world of TV, comedy and middle school hormones, this is sure to be an awkwardly amazing night of laughter. Thursday, 8 p.m., Greek Theater, netflixisajokefest.com — Nate Jackson

5. Beach Life Festival The return of this weekend seaside bash in Redondo Beach features rock stars for various waves of sound including rock, indie, soul, Americana and adult contemporary. Headlined by Sting, Incubus and My Morning Jacket, the fest masters the balance of raucous moments and chill vibes from classic acts like Seal, Devo and ZZ Top alongside a list of eclectic acts like Dirty Heads, Local Natives and Courtney Barnett that will surely turn up to show fans different slices of adventurous sound for this outdoor fest against a backdrop of surf and sun. 1.p.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, 239 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, beachlifefestival.com —N.J.

The week ahead: A curated calendar

Lee Chang- d ong This American Cinematheque retrospective of the acclaimed South Korean filmmaker’s work includes new 4K restorations of “Green Fish,” “Poetry,” “Peppermint Candy” and “Oasis.” Through May 19. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Los Feliz Theatre, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. americancinematheque.com

Really Big Show: How Ed Sullivan Changed America Every Sunday Night Muse/Ique celebrates “The Ed Sullivan Show” and the groundbreaking ways its on-air talent reflected the true diversity of the American public during the 1950s and ‘60s. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; 3 and 7:30 p.m. May 5, Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. muse-ique.com

Netflix I s a Joke The Olympics of comedy comes to town for shows ranging from clubs to stadiums. (See our guide, to the 25 must-see shows ) Wednesday-May 12. Various venues. netflixisajokefest.com

Broadway @ the Wallis The concert series ends its season with an evening hosted and music-directed by Seth Rudetsky, featuring Norm Lewis performing works from his career on the Great White Way. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

“Macbeth” Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma star in William Shakespeare’s stage tragedy directed by Simon Godwin and captured for the cinema. Thursday and May 5 in limited theatrical release. macbeththeshow.com/macbeth-in-cinemas

L.A. County Fair Sporting a theme of “Stars, Strikes and Fun,” the annual event offers 16 days of exhibits, carnival attractions, corn dogs, funnel cakes and music. LACMA shares its collection of works by acclaimed 20th century Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo at the Millard Sheets Art Center; concert headliners include Nelly, Ramón Ayala and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. Thursdays through Sundays, plus Memorial Day, through May 27. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona. lacountyfair.com

“The Fall Guy” Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, who demonstrated abundant chemistry at this year’s Oscars, star in this action-comedy-romance about an aging stuntman. Starts Friday (with Thursday previews) in theaters. thefallguymovie.com

Pacific Playwrights Festival The annual celebration that has launched 150 new works since 1998 presents seven plays in three days. Friday-May 5. South Coast Repertory, Emmes/Benson Theatre Center, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. scr.org

“Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” Young Anakin Skywalker, Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Queen Padmé Amidala are back on the big screen to face Darth Sidious and Darth Maul in this rerelease of the first entry in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. Also features an exclusive look at “The Acolyte,” the upcoming Disney+ Star Wars High Republic series. Starts Friday (with Thursday previews) in theaters. starwars.com

Aventura After calling it quits in 2021, the influential bachata band from the Bronx — an inspiration to the likes of Bad Bunny and Drake — is back on the road for what it says will be its final tour. 8 p.m. Saturday- May 5 . Crypto.com Arena, 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A. cryptoarena.com

Jiji + Vivaldi Guitarist Jiji and musicians from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra perform masterworks from the Italian Baroque and contemporary music inspired by the era from Caroline Shaw and Max Richter. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; 7:30 p.m. May 5 . The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. laco.org

“The Lords of Flatbush” A 50th anniversary screening of this loose-limbed drama set in 1958 Brooklyn, which helped launch the careers of Perry King, Sylvester Stallone, Susan Blakely and Henry Winkler. 6:30 p.m. May 5. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. thenewbev.com

The biggest L.A. culture news

Theater Critic Charles McNulty reviews “Illinoise,” a hallucinatory dance musical based on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 concept album “Illinois,” which offers a fitting end to a Broadway season that seemed happiest when operating beyond conventional assumptions and practices.

Staff writer Ashley Lee takes a look into “Galilee, 34,” a controversial new play about Jesus running through May 12 at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Repertory . The play takes place months after the crucifixion, when Jesus’ family and followers are trying to figure out how to proceed after the death of their leader.

Art Critic Christopher Knight launches some heat-seeking missles at LACMA’s plans to unveil a new (ill-advised) satellite museum in Las Vegas.

Staff writer Jireh Deng covered Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Mamet slamming Hollywood’s “garbage” DEI initiatives at the LA Times Festival of Books.

Assuming he missed Knight’s less-than-glowing thoughts on LACMA’s new Vegas location, museum director Michael Govan sat down with staff writer Jessica Gelt to talk about LACMA’s goals to develop a “strategic plan of regional partnerships” with museums — large and small — in order to pull more of its collection out of storage, and make it accessible to as many people as possible.

Charles McNulty files his roasty review of Broadway’s latest woefully underwhelming version of “ Cabaret” that can’t be saved, even by its awkwardly dressed star Eddie Redmayne.

More culture news, briefly ...

The recipients of the 2024 Doris Duke Artist Awards have been announced, and the winners are: Nataki Garrett (theater), Shamel Pitts (dance), Acosia Red Elk (dance), Esperanza Spalding (jazz), Chay Yew (theater), and Miguel Zenón (jazz). Now in its 11th year, the awards come with an unrestricted cash prize of $525,000 per artist, and up to $25,000 in retirement funds.

The Getty has returned an ancient bronze head to Türkiye (formerly Turkey). The head of a young man was acquired by the museum in 1971 and dates to c. 100 BCE–100 CE. While the body of the figure has not been identified, the head has been traced to the archaeological site of Bubon, in the Burdur province of southwestern Turkey — an area known for illegal excavations in the 1960s.

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its 2024-25 Family Series filled with programming suited for people big and small. The lineup includes the world-premiere of the Musicians of Bremen Live , as well as puppet play titled “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch,” based on the book by Eileen Spinelli.

Geffen Playhouse’s new artistic director, playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, has been elected as a new member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The academy recognizes and honors the artistic excellence of its members, and also serves as a research center where accomplished individuals across disciplines can come together in search of answers to complex problems facing various communities and society at large.

The Getty’s PST ART is coming back this September with a theme of “art & science collide.” Facets of the programming began rolling out this week as the Getty inaugurated its PST Climate Impact Program aimed at bringing together PST’s 60-plus participating institutions around issues of climate action and sustainable exhibition practices.

— Jessica Gelt

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Last but not least

It’s not every day that we get to a) interview Jon Bon Jovi and b) end that interview by him telling the writer to “Go f— yourself. ” Not a bad way to promote a new, very entertaining Bon Jovi documentary. Most of us (aside from our recently cussed-out pop critic Mikael Wood ) haven’t seen it yet. We’re living on a prayer that it’s as good as his JBJ interview.

The biggest entertainment stories

Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.

Jessica Gelt is an arts and culture writer for the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Times art critic Christopher Knight won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for criticism (he was a finalist for the prize in 1991, 2001 and 2007). In 2020, he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Art Journalism from the Rabkin Foundation.

Nate Jackson is a deputy editor for Entertainment and Arts. Previously, he served as a news editor for the Wrap and the music editor for OC Weekly. He returns to The Times after being both a Metpro and a staff writer in Calendar from 2009 to 2012.

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The Problem With Taylor Swift’s New Album

The tortured poets department isn’t a great breakup album. it’s something newer and tricksier, for us modern idiots..

“Growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up at all,” Taylor Swift sings on “But Daddy I Love Him.” It’s the song on which her new album The Tortured Poets Department finally gains some momentum, six tracks in. It’s also the one on which the 34-year-old billionaire, who is one of the most famous humans on the planet, finally dares rebel a little bit against her parents. Even if partly tongue-in-cheek and via a Little Mermaid reference .

“Dutiful daughter” Swift always has been ultraprotective of her mom and dad, who are also part of her management team, so it’s more shocking to hear Swift sing “I just learned these people only raise you to cage you” than any of the abundant curses and feints at sex talk that pepper the album. Pretending she’s pregnant by the bad boy of whom they disapprove—just to see the looks on their faces—is one of the best of the jokes with which Swift tries (and sometimes strains) to alleviate the core sadness of this collection of songs.

The second half of the track makes another startling pivot when she directs much of the same sarcastic ire at some of her own fan base, which she’s always carefully trained to view her as a mutually adoring best friend or big sister. No doubt a lot of them boggled momentarily at the pregnancy claim too. But what a sense of release when Swift calls out the “judgmental creeps” among them “who say they want what’s best for me” but then hound her online about the choices she’s made in her private life.

What feels less healthy, and not so grown-up, is that the former child star still can’t seem to feel good about herself without seeking out enemies she can complain are treating her unfairly. Seven years ago, when she put out Reputation , Swift really was dealing with widespread backlash spearheaded by her antagonists Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (whom she, unbelievably, takes time out to feud with some more in the back half of this “anthology”). Four years ago, she had some reasonably legit grievances against business associates that prompted the ongoing and startlingly successful Taylor’s Version project of re-recording her old albums to claim ownership of the recordings. But in 2024, in the midst of the ongoing “Eras” tour, the highest-grossing in history, today’s Swift faces less reactionary public hostility than pretty much any star in her position ever has—Elvis, Madonna, Michael Jackson, you name it. You like Swift, I like Swift, and people who don’t like her mostly recognize there’s no percentage in fighting over it.

Hell, in 1966, people were burning Beatles albums in the streets because John Lennon had joked that the band was then more popular than Jesus. I doubt Swift will get any such grief for portraying herself as a Christlike figure in at least two songs here (singing “What if I roll the stone away?/ They’re gonna crucify me anyway” in “Guilty as Sin?” and “I would have died for your sins” in “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived”). Then again, what doesn’t Swift compare herself with in the course of the 31-count-’em-31 lyrically crammed tracks on The Tortured Poets Department , if you include the 15 that suddenly appeared in the middle of the night after the album was supposedly already out?

In such a state of excitation, looking around for a backlash and seeing practically none, Swift can only resort to accusing the people who do love her, like her family and her fans, of loving her the wrong way. Now she’s upset about her good reputation: “I’ll tell you something about my good name,” she sings, “it’s mine alone to disgrace.”

A similar state of mind is evident in the aspect of the album to which the world reacted most immediately when Poets leaked Thursday: It mostly isn’t about what everyone thought it would be about, the breakup last spring of her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn, which surely must have been, as Swift sings on “LOML,” not only the love but the loss of her life. Instead, it seems to dwell obsessively on a brief affair with another pop star, the aforementioned disapproved-of bad boy and “tattooed golden retriever” we all assume is Matty Healy from U.K. band the 1975. In the versified introduction in the album liner notes, Swift writes, “A smirk creeps onto this poet’s face. Because it’s the worst men that I write best.” And that feels like the true explanation. I don’t question that Swift’s craving and anguish were genuine enough at the time, but focusing on the tumultuous affair instead of the lengthy partnership allows her to reach back into her usual bag, to deploy the same range of voices as in the songs she’s spent most of the album’s two-year gestation period singing in stadiums. How could she generate that trademark Taylor Swift melodramatic emotion from the muted adult miseries of a slow-dissolving domestic partnership, without a villain to skewer? Moreover, how long could she stand to linger over that weightier, less easily processed loss, to capture it fully in song?

She’s proved she has the capacity. She did it on “ You’re Losing Me ,” a quietly wrenching single she released back in November. She does it on this album’s “ So Long, London ” (in the fifth-track slot that Swift famously reserves for gut-punchers), which deals with the fact that losing a person often comes together with losing a place, whether geographical or simply a grounding in familiar settings and routines. There’s an extension of that idea in the first bonus or “anthology” track (and frankly one of only a handful of worthwhile ones there), “The Black Dog.” It takes off from the very modern-love conceit of finding that you can still track a former partner’s location on your phone because he “forgot to turn it off.” Swift observes her ex patronizing a bar called the Black Dog (a phrase that was also Winston Churchill’s term for depression ) and begins fixating on what he might be doing there, perhaps meeting other women, perhaps hearing one of their favorite songs, perhaps not missing her. Why can’t she stop these thoughts? Because, she sing-shouts, “old habits die screaming.”

