Cardi B Lands Three Songs on Michelle Obama’s 2020 Workout Playlist

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi Bhas made an extra special (play)list…

Michelle Obama is hoping to inspire people to exercise more in the new year by sharing her 2020 workout playlist, and the 27-year-old half-Dominican American singer is her go-to gal.

The former first lady, a dedicated health advocate, shared some of her favorite tunes to listen to while hitting the gym.

The 35-song playlist includes three tracks from Cardi B. Along with her single “Press,” Cardi B’s collaborations with Bruno Mars (“Finesse”) and Ed Sheeran& Camila Cabello(“South of the Border”) get Obama’s blood pumping.

Bruno Mars has a second song, “Perm,” on Obama’s playlist.

Jennifer Lopez gives Obama’s playlist a little old school magic with her “Feelin’ So Good Remix,” featuring Fat Joe & Big Pun.

And when it comes to her post-workout cool down, Obama turns to Miguel and Alicia Keys’ “Show Me Love,” among others.

It's about that time when New Year's resolutions get a bit harder to stick to. To offer a little inspiration, I want to share my go-to #WorkoutPlaylist with you. These songs always seem to give me that extra boost to get through my toughest workouts. What's on your playlist? pic.twitter.com/GFP56Yi9A6
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 19, 2020

Selena Gomez Signs On as Co-Chair of When We All Vote Organization

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is getting out the vote…

The 27-year-old Mexican American singer/actress has signed on as a co-chair of the national organization When We All Vote.

Gomez joins a roster of new co-chairs that includes Liza Koshy, Shonda Rhimes, Megan Rapinoe,Tracee Ellis Rossand Kerry Washington.

The organization was launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks ,Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

When We Vote bills itself as a nonpartisan group dedicated to increasing voter participation. The announcement marks a year until the date of the 2020 elections, which includes the presidential race.

Hanks said “registering new voters is an act of hope and taking part in the American idea.” He added that voting guarantees the blessings of “liberty for the grandkids.”

Cardi B Gets Out the Vote During Global Citizen Festival

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is rappin’ out the vote…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American singer delivered an impassioned social message during her performance at the Global Citizen Festival on Saturday (Sept. 29) at New York’s Central Park.

Cardi B used her platform to inform fans about the importance of voting. The rapper gave a charismatic speech about the recent presidential election before introducing a pre-recorded video message from Michelle Obama.

“Last election, everybody took it as a joke, even me, I’m not even gonna front, because I thought, ‘Man, that person ain’t gonna win’ — and look where we at now,” Cardi said. “We need someone that’s gonna represent us, that’s gonna protect us, not put us with beef with everybody else.”

The 2018 Global Citizen Festival was headlined by John Legend, Jackson, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes, and hosted by Hugh Jackmanand Deborra-lee Furness. The goal of concert was to encourage leaders to reach the U.N.’s sustainable development goals and to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Louis C.K. to Appear on TBS’ “Conan” Show in New York

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Louis C.K. is joining Conan O’Brien in the Big Apple…

The 49-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor is booked for TBS late-night show Conan’s first trip to New York City since 2011.

Louis C.K. joins a guest roster that includes Tracy Morgan and Ryan Reynolds.

The week of shows airing October 31-November 3 also includes comedian Rory Scovel and rap group the Sugarhill Gang. Taped at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, the week of episodes will kick off Conan’s seventh year on TBS.

Here is the preliminary schedule for Conan in NYC, with additional guests and musical performances to be announced soon:

Monday, Oct. 31: Musical guest The Sugarhill Gang
Tuesday, Nov. 1: Louis C.K.
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Ryan Reynolds and Rory Scovel
Thursday, Nov. 3: Tracy Morgan

In addition to the nightly shows, Team Coco will be live-streaming on Instagram and Snapchat every day from inside the Apollo Theater, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the shows.

Conan in NYC marks the show’s sixth out-of-the-studio trip in the past 18 months and its second excursion to New York.

Previous trips have taken O’Brien overseas to South Korea, Armenia and the U.S. Air Force Base in Doha, Qatar, where he was accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama.

In spring 2015, O’Brien made headlines as the first American late-night host to shoot in Cuba in more than 50 years. Across its eight seasons on TBS, the Los Angeles-based Conan has broadcast from Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and, for the past two years, San Diego during Comic-Con International.