And then there is “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” likely the album’s most pop-friendly anthem and, oddly, despite its scenario being so specific to the condition of being Taylor Swift, the one that perhaps makes the protagonist’s emotions easiest to identify with. Most people dealing with devastating life events may not have to get up in front of tens of thousands of screaming people and pretend “like it’s my birthday every day.” But we do have to swallow our feelings, go to work, and put on a mask. It uses the trick of wedding upbeat music to despairing lyrics, gaining extra poignancy from the contrast—but doubly so because that contradiction is also what the song is about . And the track’s special force is that Swift knows that the listeners have seen her doing what she’s describing, whether in person or in the “Eras” tour movie or in the countless hundreds of hours of tour clips of her online.

Together, these songs suggest an alternate album that could have been, a breakup album more like the classics of the type , a kind of spiritual sequel to Red but from an adult point of view. Instead, she gets there only via lengthy detours, with mixed metaphors piling up to block the off-ramps. The Tortured Poets Department doesn’t show much growth lyrically beyond the Folklore stage. Musically, it carries on mostly in the manner of her past few albums, Midnights especially, with co-producers and co-writers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner architecting the ambiences in which Swift’s stories can take place, but with few of them solidifying into juggernauts that carry the listener away. Vague verses might transition into vivid choruses stymied by run-on-sentence bridges (e.g., about what fingers rings go on), or vice-versa-and-reversa. The scatterings of fuck s often seem to stand in for truly visceral, embodied evocations of eros and animus. It’s more of a stream-of-consciousness assemblage of parts than of gratifying stand-alone works of the kind you may associate with Swift albums past. I’m a staunch defender of Antonoff , and he does some excellent work here—the sultry contours of “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” the giddily trashy grand guignol of “Florida!!!” with Florence and the Machine. But a person definitely can get to missing Max Martin and the definitive shape and hooks of a song like “Blank Space.”

I could blame this on her crew’s superfluous productivity. No one was forcing Swift to release another album so quickly (her fourth in four years without counting the re-records and all their bonus material), much less 31 songs. But between her workaholism and the economic incentives of the streaming era, the ethos is the more the better. And given her place in the music-industry food chain, there’s nobody to say no, nobody to serve as an editor, nobody even to voice the dreaded old label complaint “We don’t hear a hit.” But that may be far too conservative and old-fashioned a way to take TTPD . It’s the arc of the album as a whole (bonus tracks not included) that’s really satisfying, more than individual songs. What it offers instead of bangers are unruly passages back and forth through the stages of grief, as Swift hinted at with the themed playlists she made for fans earlier this month. The original impact of the breakup is absorbed by the all-consuming rebound affair (which some songs suggest was already waiting lustily in the wings), then it in turn falls apart, and the protagonist finds refuge and fulfillment in the artistic work itself. Even then, with the coda, “Clara Bow,” in which Swift parallels herself with that 1920s “it” girl and with Stevie Nicks in the 1970s, she counsels herself to remember that this too shall pass; her star must fade, like those of every generation. (I’m leaving out the part about a redemptive new love , because the football-metaphor-blitzed song “The Alchemy” and its bonus-track correlate “So High School” seem so weak and tossed-off as to be wholly extraneous, as if included only as a courtesy to the party in question.)

My friend and colleague Ann Powers calls TTPD novelistic . But I think that is also too much of a throwback, despite the album’s capital-R Romantic literary airs, equal parts sincere and in jest. It’s just as much like a role-playing game in which you and Taylor set off on a joint expedition while simultaneously engaged in dense, meandering cross-talk. As Swift cracks to her paramour on the title track, “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith/ This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots.”

As I’ve said ever since Reputation , I resist bringing celebrity gossip to bear on thinking about artists’ work, but on this album it is all but formally part of the music, just as on rap beef tracks . All the “Easter egg” details and name-dropping (“you told Lucy … and I had said that to Jack”) practically force the listener to read the songs via the stories we’ve gotten from the news and social media. Swift knows that fans are going to do it anyway, and she long ago chose to feed it rather than fight it, even if she reserves the right to kvetch about it. As “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” reminds us, Taylor Swift–style feminism may not mean having it all, but it does mean getting to have it both ways, to be both the threatened and the threat—or, as she puts it on “Cassandra,” both Eve and the snake .

The Tortured Poets Department might be the fullest realization yet of Swift album as multimedia work. Forget visual albums. Here, every photo, film clip, article, rumor, and stray online comment in the world is in a sense part of the text, and we are all participants as well as spectators. It’s a more-than-three-dimensional portrait of the modern superstar caught in extremis, with heartbreak serving as a CAT scan to illuminate more of the interior of our global avatar.

Through this rendering process, Swift hopes to liberate herself. As tedious as I find many of the “anthology” tracks, I was moved to tears by the final one, “The Manuscript.” There, she looks back on a past relationship with an older man, no doubt one of the subjects of her classic kiss-off songs of the 2010s. She finds those emotions safely distant now, simply part of the story she’s woven into her musical score. “The only thing that’s left is the manuscript,” she sings. “The story isn’t mine anymore.” As she wrote recently on Instagram, “Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.” Mind you, as “thanK you aIMee” demonstrates (decode the capital letters), Taylor Alison Swift has to our knowledge never in her life let anything go. But as an aspiration, it’s a very grown-up one to have.

Must-See Celeb Sightings: April 2024

By Morgan Klosterman and ETonline Staff

4:51 PM PDT, April 30, 2024

April is bringing warmer weather and fun spring styles! Check out who has been spotted out and about this month!

Robert Kyncl and FKA twigs

Singer-actor FKA twigs and Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl advocated for voice and likeness protections at the Senate Judiciary hearing on April 30.

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner steps out in Brooks Running gear to go for his first run on pavement since his accident last year.

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff join WhatsApp for the takeover of the Empire State Building to celebrate WhatsApp's new race car emoji and growth in the U.S on April 29 in New York City.

Sarah Paulson

The American Horror Story actress attends the 49th Chaplin Award Gala held at Alice Tully Hall on April 29 in New York City.

Wells Adams and Sarah Hyland

Wells Adams and Sarah Hyland attend the George Lopez Foundation's 17th annual Celebrity Golf Classic at Lakeside Golf Club on April 29 in Toluca Lake, California.

Dionne Warwick and Clive Davis

Dionne Warwick and Clive Davis attend the New York Pops 41st Birthday Gala honoring Clive Davis at Carnegie Hall on April 29 in New York City.

Kieran Culkin

The actor attends the 49th Chaplin Award Gala held at Alice Tully Hall on April 29 in New York City.

Jodie Turner-Smith

The model attends the Ralph Lauren after-party at the Polo Bar in Midtown on April 29 in New York City.

Gabrielle Union

The actress attends the NYC premiere of The Idea of You  at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 29 in New York City.

Pedro Pascal

The actor is seen on the movie set of the Materialists on April 29 in New York City. 

Queen Camilla and King Charles III

The royals depart from the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre on April 30 in London, England. This visit raises awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and will highlight some of the innovative research, supported by Cancer Research UK, which is taking place at the hospital.

The model stuns in a HELSA gown to celebrate and accept the Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year award at The Daily Front Row's Fashion LA Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on April 28.

Paige DeSorbo

The Summer House star wears a white two-piece set with Black Suede Studio Mules to The Daily Front Row's  Fashion Los Angeles Awards at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on April 28.

Robert De Niro

The actor is seen on the set of Zero Day  on Wall Street on April 27 in New York City.

The singer celebrates the new product launch for her Fenty Beauty brand at 7th Street Studios on April 26 in Los Angeles, California.

Gleb Savchenko and Shangela

The Dancing with the Stars professional and the RuPaul's Drag Race cast member attend the Chippendales pre-party at the Rio in Las Vegas on April 26.

Chris Pine attends the CAA Kickoff Party for The White House Correspondents' Dinner Weekend at La Grande Boucherie on April 26 in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Adler, Joe Machota, Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost and Bryan Lourd

Rachel Adler, Joe Machota, Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost and Bryan Lourd attend the CAA Kickoff Party for The White House Correspondents' Dinner Weekend at La Grande Boucherie on April 26 in Washington, D.C.

Mack Brown, Dustee Jenkins, Jack Ingram, Ingrid Andress and Matthew McConaughey

Mack Brown, Dustee Jenkins, Jack Ingram, Ingrid Andress and Matthew McConaughey attend the Spotify reception at the 2024 MJ&M Fundraiser at 3TEN ACL Live on April 26 in Austin, Texas.

Karrueche Tran

The actress attends Expedia's Global Jam during New Orleans Jazz Fest at Joy Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 26.

The singer attends the 35th Annual Colleagues Spring Luncheon & Oscar de la Renta Fashion Show at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on April 25 in Beverly Hills, California.

Emily Blunt and Anya Taylor-Joy

The Fall Guy star stuns in a ivory dress and MESHKI coat while posing with The Menu actress in a brown gown to celebrate the launch of the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste collection at The Beverly Estate on April 25 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Alejandra Espinoza, Becky G, Carlos Ponce and Thalía

Alejandra Espinoza, Carlos Ponce and Thalía join Becky G onstage as she stuns in PatBO’s Moonlight Cross-Front Mini Dress from the Autumn/Winter 2024 Runway Collection while hosting the 2024 Latin American Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 25. 

Levi McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, Livingston McConaughey, Camila Alves McConaughey, and Vida McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey and his family attend the 12th Annual Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala at ACL Live on April 25 in Austin, Texas.

Kendall Vertes, Paige Hyland, Chloé Lukasiak, Kalani Hilliker, JoJo Siwa and Brooke Hyland

Kendall Vertes, Paige Hyland, Chloé Lukasiak, Kalani Hilliker, JoJo Siwa and Brooke Hyland attend the D ance Moms: The Reunion  premiere on April 25 in New York City. 

The actress rocks a custom STAUD gown to celebrate the launch of the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste collection at The Beverly Estate on April 25 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Emily Blunt and Usher

Emily Blunt and Usher pose together at the Tiffany & Co. Celebration for the launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste at the Beverly Estate on April 25 in Beverly Hills, California.

Danny DeVito

The actor attends the Los Angeles premiere of Poolman celebrating Chris Pine's directorial debut at Vista Theatre on April 24 in Los Angeles, California. 

The actress wears a black dress to the special screening event of Netflix's A Man in Full at the Tudum Theater in Hollywood, California, on April 24.

Rita Wilson

The actress attends the QVC Quintessential 50 All Female Celebrity Summit held on April 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The actress rocks a purple suit on the red carpet at the 2024 Time Earth Awards Gala at Second on April 24 in New York City.

The actor attends the Los Angeles premiere of Poolman celebrating his directorial debut at Vista Theatre on April 24 in Los Angeles, California.

Colman Domingo

The actor poses at the opening night of Uncle Vanya on Broadway at The Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center Theater on April 24 in New York City.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

The couple attends the special screening event for Netflix's A Man in Full  held at the Tudum Theater on April 24 in Los Angeles, California

Paris and Kathy Hilton

The mother-daughter duo stun in pink looks, with the Paris In Love  star in a dress from Bronx and Banco, to celebrate the DJ's collaboration with Tan-Luxe for the launch of THE FUTURE Airbrush 360 Self-Tan Mist at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles, California, on April 24.

Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees pitcher and Cy Young Award winner celebrates his Haute Living New York cover with Villa Miami and Whispering Angel at The Grill at The Pool in New York City on April 24.

Natasha Bedingfield

The singer performs onboard Sun Princess after she was officially name by actress Hannah Waddingham -- serving as godmother during the naming ceremony -- on April 23 in Barcelona, Spain.

Vivica A. Fox

The actress attends the Not Another Church Movie  New York screening at The Tribeca Screening Room on April 23 in New York City. 

Daniel Radcliffe

The actor speaks during the 73rd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations at the Museum of Broadway on April 23 in New York City.

Alison Brie and Busy Philipps

The actresses attend the NBC Universal Emmys Press Luncheon held at Casa Madera West Hollywood on April 23 in West Hollywood, California. 

Emma Chamberlain and Kendall Jenner

On April 24, the social media star and the model serve up espresso martinis to celebrate the launch of their limited-edition 818 Tequila and Chamberlain Coffee espresso martini kit featuring Chamberlain's Candied Pecan Cold Brew Singles, a cocktail shaker, and a martini glass.

Bradley Cooper

The actor attends the Mercedes-Benz all new G-Class Los Angeles world premiere held at Franklin Canyon Park on April 23 in Beverly Hills, California.

The singer attends the Mercedes-Benz all new G-Class Los Angeles world premiere held at Franklin Canyon Park on April 23 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Zendaya stuns in a lime green outfit at Good Morning America  on April 23 in New York City. 

Olivia Jade

The social media star attends the Peppermayo Beverly Hills Luncheon at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on April 23.

Bella and Gigi Hadid

On April 23, the sisters pose on Instagram, with the Kin Euphorics cofounder in a pink two-piece set from Frankies Bikinis, to celebrate the Guest in Residence founder's birthday.

Jason Sudeikis and LeBron James

The actor and the basketball player team up with Taco Bell to celebrate the launch of the $5 Taco Discovery Box and the new Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, available from April 23 to June 4 on Taco Tuesdays, with a sitcom-inspired campaign called Taco Twosday .

Bad Bunny performs on stage at KFC YUM! Center on April 22 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Penn Badgley

The actor is seen on the set of You  on April 22 in New York City. 

Rob Huebel attends the  Knuckles  screening in Los Angeles at The Sherry Lansing Theatre on April 20 in Los Angeles, California.

Gayle King, Alicia Keys and Michelle Obama

Gayle King, Alicia Keys, in the Madonna Inspired Denim Crop Jacket and Madonna Inspired Denim Pant by Jean Paul Gaultier from FWRD, and former first lady Michelle Obama attend the opening night of Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen at the Shubert Theatre on April 20.

Josh Hartnett and Kate Mara

The actors pose during a SAG-AFTRA event discussing Netflix's  Black Mirror  on April 21 in Los Angeles, California. 

Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan

The co-stars hold hands at the Bridgerton  season 3 launch on the grounds of Milton Park Country House on April 21 in Bowral, Australia. 

Olivia Rodrigo

On April 20, the singer strikes a pose in a Frankies Bikinis x GUIZIO swimsuit on Instagram.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt attend the The Fall Guy  premiere at UCI Luxe Mercedes Platz on April 19 in Rust, Germany. 

Sydney Sweeney

The actress layers Nana Jacqueline’s Airina dress as part of a pirate-inspired look she wore on vacation on April 19. 

Rachel Brosnahan

The actress attends Stereophonic  Broadway opening night at the Golden Theatre on April 19 in New York City.

Sapphira Cristal

The RuPaul's Drag Race  season 16 runner-up performs during the RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 finale screening event at The Edge in Hudson Yards on April 19 in New York City.

Nymphia Wind and Jimbo

The RuPual's Drag Race winners speak onstage at the RuPaul's Drag Race  season 16 finale screening event at The Edge in New York City's Hudson Yards on April 19.

Emily Ratajkowski

The model heads out in a long black leather jacket and DVF pants in New York City on April 19. 

Jason Tartick

The reality television star noshes on the Hot Girl and Peggy O Chicago tavern style slices from Emmett's on Grove in New York City at the launch party for his book, Talk Money To Me , on April 19.

The rapper attends the premiere of Hulu's Hip-Hop and the White House  at Metrograph on April 18 in New York City.

Melissa McCarthy

The actress poses at the opening night of the musical Suffs on Broadway at The Music Box Theatre on April 18 in New York City. 

Judd Apatow, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, J.B. Smoove, Jeff Schaffer, Larry David and Susie Essman

The Curb Your Enthusiasm  cast and director Judd Apatow attend a PaleyFest LA screening of the HBO series at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on April 18. 

Tyler Cameron and Nick Barrotta

The reality television star and the actor attend the Going Home With Tyler Cameron launch party at Black Tap NYC in New York City on April 18.

Molly Shannon

The actress attends HBO's The Jinx - Part Two  premiere at Hudson Yards on April 18 in New York City.

Harvey Keitel, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and John Travolta

The four stars from Pulp Fiction attend the 30th anniversary presentation of the classic Quentin Tarantino movie during the TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, on April 18.

Kelly Bensimon

On April 18, the reality television star celebrates the launch of CAMILLA's ready-to-wear collection at Saks at L'Avenue at Saks in New York City. 

Tyler Cameron

The reality television star celebrates the launch of Going Home With Tyler Cameron on Amazon Prime at Black Tap in New York City on April 18.

Jenna Lyons

The Real Housewives of New York City  star attends XYZ Presents: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis: Jenna Lyons at 92NY on April 17 in New York City.

Glen Powell

The actor attends the BAFTA screening of his upcoming film, Hit Man , at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on April 17 in New York City.

David Arquette

The actor attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures' Abigail at the Regency Village Theatre on April 17 in Los Angeles, California.

Common attends the Broadway opening night of The Wiz at the Marquee Theatre on April 17 in New York City.

The singer attends the Fenty x Puma Creeper Phatty Earth Tone Launch Party at Tobacco Dock on April 17 in London, England.

Serena Williams

The tennis legend celebrates the launch of WYN BEAUTY by Serena Williams at Ulta Beauty in Palm Beach, Florida.

The TikTok star rocks a look from BCBG's Capsule Collection while posing for the new print and digital cover of FLAUNT Magazine - Issue 192 'Gettin' Around on April 17.

Burton Gilliam

The Blazing Saddles actor speaks during the launch of the new TCM Classic Films Tour at Warner Bros. Studios on April 16 in Burbank, California.

Cynthia Erivo

The Wicked actress attends the premiere of Amazon MGM Studios'  Challengers  movie at Westwood Village Theater on April 16 in Los Angeles, California.

Kelly Rutherford

On April 16, the actress shares selfie in the SeaVees Acorn Trainers on Instagram.

Dressed in a Vera Wang gown, the actress attends the premiere of her film,  Challengers, at Regency Village Theatre on April 16 in Los Angeles, California. 

Quinta Brunson

The Abbott Elementary creator and star celebrates the 60th anniversary of the studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 15.

Kathie Lee Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford attends the Unsung Hero  premiere at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on April 15 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Khloe Kardashian, Dr. Eric Esrailian, and Kim and Kourtney Kardashian

On April 15, the sisters and the doctor attend the 5th anniversary commemoration of the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center in Los Angeles, California to honor Robert Kardashian and celebrate the center's achievements in esophageal health.

Aja Naomi King

Aja Naomi King is drawing attention to a new L'Oréal Paris campaign that highlights how 81% of women have a fear of failure compared to men, which increases the pressure on women to appear perfect. The star of Lessons in Chemistry shares how her biggest setback, dropping out of a prestigious high school program, led her to pursue her love of acting.

Kirsten Dunst and Andrew Jarecki

Kirsten Dunst and Andrew Jarecki attend HBO's The Jinx – Part Two  Los Angeles advance screening at The London West Hollywood on April 15 in West Hollywood, California. 

Henry Golding

The actor attends the New York premiere of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare  held at AMC Lincoln Square on April 15 in New York City. 

Kai Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Michelle Williams and Rachel Zegler

British actress Naomi Watts, her daughter, Kai, Michelle Williams and Rachel Zegler attend the Dior pre-fall fashion show at the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York, on April 15.

Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone

Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone attend the premiere of Hulu's Under the Bridge  at DGA Theater Complex on April 15 in Los Angeles, California.

Sarah Snook

The Succession star, winner of the Best Actress award for The Picture Of Dorian Gray , poses in the winners room at The Olivier Awards 2024 at The Royal Albert Hall on April 14 in London, England.

Jimmy Fallon and Tim Hollingsworth

On April 14 at the Chain House in Los Angeles, California, the television host and the Michelin-starred chef celebrate the launch of Jimmy's Personal Pan Pizza, a take on a Pizza Hut Classic reimagined by Chain that includes a spicy red sauce, a four cheese blend, pepperoni chips and Chain's super ranch.

Jennifer Lopez

The singer looks pretty in pink while celebrating the launch of her Silky Intimates Campaign with Intimissimi at the Intimissimi flagship store in New York City on April 14.

Jennifer Garner

On April 14, the actress shares a fun video on social media while rocking Splits59 leggings.

Nischelle Turner

The Entertainment Tonight host presents the News Award at the 43rd College Television Awards, presented by the Television Academy Foundation, on April 13 in North Hollywood, California. 

Ryan Gosling

The Barbie star is seen filming a scene for Saturday Night Live on April 13 in New York City. 

The actress is photographed during the Challengers' photo call at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on April 13 in Monaco.

Jamie Chung

The Misfits actress attends the New You Beauty BAR welcome reception on April 12 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Heidi Klum, Mariah Carey and Tyra Banks

Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks made a surprise appearance on stage at Mariah Carey: The Celebration of Mimi Live in Las Vegas on April 12. 

The singer wears a leopard dress and yellow tinted glasses while leaving The Nice Guy on April 12 in Los Angeles, California.

The rapper is seen wearing a seafoam green button-up and purple sneakers while leaving The Nice Guy on April 12 in Los Angeles, California.

The Rustin actor is spotted in an orange-and-yellow outfit while on the set of The Madness  in New York City on April 12. 

Jennifer Lawrence

The actress is seen wearing a black blazer, slacks and a red shirt in New York City's East Village on April 12.

Ethan Hawke and Maya Hawke

The father-daughter duo attends a screening of Wildcat  at Angelika Film Center on April 11 in New York City.

Beanie Feldstein

The Drive-Away Dolls actress attends the GLAAD Launch Protect This Kid Campaign in Times Square on April 11 in New York City.

The actress is spotted carrying a coffee mug while out and about in Los Angeles, California, on April 11. 

The model celebrates the grand opening of Seamark Seafood & Cocktails and Old Wives' Tale speakeasy at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts on April 11.

Kendall Jenner

The model kicks off festival season and celebrates the launch of her new FWRD edit with a welcome reception at The Parker Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California on April 11.

The married couple dress to the nines as they attend the 2024 City Harvest Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 10 in New York City.

Cynthia Bailey

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star wears a gorgeous sequin blue gown as she attends An Unforgettable Evening benefiting the Women's Cancer Research Fund on April 10 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards

The sisters arrive at An Unforgettable Evening Benefiting The Woman's Cancer Research Fund at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on April 10 in Beverly Hills, California. 

Kirsten Dunst

The actress is seen at Good Morning America  in New York City on April 10 ahead of her new movie,  Civil War, hitting theaters on April 12. 

On April 10, the model wears a pink ALAÏA dress from FWRD to brunch at Caviar Kaspia Garden in Los Angeles, California to celebrate Wellbel. 

Ashley Graham

The model stuns in a black gown and Sydney Evan jewelry as she attends the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2024 on April 9 in Beverly Hills, California.

Misty Copeland

The ballet dancer wears a Simone Rocha dress and Nashira Arnó Studio earrings, styled by Kah Li Haslam, to the 2024 YoungArts Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on April 9. 

Heather Graham

The actress attends the Chosen Family  premiere during the Miami Film Festival at the Coral Gables Art Cinema on April 9 in Coral Gables, Florida. 

Michelle Williams

The actress is seen on the set of Dying for Sex  in Brooklyn, New York, on April 9.

The actress poses at the CLD Pre-Festival House 2024 event with FAE Swim, WHO IS ELIJAH, Bluebella, The Rootist, Thats So Fetch, Windsor, Poster Girl, APPARIS, The M Jewelers, Nannette de Gaspé, Dolls Kill and more in Beverly Hills, California on April 9.

Maren Morris

The country artist dresses in a long plaid blazer as she heads out in New York City on April 9. 

Shanina Shaik

The model attends the CLD Pre-Festival House 2024 event with FAE Swim, WHO IS ELIJAH, Bluebella, The Rootist, Thats So Fetch, Windsor, Poster Girl, APPARIS, The M Jewelers, Nannette de Gaspé, Dolls Kill and more in Beverly Hills, California on April 9.

Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist

The three actors attend a photocall for the movie Challengers  at Hotel Hassler on April 8 in Rome, Italy. 

Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson

The filmmaker and actor show a little PDA at the world premiere of Back To Black  at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on April 8 in London, England.

Teyana Taylor

On April 7, the singer guest bartends during Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina, to celebrate the new Hennessy Cognac Made for More campaign.

Kim Kardashian

The Kardashians star poses on Instagram in a bikini and Stetson 20X Gus hat from Kemo Sabe while on vacation in Turks and Caicos on April 7.

Brittany Snow

Brittany Snow poses in a silver dress at a screening of the movie  Parachute  on April 6 in New York City. 

Zendaya attends the premiere of the  Challengers in Paris, France, on April 6 dressed in a white strapless gown.

Kid Cudi and Dev Patel

The rapper and actor attend the special screening of Monkey Man  at The Grove on April 5 in Los Angeles, California.

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig reprises her iconic role as Target Lady from Saturday Night Live in her new campaign with Target Circle.

The Summer House star surprises fans at a local bar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her new signature drink, the Malibu Paige Breeze, on April 4.

The singer is seen out in a long green coat and black knee-high boots on April 4 in London, England.

The rapper performs at the Inaugural Vinivia Awards at Optimist Studios in Los Angeles, California, on April 4.

Natasha Parker

The Bachelor alum poses in a Bronx and Banco look while attending the brand's Fall 2024 Bridal Presentation at The Penthouse in New York City on April 4. 

Madison Iseman, Spencer Sutherland and Olivia Holt

On April 3 in Los Angeles at Truly L.A., the trio poses in the Love Me (Bar)Tender -- a traveling pop-up bar replica of the Jungle Room found at Elvis Presley’s Graceland. 

Dakota Fanning

The actress attends the premiere of Netflix's Ripley  on April 3 in Los Angeles, California.

Alison Brie

The Glow actress stylishly steps out in New York City's SoHo neighborhood on April 3.

RaeLynn and Caleigh Hardy

Country singer RaeLynn and content creator Caleigh Hardy tip their Kenz Kustomz hats to celebrate the Caleigh Hardy Le Rodeo Collection in Nashville on April 3.

Audrina Patridge

The reality television star attends Outcast Clothing's OUTCAST Made Me Do It party at Bardot in Hollywood, California, on April 3.

Dr. Jane Goodall

The anthropologist celebrates her 90th birthday and partnership with Brilliant Earth Group with an exclusive luncheon in New York City on April 3.

Camila Mendes

The actress attends the Música  screening and the Rudy Mancuso and Camila Mendes in conversation with Josh Horowitz event at 92NY on April 2 in New York City.

Lionel Richie, Lisa Parigi, Harlow Madden, Sparrow Madden, Nicole Richie, Brenda Harvey-Richie and Joel Madden

Lionel Richie, Lisa Parigi, Harlow Madden, Sparrow Madden, Nicole Richie, Brenda Harvey-Richie and Joel Madden attend the Los Angeles premiere of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead  at The Grove on April 2 in Los Angeles, California.

Paige Lorenze

Paige Lorenze sips on a Celsius and strikes a pose at the Miami Open over Easter Weekend in Miami, Florida.

Prue Leith poses before the VIN + OMI: Sci-Fi Magpie show, which marks the designer's 20th anniversary at The Other House on April 2 in London, England. 

Jesse Eisenberg

The actor attends the  Sasquatch Sunset  New York premiere at Metrograph on April 1 in New York City. 

Brooke Shields

The actress attends the 2024 TriBeCa Ball at New York Academy of Art on April 1 in New York City. 

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on April 1 in New York City. 

• Star Sightings

From Carrie Coon to Rocio Guerrero: Women Based in NY and Beyond Who Made a Big Impact on the Entertainment Industry the Past Year

The past year has been a challenging one for many in the entertainment biz, and the women on this year’s New York Women’s Impact Report were not immune to disruptions caused by labor strife and consolidation. But they also shone brightly, delivering standout performances, productions and deals, be they for the stage, screen or in the C-suite. We at Variety salute their achievement and grit. 

Edited by Diane Garrett

Danielle Aguirre 

Exec VP & general counsel , National Music Publishers’ Assn.  

Aguirre has been a lead on many negotiations on behalf of songwriters and publishers, including TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) in the past year. During her 13 years with NMPA, she has played legal Whack-a-Mole with many companies and emerging technologies, serving as a key player in the negotiation, drafting and passage of the Music Modernization Act to address licensing for streaming services, and paved the way for more than $2 billion in royalties being paid out since 2021. 

AI’s existential threat: “I think it’s OK to press pause and say, ‘Are we doing this in a way that’s ethical, that doesn’t hurt humans, including human creators?’ ” she says.

Raney Aronson-Rath 

Editor-in-chief & EP, “Frontline”;  producer, “20 Days in Mariupol”

The editor-in-chief and exec producer of “Frontline” teamed up with Associated Press journalist-filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov on “20 Days in Mariupol,” a first-hand look at the atrocities in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, securing a modest Oscar campaign budget after the film made the doc shortlist. Her efforts paid off in March when the film won the trophy. “I was so pleased that cinematic journalism was recognized by the Academy,” Aronson-Rath says. “It was one of the most gratifying moments of my career.”

So much more to tackle: “We have crises happening all across the world and the geopolitical situation is shifting and changing — that’s something that we really want to capture in our upcoming documentaries.”

Sara Bernstein 

President, Imagine Documentaries  

Sole head of Imagine’s doc division since early 2023, Bernstein has this past year shepherded a slew of documentaries including “Stormy” and “Frida,” with Ron Howard’s doc “Jim Henson Idea Man” to debut May 31 on Disney+. “I’m most proud of the breadth, scope and range of the projects that we have been able to produce over the last 12 months,” she says. “The question in my mind is always, ‘How can we continue to push the form?’”

Credit where it’s due: Bernstein salutes colleagues Kelsey Field, Meredith Kaulfers and Erica Fink, saying, “I couldn’t do this job without them, and we wouldn’t be Imagine Documentaries without them. They inspire me every day.”

Frances Berwick 

Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment  

Berwick got an even wider remit last July when she was elevated to NBCU Entertainment chair, now leading original content and acquisitions for Peacock as well as as overseeing original content, program strategy, marketing, communications and scheduling across the entertainment networks. NBC again led all networks in total viewers last year, with “The Voice” and “Saturday Night Live” among standout shows. At the strikes-delayed Emmy ceremony in January, Peacock took home a casting trophy for unscripted hit “The Traitors.” 

Creative outlook: “There’s certainly a reset happening post-COVID, strikes and the streaming explosion,” Berwick says, predicting “a surge in fresh, original ideas after some overreliance on the familiar of known IP, franchises and reboots.” 

Emily Blunt 

Actor, “Oppenheimer,” “The Fall Guy”

As a co-star of Christopher Nolan’s $970 million-grossing “Oppenheimer,” Blunt surfed a tidal wave of success in 2023 — even before her performance netted one of the film’s 13 Oscar nominations. She’ll follow that critical and commercial success with David Leitch’s action rom-com “The Fall Guy” and Benny Safdie’s mixed martial arts drama “The Smashing Machine.” “Schizophrenic flip-flopping between tones and genres” feeds Blunt’s creativity, even if it seems discordant career-wise. “I want to feel excited, and a shred of terror in me as well,” she says. “If you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, you’ve got to let them flutter forever, because they will see you through.”

Debora Cahn 

Showrunner, “The Diplomat”

Having previously worked on successful shows including “The West Wing” and “Homeland,” Cahn was convinced she would be able to avoid making mistakes as a first-time showrunner for Netflix’s “The Diplomat.” Not so. “Of course, I still made every mistake, but at least I knew that I was making it,” Cahn says. Her goal: to tackle international diplomacy much like “West Wing” feasted on domestic governance, with plenty of U.K. location porn and a spiky dynamic between Keri Russell’s ambassador and Rufus Sewell as her fellow diplomat husband to add frisson. 

Unsung heroes: “It’s been really fun to introduce an audience to some characters we don’t usually see,” says Cahn, who recently finished filming Season 2 after a long break during the SAG-AFTRA strike. “But they are, in fact, the frontlines of democracy.”

Global fashion partnerships, Meta  

During her eight years at Meta, Chen has seen Instagram evolve from a square-image format into a multi-cam media experience, with the launch of Instagram Stories, Reels and more. She has also strategized with representatives across the fashion industry on how to use Threads in an effective manner. Chen has also authored nine children’s books to date, including the New York Times bestseller “Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes.”  

Lesson learned: “The biggest mistake that I’ve made in the past — and also others probably make — is measuring success by tasks done. The most important things to invest in are actually the intangible, such as relationships,” she says.

The Women of CNN: Amy Entelis and Alex MacCallum

Entelis: Exec VP, talent, CNN originals & creative development 

MacCallum : Exec VP, digital products & services, CNN Worldwide

Entelis helped CNN win its first Oscar for the documentary “Navalny,” “a once-in-a-career experience,” last year; she also developed and launched “The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper” and built CNN Studios as part of the company’s reinvestment in originals. “We are exploring some new formats, expanding the boundaries of what CNN can do in the news-adjacent space,” she says. MacCallum moved into her new role in January, overseeing digital products and developing a multimedia strategy to use data science including machine learning and AI. 

Unified front: MacCallum is helping CNN tackle the future by removing silos. “Previously, we had different divisions operating almost entirely independently,” she says. “We’re creating one CNN.”

Nicole Compas 

Partner, Ramo Law

Compas joined Ramo Law nearly five years ago to open its New York office and quickly established it as a go-to for scripted and unscripted television, film and new-media productions, working with companies such as Push It Prods. (“The Upshaws”), Imagine Documentaries (“Lucy and Desi,” “Frida”) and the Jim Henson Co. She served as production counsel on five 2023 Emmy nominees (including “Bono & the Edge: A Sort of Homecoming,” “Judy Blume Forever” and “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”) and several films that debuted at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, including Concordia’s “Girl State.”

Balancing act: “I think brands want to defer to the filmmakers because they want [the documentary] to be accepted as something that’s not just a long-form commercial,” she says.

Carrie Coon 

Actor, “The Gilded Age,” “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”

Coon starred in Season 2 of HBO’s “Gilded Age,” the latest “Ghostbusters” movie and two indies in addition to booking a role in Season 3 of “The White Lotus,” now filming in Thailand, while her actor-playwright husband, Tracy Letts, has tended to their two young children back home. For Coon, the appeal of her striving Bertha on “The Gilded Age” is clear: “She’s the bad guy, essentially,” the actor says. “Because of that she’s driving the action.” Fans of the show also enjoy Bertha’s strong marriage with Morgan Spector’s equally ambitious George. “They are on parallel tracks,” Coon says approvingly.

Abundance of riches: The actor revels in the diverse roles she has been able to play alongside women of her own age recently. “I didn’t even know if that was possible,” she says. “That’s the dream.” 

Samantha Cox 

VP, creative, New York, BMI  

At BMI, Cox has worked to further the careers of artists ranging from Lady Gaga (whom she knew in her pre-persona days as Stefani Germanotta) and Bebe Rexha to rising country/hip-hop star Tanner Adell, who sings on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album. She effectively serves as an A&R rep for the venerable performance rights organization, scouting and signing talent and publishers, plus staging showcases, seminars such as “Speed Dating for Songwriters” and the annual BMI Brunch at SXSW.

Having their backs: “Everyone thinks this stuff happens overnight, and it doesn’t,” says Cox, who started at BMI as an intern. “When these writers and artists know that you don’t give up when a lot of people do, they’re extremely grateful.”

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen 

President, WGA East

Takeuchi Cullen led the WGA East during the guild’s 148-day strike last year, an experience she calls harrowing, but believes the months of negotiations resulted in safety and security for writers: significant gains include fairer compensation and protections against AI. “All of us in leadership felt the weight of responsibility resting on us — not just for our 12,500 members in streaming and television writing in both the guilds East and West — but also for the rest of the industry.” 

Outlook ahead?: “Slow and murky,” but she maintains legacy studios “need our content and at some point, they’re going to have to pull the trigger and get us back to work.”

Monica Herrera Damashek 

Head of label partnerships for North America, Spotify

When Damashek was elevated to her current post in September, it was a full-circle moment: She was previously head of U.S. Latin artist and label partnerships in 2022, where she shepherded Bad Bunny and Rosalia’s rise through the streamer’s machinery. Now, she’s looking to guide more up-and-comers like Tyla and veterans like Billie Eilish through the process. 

The importance of staying nimble:  “Coming back to this role, and reckoning with where things are, post-pandemic, has been challenging in the best way,” she says. “It’s important to take smarter risks, and not let my mistakes lead to decision paralysis.”

Jane Dystel

President, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

The agent for bestselling novelist Colleen Hoover left Georgetown Law in 1986 for a job at Bantam Books, the mass-market publisher her father once ran, and hasn’t left the lit world since. In 1994, she established her own firm, now called Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. “It was partially my love of reading,” says Dystel of why she went into publishing. “And it was being in a world of ideas and the possibilities of what could happen with ideas.” 

Determined to win: A competitive figure skater in her teens, she believes her drive helps make her a great agent.

America Ferrera 

Actor, “Barbie,” “Dumb Money”

Ferrera has long been connected to pivotal female roles, from her breakout as Ana Garcia in “Real Women Have Curves” and Betty Suarez on “Ugly Betty,” to her Oscar-nominated turn in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” She’s gratified that “Barbie” had a cultural impact on a global level, and for the response to her character ’s monologue about the conflicting expectations women navigate every day. “I was so moved to see the reactions of people who really resonated with the monologue, and I was also glad to see the dialogue it created,” she tells Variety . “Ideally, the stories we tell are compelling us to see ourselves and each other in more complex ways.”

Rita Ferro 

President, global advertising, the Walt Disney Co.  

One year after Disney+ with ads debuted, more than half the streamer’s subscribers choose that option. But the streamer isn’t doing what broadcast used to, Ferro says, pointing to recent advancements like the TV ad experience Gateway Shop, and Disney’s Magic Words, which ties mood to a brand’s messaging with contextual advertising. “We’ve brought to market future-forward advertising innovation through our immersive platforms and experiences,” says the exec, who gained global oversight of the studio’s ad business last October. “We are seeing increasing interest from clients to tap into tools that provide simplicity, and seamless access to the most premium inventory.”

The N.Y. Women of “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”: Naomi Watts, Chloë Sevigny and Molly Ringwald

Watts: Actor and exec producer 

Sevigny and Ringwald: Actors 

Just as Truman Capote had his coterie of elegant Gotham society ladies, “Feud” creator Ryan Murphy leaned on his stable of accomplished female actors to portray them in Season 2 of the FX anthology series: “The Watcher” alum Watts plays Babe Paley, wife of longtime CBS president Bill, while Sevigny, previously a star in “American Horror Story,” is C.Z. Guest and Ringwald, recently in “Dahmer,” a relative outlier as Johnny Carson’s ex, Joanne. For Sevigny, a longtime New Yorker who pored over images of Capote and his so-called swans growing up in Darien, Conn., it was a thrill to be filming at grand locations around Manhattan. “We wanted to celebrate old New York and a bit of that charm and glamour,” she says. “It was fun to be there doing it.” Ringwald was also aware of Capote, having performed in an adaptation of one of his novels when she was very young, and believes that, with Carson’s character, Murphy “really wanted somebody who was going to offer a contrast to all of those hangry women.” For all the veneer of perfection, “underneath there are major cracks and so many of them were in loveless marriages,” says Watts, who grew up outside the U.S. and wasn’t as familiar with moneyed 1970s society milieu as some of her castmates. “It’s sad, but it was a different era than it is now.” Adding to the melancholy: Treat Williams, who portrays Babe’s husband, unexpectedly died shortly after the production wrapped.  

Lessons in adulting: Ringwald credits late production designer and producer Polly Platt with boosting her spirit when she was trying to move on from teen roles in films such as “Pretty in Pink.” “She was like, ‘You’re going to have a really long career. And the only way that you are not is if you decide that you don’t want to. It’s really up to you. You just have to keep doing what you’re doing and stick with it.’” 

Maureen Ford 

President, national & festival sales, media & sponsorship, Live Nation

In 2023, Ford oversaw the biggest year in live music’s history as innumerable artists hit stages across the country and more fans attended concerts and festivals than ever before. With 30 years in the business, Ford is encouraging her team to be increasingly creative in crafting once-in-a-lifetime experiences for fans, brands like Citi and Hilton, and each other. “I’m fiercely committed to championing women,” she says. “I reflect on the time it took me to find equilibrium in my career and life, and I want others to foster their confidence sooner.”

The Women of Frankfurt Kurnit: Marcie Cleary and Lisa E. Davis  

Cleary and Davis work alongside each other in Frankfurt Kurnit’ s entertainment group, while maintaining their own areas of focus. Davis reps clients from the worlds of film, television, publishing, music and theater, including National Black Theatre’s Tony-nominated production of “Fat Ham” and writer Obehi Janice and her play “Nova,” which was staged at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Many of the playwrights on her roster also work in TV and film. “In theater, you control your copyright, and you own your work,” says Davis, “but unless you have a hit on the order of ‘Hamilton,’ the money is not nearly as lucrative as being a creator on a series.” In recent months, Cleary has negotiated deals for Marcel Spears to re-join the cast of CBS’ “The Neighborhood,” Rae Wynn-Grant to co-host the revival of NBC’s “The Wild Kingdom” and Kelley Carter’s expanded entertainment reporting deal at ABC as well as a numerous podcast pacts.

Why all those podcasts?: “The film and television industry has contracted, so you see more creators do go into podcasts as a new way to sell content,” says Cleary.

Shani Fuller-Tillman 

VP, marketing, RCA Records  

Fuller-Tillman played an instrumental role in promoting Bryson Tiller’s self-titled album and Davido’s Grammy-nominated album “Timeless,” and previously worked on Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” and Grammy-winning “Gemini Rights.” Her top ingredients for a successful marketing campaign: “Incredible music, sticky lyrics, cross-collaborative efforts across all mediums, an engaged artist, committed management team and a relentless fanbase.” The exec also played a role in the resurgence of Miguel’s “Sure Thing” last year. 

Promo goals: “I am looking forward to incorporating moments during campaigns that set my roster of artists apart from others as well as educate those who are interested in pushing the boundaries.”

Libby Geist 

President, Words + Pictures; exec producer, “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”

Geist’s banner funded and produced the Sundance hit “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” which sold to Warner Bros. Discovery for $15 million after a bidding war, the largest doc sale out of the fest, proving that there is still a market, though small, for independently made nonfiction features. “The minute we heard about this project we knew it was special. We looked at some of the archival [footage], and saw how real and raw that footage was and were immediately drawn to it,” says Geist, who joined the banner in 2022 after a stint at ESPN. 

No guts, no glory: “Building a successful production company in this volatile market has not been easy,” she says. “It’s been challenging, but also really fun.”

Greta Gerwig 

Writer-director, “Barbie”

Gerwig’s “Barbie” conquered the worldwide box office last year, ending up No. 1, and earned eight Oscar nominations as well, achieving enough in 2023 to fill the eponymous fashion doll’s most expansive dream house. Even so, Gerwig has much on her plate, starting with a high-profile role as jury president at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival to be followed by writing and directing duties on two Netflix adaptations of books from C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series. “I feel like with each movie, I’m still learning. I’m figuring out how to do things differently than I’ve done before,” she recently told Variety . 

Rachel Ghiazza 

Chief content officer, Audible

Upped to her new role last year, Ghiazza has helped shape the company’s global expansion everywhere from Germany to Brazil. “Leaping boundaries is exciting,” she says. “I am super passionate about growth in Latin America.” Ghiazza also finalized major deals with Higher Ground and Plan B and launched Dolby Atmos on Audible. Under the Dolby integration, subscribers “can sit together and listen with this crazy amazing sound. I like the idea of people listening communally.”

Mentor boost: “Thao Hoang at Viacom helped me find the confidence that I had the tools I needed and could trust my gut,” she says. “Working for her had a profound impact.” 

Rocío Guerrero 

Head of music for Latin-Iberia, Amazon Music

A conservatory-trained violinist from an extended family of musicians in Spain, Guerrero began her professional career as journalist working as a news editor in Madrid. Eventually, she made her way back to the family business, albeit as a non-performer, joining Spotify as a sales planner in 2011 and rising up the ranks to head of global music cultures, shows and editorial. For the past four years, she’s led Amazon Music’s Latin music efforts, which encompass a wide variety of media (playlists, podcasts, concert livestreams, music videos, the “Hip-Hop X Siempre” doc, etc.) and genres from reggaeton to regional Mexican music, as well artists’ merch.

Culinary comparison: “Latin music is like international food,” she says. “It’s embedded now in the culture, right in the mainstream.”

Erin Junkin 

Partner & co-head, scripted television, WME

A groundbreaker who became the only female department head of television at any of the major talent agencies when she was elevated, the longtime WME vet has represented a wide swath of the television and streaming spectrum, from Soo Hugh (“Pachinko”) to Quinn Shepherd (“Under the Bridge”) to Brie Larson and Rachel Weisz. Last year, she and her team had to navigate disruptive labor strife. “I’m really proud of our TV department,” she says, pointing out that despite the strikes, “we had one of our best awards seasons ever, and that was really a collective accomplishment as every single agent in our department touched some aspect of a nominated or winning series.”

Cynthia Katz 

Partner, Fox Rothschild

Katz has been a busy dealmaker to the tune of “about a billion dollars’ worth of acquisition deals,” including buying and selling music rights, assets and companies. She has represented HarbourView Equity Partners in about 50 music catalog acquisitions, including Wiz Khalifa and Christine McVie; represented Primary Wave Publishing in acquiring the Sarah McLaughlan and Eddie Rabbit catalogs; and negotiated a deal for producer Denzel “Conductor” Williams to craft Drake’s “8AM in Charlotte.” 

Money maker: “Investment in music has been growing,” she says. “In the next five years, it’s going to grow even more with increased interest and capital, which is really good for talent and the whole industry.”

The Women of Killer Films: Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon

Producers, “Past Lives,” “May December”

The indie stalwarts are no strangers to the awards circuit, but this year had two major contenders in Celine Song’s “Past Lives” and Todd Haynes’ “May December.” They were also individual nominees for the first time, thanks to the best pic nomination for “Past Lives.” “It was intense,” Vachon says of their time on the awards circuit, while Koffler called the personal recognition “a very lovely, gratifying experience after doing it for so long.” Yet for a wide swath of the year, Vachon and Koffler also had to contend with dual labor strikes that threatened their company’s livelihood and the industry itself. “Killer worked very, very hard to keep our employees on payroll,” says Vachon, calling it “a really dark time.” For Koffler, there was a strange duality of being “so busy and absorbed in the promoting and the ushering out of the movies, and yet so worried about, how are we ever going to really make them again?”

Indie prognosis: Both are sanguine about the latest pronouncements about the supposed death of indie film. “It’s really hard right now,” Koffler concedes. “But when has it not been?”

Erica Lancaster 

The Houston native parlayed her youthful obsession with “Saturday Night Live” into a career. After graduating from U. of Virginia, Lancaster moved to New York in 2007, when she went from a page post at “The Late Show With David Letterman” to a receptionist at “SNL” to associate producer on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and, finally, development exec at Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. In 2017, she became a TV agent at CAA, where today her clients include “SNL” head writer Colin Jost and cast members Marcello Hernandez and Ego Nwodim, along with Ayo Edebiri (Emmy-winner for “The Bear”) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Oscar-winner for “The Holdovers”).

Enduring ties: “I met Colin [Jost] on my first day of work at ‘SNL,’” she says. “I think he offered me frozen grapes.”

Christine Lepera 

Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp  

Lepera has been a major force in the music world, protecting artists from accusations of plagiarism. In recent months, the veteran attorney won copyright infringement cases for Dua Lipa and Warner Music Group for the song “Levitating,” and Timbaland and other defendants for the songs “Paper Chase” and “Toe2Toe” She also successfully resolved producer Dr. Luke’s nine-year legal battle with singer Kesha and won a preliminary injunction for Daryl Hall, preventing his longtime musical partner John Oates from selling his half of their jointly held assets without Hall’s consent.

You can’t copyright AI art … or can you?: “The wrinkle is going to be whether a person or some persons are involved in it, adding creative input such that their creative expression is part of what the content is,” she says.

Wendy Lidell 

Senior VP theatrical, distribution and acquisitions, Kino Lorber  

Lidell knew she wanted distribution rights for Kaouther Ben Hania’s hybrid documentary “Four Daughters” from the moment she saw it at Cannes last year. The film about a Tunisian mother whose two elder daughters joined ISIS won that festival’s documentary award and would go on to earn an Oscar nom, but “I was not thinking about an Academy Award nomination — I was thinking theatrical success and a film that I was passionate about and needed a wider audience,” says Lidell. She has since snagged North American distribution rights  to Agnieszka Holland’s “Green Border” and Bruno Dumont’s “The Empire,” as is committed “expanding the boundaries of what cinema can be.” 

The Women of Lifetime: Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brie Miranda Bryant 

Elaine Frontain Bryant: Exec VP & head of programming A&E, Lifetime & LMN, A+E Networks 

Brie Miranda Bryant: Senior VP, original programming, Lifetime, A+E Networks

These two Bryants might not be related, but they form a formidable team. Last year, Frontain Bryant gained programming oversight of Lifetime, a female-centric destination for nonfiction and true-crime programming that had a hit with the explosive “The Prison Confession of Gypsy Rose Blanchard” series when it launched in January. Both women served as exec producers on the three-night series, which drew nearly 10 million viewers in its first month; the network, now celebrating its 40th anniversary, is working on a follow-up focusing on Blanchard’s release from prison. Bryant spearheaded Lifetime’s “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” which dominated social media when it premiered. Coming soon: The pair are expanding the Biography brand with five new docs tracking the careers of some of hard rock’s biggest stars and unveiling a second season of Lifetime’s 2022 “Janet Jackson” miniseries.

Mentors always matter: “I still look to my longtime mentor Fred Berner,” Frontain Bryant says. “He developed the film ‘Maestro’ for many years and seeing him attend the Oscars was inspiring.” 

Cindy Mabe 

CEO & chair, Universal Music Group Nashville

The first woman to run a major country music label, Mabe oversees an ambitious slate of projects that includes new and upcoming releases from veteran hitmakers (Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, George Strait) and exciting newcomers (22-year-old Christian music singer Anne Wilson), as well as a growing film and TV division, Sing Me Back Home Prods., which recently released the documentary “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive,” and is developing a reality series about Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, the husband-and-wife music duo known as the War and Treaty.

Fond intern memory: “They were paying me in free CDs, and I thought, ‘This is the most incredible thing of all time,’” recalls the North Carolina native, who assumed her current post in April 2023. “I never had dreams of running a label.”

Natalie Madaj 

Exec VP, global digital, Warner Music Group/Warner Chappell Music

Madaj recently negotiated deals with Canva and TikTok while working to expand existing partnerships with companies like YouTube, and stresses the need to understand cultural differences around the world. “We want to make sure that we’re taking advantage of regional expertise that acknowledges the nuances in what music consumers in those different regions look like,” she says, calling herself “cautiously optimistic” about AI collaborations. 

Exec mindset: “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was to treat your career almost like a company with a board of advisors who all bring different experiences, and it’s something I’ve taken to heart,” she says. 

Lauren Marcello 

Senior VP, late night current programs, CBS  

Between the pandemic and last year’s labor strife, it’s been a challenging four years for late-night programs for reasons well beyond the control of executives overseeing them: the network’s marquee late-night program, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” was dark from May to October due to the writers strike. For all that, and amid all the changes wrought by streaming, Marcello remains bullish on traditional TV. “I think that late night, like sports, is a format that’s still very much thriving on broadcast,” says Marcello. “There’s not a streaming-only version of late night that has proved to be a substitution for broadcast.”

Audra McDonald 

Actor, “The Gilded Age,” “Rustin,” “Origin” 

The acclaimed actor effortlessly swapped periods in a trifecta of indelible performances the past year. In Netflix’s “Rustin,” she portrayed civil-rights activist Ella Baker, while she embodied a more contemporary character in “Origin,” Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste,” delivering a powerful performance opposite Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. For HBO’s turn-of-the-last-century drama “The Gilded Age,” McDonald’s Dorothy Scott resides in a middle-class Black community, often neglected in other period projects depicting this era. Next up for the Broadway aficionado, who recently performed in “Ohio State Murders”: an Australian concert tour that launches May 4.

Monica McNutt 

NBA, WNBA and college basketball analyst, ESPN  

Former Georgetown basketball player McNutt caught the journalism bug as an undergrad, working her way up to a post at sports broadcasting giant ESPN in 2019. As a basketball analyst for the New York Knicks, as well as the WNBA and women’s college basketball, which are both surging in popularity, she’s one of the few women — and women of color — to work on such a big platform. McNutt, who also contributes to “SportsCenter,” “Around the Horn,” “First Take” and “NBA Today,” is thankful for the “sisterhood” of her TV colleagues although there’s more work to be done for parity. She also works with the nonprofit Grow Our Game, a free program for girls ages 4-12 that teaches basketball and personal empowerment through sports.

The Women of MOME: Pat Swinney Kaufman and Shira Gans 

Kaufman: Commissioner 

Gans: Senior executive director, policy + programs

When Kaufman joined the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in June 2023, she came with nearly 20 years of experience as the state film commissioner, shepherding its rich incentive program, which had transformed the local film and TV production landscape. She joined Gans, who’s been with the office since 2016, serving as the driving force behind partnerships and programs supporting the music industry, such as New York Music Month, Sound Thinking NYC and the Office of Nightlife, while leading its film and TV sustainability initiatives. “Having been in the public sector for a really long time, I understand the city government and how you can make things that seem like they’re not possible, possible,” says Gans. For her part, Kaufman is determined to show producers that the Big Apple is “the city of ‘yes,’” eager and able to host their shoots.

You can make it there: “New York City is where dreams really do come true,” says Kaufman. “People see it on movie screens and TV and everything else, and then they want to be here and taste and live the magic.”

Courteney Monroe 

President, National Geographic  

Monroe was behind this year’s Oscar-nominated “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” which scored the IDA award for best doc. It was Nat Geo’s fourth Oscar nomination in six years. “Even though we didn’t take home the Oscar, I still feel like we won with this film,” Monroe says, noting that Wine’s fight for democracy in Uganda has “inspired audiences all across the globe.” “Queens,” a series about matriarchies in the animal kingdom, was narrated and exec produced by Angela Bassett, part of an all-female production team. In the works: “Tucci — The Heart of Italy,” which aims to pick up where his CNN cooking show left off. 

The Allies (Women) of “The Notebook”: Maryann Plunkett, Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson 

 Actors

The new Broadway adaptation of “The Notebook” reimagines the lead role of Allie, originally portrayed by Rachel McAdams in the film, across three life stages: Tyson embodies the young, naive Allie, swept up in a summer romance. Woods portrays a middle-aged Allie, still quietly longing for her past love a decade later. Plunkett, nominated for a Tony Award, completes the trio as an older Allie, grappling with Alzheimer’s and the erosion of her memories. Together, they share ownership of the character, fostering collaboration and moving audiences to tears with Ingrid Michaelson’s score each night. “It was actually a relief to share the role,” Tyson notes. “Not everything falls on one person’s shoulders; we get to coordinate but also bring our unique [takes] to these parts of her life.” Both Tyson and Woods credit theater veteran Plunkett for guiding the development of Allie. “Each night, we take from each other, we give to each other,” Woods says. “We learn new things about Allie from each other. It’s been this constant shifting and growing.”

Tyson’s biggest challenge?: “Reclaiming my energy and putting boundaries up. It’s not the work itself but maintaining my own wellness to be able to show up for the work,” she says. 

Debra OConnell 

President, news group & networks, Disney Entertainment  

In February, OConnell gained oversight of ABC News, aligning the news division with the station group, as well as responsibilities across the company’s multiplatform linear enter2tainment networks. The expanded duties for the 27-year veteran of Disney are meant to facilitate collaboration, and OConnell intends to do that while reacting to the rapidly changing entertainment landscape. “We will continue experimenting with windowing and scheduling,” she says, pointing out that the conglom aired Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” on ABC, “which is an excellent example of windowing a streaming phenom to linear and watching it continue to find new audiences as it travels through the ecosystem.” 

Kelli O’Hara 

Actor, “Days of Wine and Roses,” “The Gilded Age”

The eight-time Tony nominee returned to Broadway this season to star as a mother grappling with alcoholism in “Days of Wine and Roses.” “I’m sort of an artist that goes towards the pain and towards human condition and learning. This is a team that really wants to dig into things and make art out of confusion, which, I think, is the purpose of art in the first place.” Additionally, O’Hara stars as Aurora Fane in “The Gilded Age,” renewed for Season 3.

O’Hara’s biggest challenge?: “I think it happens more for women but balancing the children and my career. There are sacrifices on both ends, you can’t deny it.” 

Sasha Passero 

VP, talent agent, IAG  

Passero signed Lily Gladstone after seeing her in “Certain Women” at its Sundance debut eight years ago and has lobbied for her ever since — persistence that paid off with Gladstone’s Academy Award-nominated and SAG Award-winning performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the first for a Native American woman. Passero comes from a show business family — her parents began as actors and then went into casting, her grandmother was a singer and her sister is an actor as well. 

Born for it: “I think that my respect and empathy for what actors do and being able to put myself on their side of things has really been my secret weapon.” 

Rita Marie Pelosi 

Senior VP and senior relationship manager, entertainment banking, City National Bank  

Pelosi fell in love with the theater as a kid going to Broadway shows with her opera singer aunt, but realized early on that performing was not her forte. Instead, she found her way into showbiz via banking, focusing on music and film production, before segueing to the legit stage. During the pandemic, she facilitated more than $13 million in PPP loans for theater clients, and today her team provides banking services for 90% of the shows on the Great White Way.

Advice for someone working on their first big show: “There’s going to be a lot of people saying a lot of things,” she says. “If it’s a success, don’t let it go to your head. If it’s a failure, start over again.”

Krista Phillips 

Exec VP, head of consumer credit cards and consumer lending marketing, Wells Fargo  

Phillips spearheaded a loyalty program called Autograph Card Exclusives that allows credit card holders to connect with popular musicians, including at live concerts featuring Mumford and Sons in Los Angeles and Imagine Dragons in Dallas. “We wanted to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our customers where they can experience their favorite artists in smaller venues, so that they can feel like they’re having an intimate experience,” the Wells Fargo exec says. “And they’re almost there with their friends and family.” 

Mission critical: “We do a lot of research and we’re constantly listening to our customers,” Phillips says. 

Carrie Preston 

Actor, “Elsbeth,” “The Holdovers” 

Preston turned Elsbeth Tascioni — a character she played just 19 times over 14 years on “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight” combined — into her first lead role on a series; the CBS spinoff series from Robert and Michelle King was just picked up for a second season. Preston, who won an Emmy for performing the role in 2013, also drew praise for her turn in Oscar-nominated “The Holdovers.” 

Beyond ingenues: “There’s a hunger from audiences to see mature women represented on screen in a way that highlights their intellect, their compassion, their strength, their humanity and their uniqueness rather than their sexuality or their relationship to men,” Preston notes.  

Danielle Price Sanders 

Exec VP, Republic Records 

Price Sanders spearheaded Republic’s deal with 4Fargo, who had a viral hit with “She’ll Be OK,” and executive produced the 2023 YouTube K-pop competition series “A2K” for the label’s Federal Films division, working alongside Monte Lipman and J.Y. Park. VCHA, the winners of that competition, have released a couple of singles and booked a slot at Lollapalooza. “We were able to successfully implement the K-pop model in the USA for the first time, and it was incredible to be on the ground floor of that,” she says. “I’m excited to be a part of their launch and impending domination.” 

Coming up: The debut album from Grammy Award-winning producer ATL Jacob.

Pilar Queen 

Publishing agent, UTA

Queen thinks two years ahead to help luminaries from entertainment, journalism, tech and other professions — such as ABC News’ Deborah Roberts and actor Elliot Page — get their stories out. She worked on Kara Swisher’s latest release, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story,” sold Brooke Shields’ highly anticipated nonfiction book to Flatiron Books and handled book deals for Mary Trump and Brian Tyler Cohen.

In-house mentor: The agent found her first mentor in UTA partner and board member Blair Kohan at age 40. “I didn’t even know I needed a mentor until I found one,” she says, praising Kohan’s “confidence, kindness and ability to cut through the BS — and do it in a way that doesn’t hurt people’s feelings.”

The Women of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”: Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz 

Robertson: Exec producer-director and founder of Maxine Prods. 

Schwartz: Co-executive producer and director

Robertson and Schwartz’s explosive ID docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” uncovered disturbing allegations of inappropriate behavior on various Dan Schneider-produced Nickelodeon series in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Drake Bell, one of the stars of “Drake & Josh,” comes forward in the series for the first time as the child star sexually assaulted by dialogue coach Brian Peck. When the pair, who previously collaborated on “The New York Times Presents” FX docuseries, saw online clips of Schneider’s series that appeared to sexualize young child stars like Ariana Grande, they decided the subject matter was worthy of a docuseries. “We thought it was of real value to dig in because it concerns working environments for children and because the content that was created on these sets was then distributed to children around the world,” Robertson says. While others have tried to tell this story, Schwartz explains that “we had an environment, the space and the support where we could take the time to build relationships with subjects and they could trust us to tell their stories.” As showrunner on “The New York Times Presents,” Robertson oversaw its similarly explosive installment, “Framing Britney Spears,” and has since launched her Maxine Prods. banner, part of Sony Pictures Television. 

Inspirational women: “I started my career working at Maysles Films, which was run by some incredible women, including Susan Froemke and Deborah Dickson, who remain idols of mine,” Robertson says.

Actor, “True Detective: Night Country”

Reis knocked the socks off HBO audiences tuning into “True Detective: Night Country,” more than holding her own opposite co-star Jodie Foster with only two prior screen credits under her belt. “I was excited and terrified simultaneously,” says Reis, who portrays Evangeline Navarro, a state trooper of Indigenous descent in a remote Alaska town. A boxer until 2017, the Rhode Island native who now lives in South Philly with her manager husband is a big believer in preparation; Indigenous on her mother’s side, she took great care in learning about the native community in Alaska before undertaking the role.

Biggest surprise? “How much fun we had doing intense dark stories, no pun intended,” says Reis, who just began production on “Mercy,” co-starring Chris Pratt.

Meredith Scardino 

Showrunner, “Girls5eva”

Season 3 of Scardino’s “Girls5eva” moved to Netflix in March, giving new life to the Peacock series about a female band that reunites in middle age. Scardino, who was nominated for a writing Emmy the show’s first season, previously won four Emmys for her work on “The Colbert Report,” and collaborates with fellow executive producers from “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” including Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. Scardino considers herself very fortunate to write for all three. “So much of it is being able to be around them and try to absorb the runoff and learn how to do it yourself.”

Sarah Sherman 

Performer, “Saturday Night Live”

Promoted in 2023 to repertory player, Sherman’s rise from sketch breakout to “SNL” mainstay has in many ways mirrored her adaptation to the show’s famously punishing schedule. “Every week is just throwing a bunch of shit at the wall and sometimes you don’t find out until 4 o’clock in the morning whether or not an idea is good,” she says. But with recent turns in Adam Sandler’s “You Are So Not Invited to My Bar Mitzvah” and animated “Nimona” under her belt, Sherman has realized that it’s not the bells and whistles of her oddball comedy bits that have made her an in-demand talent, but what’s underneath. “As a performer, you do have to remember to be yourself — you’re good.”

Celine Song 

Writer-director, “Past Lives”  

Song’s “Past Lives,” her theatrical debut, earned an Oscar best pic nom and another nomination for her elegiac screenplay, along with trophies from the DGA, Gothams and Indie Spirits. The multihyphenate, who worked in theater before directing her first film, drew upon her own experiences as a Korean immigrant while writing the story about the price of female ambition, and leaned heavily on veterans including producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, while making it. “It’s just always so hard to walk into something without the experience of having done it before,” says Song, now prepping “Materialists.” “They’ve made so many films before that you’re able to borrow their experience.”   

Anjali Sud 

Since joining Tubi from Vimeo in August 2023, Sud has given the Fox-owned ad-supported streamer a major makeover. The most obvious change is cosmetic (redesigned logo and user interface), but the bigger transformation is the adoption of a guiding philosophy Sud describes as “free entertainment for the cordless generation,” reflected in new youth-oriented original series such as “Boarders,” “Dead Hot” and “Big Mood.” So far, it appears to be working. 

Proper C-suite ’tude: “It’s so important to question, learn and understand versus act, initially, but you also need to have a mission and conviction and be a little fearless and willing to take risks and not give up,” she says.

Jessica Tarlov 

Co-host , “The Five,” Fox News  

The lone liberal on Fox News’ live panel show, “The Five,” Tarlov isn’t shy about voicing a dissenting opinion. Arguably the reason “The Five” has such a politically diverse audience, Tarlov hopes she might influence some viewers about the day’s news, how they consume information and maybe even how they view politics — especially since she’s involved in Fox News’ 2024 election coverage.

Lessons from a reformed people pleaser: “You really don’t want to ruffle feathers and always want to be on everyone’s good side,” she says. “But then you end up de-prioritizing things you actually need for yourself to stay healthy.” 

Danya Taymor 

Director, “The Outsiders”

Taymor, a woman leading a musical centered on boyhood, returns to Broadway with “The Outsiders” after an acclaimed run in San Diego. She’s reimagined the novel and the 1983 film for the stage, and it received 12 Tony nominations, including one for her direction. “The thing that struck me the most about the story was the rawness and the realness of the book. … It was important to keep it feeling really authentic and not put a varnish on the experience of these young people’s lives.” 

Rallying the troupers:  “The biggest challenge but also the most wonderful part is harnessing the hundreds of people who are working on this so they feel like it’s their baby, too. … Everybody has skin in the game.”

Melissa Thomas 

Exec VP, international marketing, U.S. repertoire, Sony Music Entertainment  

In the past year, Thomas has contributed to the global success of Grammy-winning hits including Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Tyla’s “Water.” “It behooves us to really listen to the fans and pay attention to the conversation around the world,” Thomas says. “Really being open and reactive and moving in real time as we see these connections and stories building around the globe.” 

Mom knows best: “She was always someone in my life that came from humble means and told me that there wasn’t anything I couldn’t achieve. And it’s a philosophy that I’ve maintained and held on to,” Thomas says. 

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi 

Producer, director and co-founder, Little Monster Films  

Oscar-winner Vasarhelyi made the leap to narrative filmmaking with “Nyad,” which she co-directed with her husband, Jimmy Chin. The film about Diana Nyad’s multiple attempts and eventual successful swim from Cuba to Florida earned Oscar nominations for the film’s stars Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. The filmmaking pair followed that up with the Nat Geo docuseries “Photographer.” “I look at fiction and nonfiction films as quite similar in terms of craft, and in terms of it all being about a good story,” Vasarhelyi says. “The idea that we were able to bring Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll’s stories to life and be recognized for it felt really, really good.”

Tough outlook: “We are experiencing a pretty serious contraction in the nonfiction market,” she says. “I don’t know if ‘Cutie and the Boxer’ could be made today and that is one of my favorite films.” 

Alex Wagner 

Host, “Alex Wagner Tonight”  

The host of MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight” approaches every story with intellectual curiosity and rigor. “Our job as journalists is to drink from the fire hose and enjoy it,” Wagner says of the unrelenting news cycle. Surveying Donald Trump’s criminal trials and an impending election she characterizes as “one of the most consequential moments in American political history,” Wagner emphasizes the importance of transparency with viewers about the facts of every story — especially if they aren’t correct. “The only way you’re going to get people to trust you is first by showing that you’re not infallible — and when you are wrong, you acknowledge it.”

Up Next: Avantika 

Actor, “Mean Girls” 

Avantika, an Indian actor that goes by her first name, booked roles in “Diary of a Future President” and “Sex Lives of College Girls” before landing the role of Karen in Paramount’s remake of “Mean Girls.” She learned that she would play her favorite character from the original film in an email after one audition. Avantika wants to explore more genres that women of color aren’t represented in and is interested in “paving the way so that more women of color can take up those opportunities.” Next up: the horror film “Tarot,” which will be released May 3.  

Up Next: Nabiyah Be 

Musician, Actor, “Daisy Jones & the Six”

The Brazilian-born daughter of reggae star Jimmy Cliff sang backup for him as a child and performed in the original Off Broadway production of “Hadestown” before tackling the role of disco queen Simone Jackson in Hulu’s “Daisy Jones & the Six.” Be isn’t too far off from her musically inclined counterpart: She has two singles coming out this May and album set for second quarter of the year, which she describes as pop and Brazilian with “some other flavors.” Of the show, she says: “I learned so much about the women that pioneered disco music,” she says. “And maybe one day I’ll get to really give them the shout out I want to.”

Up Next: Nichelle Lewis 

Actor, “The Wiz”

Lewis was singing on TikTok when she caught the attention of the creative team for the Broadway-bound revival of “The Wiz.” Her rendition of “Home,” the show’s pivotal 11 o’clock number, landed her an audition, and ultimately, the role of Dorothy. After a six-month national tour, the Virginia native and the cast landed in New York last month, where she now leads the ensemble in her Broadway debut.

Up Next: Francesca Scorsese 

Actor, director, awards season chronicler  

An emerging actor and director in her own right, Scorsese provided a series of disarming behind-the-scenes glimpses of the awards campaign trail, accompanying her filmmaker father to the Cannes premiere of “Killers of the Flower Moon” through the Oscars, posting video of the renowned director enjoying Ryan Gosling’s elaborate rendition of “I’m Just Ken” on social media. Her short, “Fish Out of Water,” dedicated to her ailing mom, screened at Cannes last year and in competition at Tribeca, and she has a role in Cannes-bound “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point,” alongside Michael Cera. Which creative endeavor does she prefer? “That’s kind of the dilemma of my life right now,” says Scorsese, an NYU grad who grew up thinking she was just going to direct but finds herself drawn to acting as well. As for fatherly advice: “He’s really nosy, but not in a bad way,” she says. “He’s always bugging me about what my next thing is.”

Up Next: Demi Singleton 

Actor, “Lawmen: Bass Reeves”

After playing young Serena Williams in “King Richard,” Singleton joined the Western series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” as Sally, the daughter of David Oyelowo’s title character, the first Black U.S. deputy marshal to serve west of the Mississippi. “She’s a writer, and I feel like her poetry is a way for her to escape her reality,” says Singleton, who is glad to share Bass Reeves’ story with the world: “He and his family are finally getting the credit that they deserve for what they did for their people, for other people, for everyone during their time.” 

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Leonardo DiCaprio Takes His Seat, Plus Anne Hathaway, Adele & Rich Paul, Cole Sprouse and More

From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to

Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek .

Stars have been everywhere this week, from Anne Hathaway celebrating The Idea of You in New York City to Leonardo DiCaprio sitting courtside in L.A. In Washington D.C., Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson posed with second gentleman Doug Emhoff following the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Here, the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings!

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty

Leonardo DiCaprio looks out from under his black baseball cap at Crypto.com Arena as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets on April 27.

Courtside Date

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Adele and Rich Paul are also on deck on April 27 to catch the Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena.

Leading Lady

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Anne Hathaway chats with the crowd in New York City during a special screening of The Idea Of You at 92NY on April 28.

Sealed with a Kiss

Phillip Faraone/Getty

Cole Sprouse gets a kiss on the cheek from Ari Fournier at The Daily Front Row's 8th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 28 at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Black Ties and All

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Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson pose with second gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House Correspondents' Dinner after party at the French Ambassador's residence in Washington D.C. on April 27.

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Fantasia Barrino rocks an all-denim ensemble at the 2024 Hallmark Mahogany Honors Brunch held at InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta on April 28.

Across the Pond

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Sheila Atim and Andrew Scott pose with a time capsule at The Old Vic Theatre ahead of its burial in the foundation of the new Backstage Building in London on April 29.

Having a Laugh

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Adir Abergel and Jennifer Garner are all smiles at The Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 28 at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

New York Minute

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Gabrielle Union steps out in New York City for an appearance at 92NY on April 28.

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Nicole Kidman attends an Emmy FYC event for Expats at the Prime Experience at NYA West on April 28 in Los Angeles.

Minty Fresh

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Melissa McCarthy accessorizes her mint ensemble with a bedazzled 'M' brooch on April 28 in L.A.

Rockers On the Go

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Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones rock on stage during their Hackney Diamonds Tour at NRG Stadium Houston on April 28.

Dynamic Duo

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Michelle Pfeiffer and Meryl Streep smile together during the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Nicole Kidman celebration at Dolby Theatre in L.A. on April 27.

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Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor attend an L.A. Times Envelope live screening of A Gentleman in Moscow on April 28 at Culver Theater in Culver City, California.

Father-Daughter Moment

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Alexa Ray Joel joins her dad Billy Joel onstage during his show at Madison Square Garden on April 26 in New York City.

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Doja Cat and Brett Alan Nelson step out for the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Awards at The Beverly Hills Hotel on April 28.

Pink & Poised

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Chrishell Stause flashes a smile while stopping by Lorraine on April 29 in London.

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Today 's Sheinelle Jones gets cheering as host of the April 28 REAL SIMPLE Women's Half Marathon, with New York Road Runners, in New York City's Central Park,

Family Affair

Lisa Rinna , Henry Eikenberry , Amelia Gray, Harry Hamlin and Delilah Belle Hamlin step out for the Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards at The Beverly Hills Hotel on April 28.

Staying Cool

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Audrina Patridge poses with a cold drink at the Malibu Desert Dream Escape Piña Colada Bar at Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27.

Festival Mode

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Brandi Cyrus poses in a cowboy hat during PrettyLittleThing's gifting suite experience during Stagecoach Music Festival on April 28.

Diplo celebrates with some Don Julio 1942 following his Stagecoach set at the Pizzaslime x Tequila Don Julio x Revolve after party on April 27.

A Good Cause

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Michael Bublé , Gateway for Cancer Research president and CEO Natalie Stewart, Dak Prescott, Gateway founder and chairman Richard J. Stephenson, Gateway vice chair Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson, Joey Fatone , Chris Kirkpatrick and Caroline Rhea pose together at the Gateway Celebrity Fight Night 30th Anniversary Emerald Ball in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 27.

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Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes make some silly faces for cameras while at the C2E2 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago on April 26.

Bleached Blonde Hair Is Back!

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Kim Kardashian attends the 2024 Lo Máximo Awards in Los Angeles on April 27.

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Bad Bunny performs at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on April 27.

A Meditation Moment

Nicole Scherzinger meditates with gong in Los Angeles on April 26.

A Taste of Sugar

Colin Farrell at the FYC event for Sugar at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Los Angeles on April 28.

Taking the Stage

Morgan Freeman speaks at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Nicole Kidman in Los Angeles on April 27.

Honoree of the Night

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Nicole Kidman shines in a gold sequined Balenciaga gown at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Awards where she was honored on April 27 in Hollywood, California.

Glamorous Affair

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Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost make an elegant couple in complementary black tie looks at the 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on April 27.

Celebratory Night

Cynthia Erivo, Zac Efron and Joey King pose for a photo at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Awards honoring Nicole Kidman in Los Angeles on April 27.

Man of the Moment

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Post Malone gets the crowd going during his performance on the second day of the 2024 Stagecoach festival on April 27 in Indio, California.

Show of Support

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Reese Witherspoon smiles on arrival at the 49th Annual AFI Life Achievement Awards in support of her friend and honoree Nicole Kidman on April 27 in Hollywood, California.

Playful Pose

Rosario Dawson kicks her leg in the air while posing on the red carpet at the 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on April 27.

Musical Forces

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Country stars Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire delight fans as they perform together at the Stagecoach festival on April 27 in Indio, California. 

Simply Divine

Michelle Pfeiffer brings understated glamor to the red carpet at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Awards celebrating Nicole Kidman on April 27 in Hollywood, California.

Helping Hand

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Chris Pine is offered help from Bill Nye in sprucing up his suit at the TIME And Amazon MGM Studios soiree after the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 27 in Washington.

On the Road

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Kane Brown pulls off another great show during his In The Air tour at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 27.

Not an Illusion

"Illusion" singer Dua Lipa and Callum Turner hang out in New York City on April 27.

A Wonder in White

Chris Pine attends the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 27. 

Let's Party!

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Rosario Dawson attends the CAA Kickoff Party for the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 26. 

The Thumbs-Up Guy

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Bill Nye attends the UTA pre-event soiree for the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 26. 

A Wall Street Walk

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Robert De Niro walks on Wall Street on the set of Zero Day in New York City on April 27.

Golden Goddess

Rihanna is glowing at the launch of Fenty Beauty's Soft'Lit Foundation on April 26 in Los Angeles.

Dazzling Performance

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Karol G shines onstage in a full embellished look at the Velez Sarsfield stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 26.

Return to Louisiana

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Jon Batiste performs in his home state of Louisiana on the second day of the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival in New Orleans on April 26.

Crowd Pleaser

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Jelly Roll is all-smiles onstage while performing at the 2024 Stagecoach festival at Empire Polo Club on April 26 in Indio, California.

Balenciaga Bold

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Kim Kardashian steps out to dinner in a head-to-toe Balenciaga look of a bright red oversized coat and black Pantaleggings on April 26 in Malibu, California.

Costar Catch-Up

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Jude Law and Jason Bateman share a laugh on the set of their new film Black Rabbit in New York City on April 26.

Casual Cool

Emily Ratajkowski models a chic off-duty outfit in a white crop top with black sweatpants and bright green sneakers while out in New York City on April 26.

Country Era

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Dixie D’Amelio is a natural onstage as she performs with the group Cheat Codes at the 2024 Stagecoach festival in Indio, California, on April 26.

Star Link-Up

T-Pain joins Jelly Roll onstage to perform together at the 2024 Stagecoach festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 26.

Center Stage

Eric Church performs with a choir onstage at the 2024 Stagecoach festival at Empire Polo Club on April 26, in Indio, California.

Happy Grins

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King Charles and Queen Camilla flash sweet smiles in a new portrait released on April 26.

Out of this World

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Mick Jagger has some fun at NASA's headquarters in Houston as he gears up to kick-off The Rolling Stones tour.

Hometown Hero

Jennifer Lopez throws on some oversized shades and gold hoop earrings for an outing in New York City on April 26.

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Rebel Wilson opts for a red number as she departs a hotel in Manchester earlier this week.

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Steven Van Zandt flashes a smile while he and wife Maureen Van Zandt celebrate the unveiling of Van Zandt Way in Middletown Township, New Jersey on April 26.

Ladies in Miami

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Isabela Grutman and Serena Williams pose together at the Isa Grutman store opening in Miami's Design District on April 25.

Side by Side

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez step out hand-in-hand for a dinner party in New York City on April 25.

Milo Ventimiglia and Jarah Mariano enjoy some nature on April 25 while they step out for their four-legged friend for an outing in L.A.

Time to Chat

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Lulu Wang takes the mic during the Prime Experience Emmy FYC event's showrunner panel in L.A. on April 24.

Jonathan Bennett celebrates being named the godfather of Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Firenze at a christening event on April 24.

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Matt James shows off a can of Corona Premier as he is named the company's director of lifestyle.

It's Showtime

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Jesper Vesterstrøm, Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Esposito pose together at a screening of hulu's Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story at the IPIC Theater & The Fulton by Jean-Georges in N.Y.C. on April 25.

Fierce Costars

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Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist pose together in New York City on April 24 days before Challengers hits theaters.

Seeing Double

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Ava Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon are dashing in mirroring ensembles at Tiffany & Co.'s launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste in Beverly Hills on April 25.

Glitz & Glam

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Also at the star-studded event, Gabrielle Union stunned in her own shiny accessories at the Tiffany & Co. celebration on April 25 in Beverly Hills.

Happy Couple

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Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves McConaughey share a laugh at the 12th annual Mack, Jack & McConaughey Gala at ACL Live in Austin on April 25.

Shimmer and Shine

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Dua Lipa sparkles on the day of the TIME 100 Gala in New York City on April 25.

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Tracy Pollan , Alex Edelman, Michael J. Fox and Uma Thurman pose together from inside the TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in N.Y.C. on April 25.

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Drew Barrymore films a segment for The Drew Barrymore Show in Central Park along with a four-legged companion on April 25 in New York City.

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JoJo Siwa wears a shirt from her own merch line at the premiere of Dance Moms: The Reunion on April 25 in New York City.

Triple Threat

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Kylie Minogue , Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa pose together at the TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 25.

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Following Thursday's gala, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner head to Zero Bond in New York City.

Country Strong

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Tim McGraw shows off his muscular arms while performing at Bridgestone Arena on April 25 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Guitar Hero

As McGraw's guest on tour, Carly Pearce was also on deck at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on April 25.

In Character

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Penn Badgley is spotted on the set of You in New York City on April 25.

Mom's Night Out

Suki Waterhouse opts for all-white for her appearance at the Tiffany & Co. celebration at The Beverly Estate on April 25 in Beverly Hills.

Take Your Seats

Also at Thursday's soirée, Quinta Brunson , Usher , and Olivia Wilde pose inside the The Beverly Estate as Tiffany & Co. celebrates the launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste.

Special Guest

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Snoop Dogg flashes a smile courtside at Crypto.com Arena as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets on April 25 in Los Angeles.

Blonde Ambition

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Patricia Arquette and Jessica Lange celebrate the opening night of Mother Play on at Bryant Park Grill in New York City on April 25.

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Taylor Armstrong , Phaedra Parks and Brandi Glanville pose together at the grand opening of Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Clinic West Hollywood on April 25.

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Marc Anthony takes the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena during the 2024 Latin American Music Awards on April 25 in Las Vegas.

In the Band

John Stamos performs in red and black with The Beach Boys during day one of the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 25.

Movie Stars

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Andy Serkis, Wes Ball, Freya Allan, Owen Teague and Kevin Durand pose together at the U.K. launch event for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London on April 25.

In the Capital

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Kim Kardashian joined Vice President Kamala Harris for a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform at the White House in Washington D.C. on April 25.

Working Commute

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Denzel Washington smiles as he films scenes for his upcoming movie High and Low at a Brooklyn subway station on April 25.

Pearly Whites

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Katy Perry is bright in white while at the Colleagues Spring Luncheon and Oscar de la Renta fashion show in Beverly Hills on April 25.

Rockin' Out & About

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Jon Bon Jovi rocks a brown leather jacket and some aviator sunglasses on April 25 in New York City.

Shawn Mendes has a beach date with chiropractor Dr. Jocelyne Miranda in Los Angeles on April 24.

Queen of R&Blue

Mary J. Blige leaves the Tamron Hall talk show in an all-blue suit set in New York City on April 25.

Going Green

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Lisa Ann Walter is in high spirits while rocking a green pantsuit on April 24 in Los Angeles.

Hand-in-Hand

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Teresa Giudice and Luis Ruelas step out holding hands after a lunch date in New York City on April 25.

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Honoree Josh Groban and his girlfriend Natalie McQueen attend the Music Will Benefit in Los Angeles on April 24.

Breezy & Beachy

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Jamie Chung enjoys a day at the beach while sporting the newly launched L.L. Bean x Summersalt swimsuit, cloud gauze coverup and boat and tote bag on Miami Beach on April 25. 

Guest of Honor

Andra Day performs in a shiny pink dress at the Music Will Benefit on April 24 in Los Angeles.

Cheffing it Up

Antoni Porowski whips up exclusive recipes on the set of a Lowes photo shoot on April 25.

On the Carpet

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Greer Grammer poses on the carpet at a special screening for Amazon MGM Studios' The Idea of You at the Fine Arts Theatre on April 24 in Los Angeles.

Sister Celebration

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Dree and Langley Fox Hemingway celebrate the opening of swimwear brand Hunza G's inaugural U.S. retail store at Chateau Marmont's Penthouse 64 in Los Angeles on April 24.

In the Limelight

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Zendaya shines in bright green on her way into Manhattan hotspot Zero Bond after the N.Y.C. premiere of Challengers on April 24.

Parents' Night Off

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend go glam at the special screening of Netflix's A Man In Full on April 24.

Barbiecore Blueprint

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Paris Hilton is pretty in hot pink at the launch of her collaboration with Tan-Luxe at Westfield Century City mall in L.A. on April 24.

Working it Out

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Looking athletic in short-shorts and a sweatband, Martin Short films a fun scene for Only Murders in the Building on April 24 in New York City.

Off to Work

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Chris Hemsworth prepares to fly out of Sydney, Australia to start promoting his new movie Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on April 25.

Planetary Positivity

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Jane Fonda brings her environmental expertise to the 2024 TIME Earth Awards gala on April 24 in N.Y.C.

Smooch from a Star

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Chris Pine plants a kiss on his pal John Cho at the premiere of Poolman in Los Angeles on April 24.

Sleek Style

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Sharon Stone looks chic behind shades at the Giffords 2nd Annual Los Angeles Event on April 24.

Friendly Support

Danny DeVito and Casey Affleck throw up peace signs at the L.A. premiere of DeVito's movie Poolman on April 24.

Royal Crossing

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After attending the Orbis Visionaries Reception on April 24, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh steps out across the iconic Abbey Road made famous by The Beatles in London.

Bonding Time

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Linda Evangelista brings her son Augustin James as her date to the 2024 Groundbreaker Awards dinner in N.Y.C. on April 24.

Dressing for the Weather

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Regina King wears a retro-inspired sundress alongside Jeff Daniels at a special screening of A Man in Full in L.A. on April 24.

Stunning in Spain

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Meg Ryan holds her honors at the RNE Sant Jordi awards in Barcelona on April 24.

Girls Night Out

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Phoebe Robinson , Laura Dern and Beanie Feldstein share a sweet moment at Dern's dinner co-hosted with Gherardo Felloni to celebrate the launch of Vivier Express in N.Y.C. on April 24.

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Robbie Arnett and Elizabeth Olsen also step out for date night for Giffords 2nd Annual Los Angeles Event at Wallis Annenberg Center on April 24.

Trendsetters

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Patrick Schwarzenegger and Barbara Palvin smile brightly during the launch of Emporio Armani's spring/summer collection at Socialista in N.Y.C. on April 24.

Suave Attire

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Colman Domingo wears a khaki jacket and matching slacks to the opening night of Uncle Vanya on Broadway on April 24.

Italian Getaway

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Marisa Abela and Sam Taylor-Johnson celebrate pioneers from the worlds of art, music, film and fashion at the Soho Summit on April 24 at Soho House Rome.

Cute Couture

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Lucy Hale wears off-the-shoulder statement sleeves at a dinner celebrating Etro creative director Marco De Vincenzo at Il Segreto Ristorante Belair in L.A. on April 24.

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