Rodriguez to be Focus of Special Exhibit at Miami’s Frost Art Museum

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Narcisco Rodriguez is officially an exhibitionist… Sort of!

The 55-year-old fashion designer’s creations will be featured at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami.

The new exhibition titled, “Narcisco Rodriguez: An Exercise in Minimalism,” is the first solo exhibition for the American designer.

The display of the designer’s thoughtful, modern pieces will also feature never-before-seen archival materials, original sketches, video, and works of art that have influenced Rodriguez’s work.

“I am honored to be asked to be part of the celebrated history of exhibitions presented by the Frost Art Museum FIU — and particularly excited to do so during Art Basel Season in Miami,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

The exhibition — co-curated by Elle creative director Alex Gonzalez and Frost Art Museum curator Klaudio Rodriguez — will kick off with a private reception on October 8 and then open to the public the following day. It will remain on view through Jan. 8, 2017.

Rodriguez’s minimalist luxe designs are a perennial favorite of the Hollywood set. Julianna Margulies most recently wore a single-shoulder look by Rodriguez to the Accessories Council Excellence Awards.

Claire Danes, Emma Watson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw have also worn his dresses.

And First Lady Michelle Obama is a longtime fan; she wore one of his dresses on election night 2008, and another to the final State of the Union address this year.

Bledel Joins Michelle Obama to Promote Let Girls Learn Initiative

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special White House moment for Alexis Bledel…

The 34-year-old half-Argentinean American actress appears in a video with First Lady Michelle Obama, which was posted on Twitter.

It’s part of the ramp up to the return of Gilmore Girls later this year on Netflix.

Helping the First Lady promote her Let Girls Learn initiative, Bledel, in-character as Rory Gilmore, shows up to the White House to drop off a massive number of books for the initiative, treating the great classics of western literature like lazy beach reading and generally being adorably smart.

Just a couple of girls talking about books… (: michelleobama)https://t.co/CS48LB9fk7

— Gilmore Girls (@GilmoreGirls) June 25, 2016

Naturally, the effort on behalf of a good cause also reminds people that Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premieres on Netflix this fall.

Bailon and Her “The Real” Co-Hosts Talk Education with First Lady Michelle Obama

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Adrienne Bailon is helping raise awareness for the White House’s education initiatives…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian American singer, actress, dancer and television personality and her fellow The Real co-hosts visited the nation’s capital recently to interview First Lady Michelle Obama about two student initiatives and more.

Bailon, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley’s sit-down focuses on the “Better Make Room” campaign and the first lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative, an effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by continuing their education beyond high school.

The interview, conducted on Wednesday in the East Room of the White House, will air on January 26.

“We were honored and excited to bring our show to Washington, D.C., to interview First Lady Michelle Obama,” said Rachel Miskowiec, executive producer syndicated daytime talker The Real. “The ‘Better Make Room’ campaign empowers students to pursue a ‘better’ tomorrow by taking charge of their future, which is exactly the kind of thing our hosts and viewers are passionate about.”

Pentatonix Gives Impressive Performance During ABC’s Charlie Brown Christmas Special

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Peanuts-sized Christmas for Kirstie Maldonado…

The 23-year-old half-Mexican, part Spanish-American singer and her fellow Pentatonix members helped spread a little holiday cheer alongside the Peanuts Gang.

In honor of the beloved animated characters and the perennial favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas, ABC aired It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown with a special Pentatonix performance.

The a capella group performed “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” with the All-American Boys Chorus on the show, which was pre-recorded.

Other performers included performers Sarah McLachlan, Boyz II Men, Kristin Chenoweth, and pianist David Benoit, who worked on many of the annual yuletide Charlie Brown specials.

Special guests included Barack and Michelle Obama.

The anniversary program trended worldwide on Twitter due in part to its musical moments.

Colón to Receive National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Miriam Colón has proven her medal…

The 79-year-old Puerto Rican actress is among the 2014 National Medal of Arts recipients who’ll be recognized by President Barack Obama at a special White House ceremony, according to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Designed by Robert Graham, the medal is awarded by the president to individuals or groups for their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States.

Colón is being heralded for her contributions as an actress. “Ms. Colón has been a trailblazer in film, television, and theatre, and helped open doors for generations of Hispanic actors,” according to a statement from the National Endowment for the Arts.

In 1953, The Puerto Rico-born actress moved to New York City, where she was accepted by Actors Studio co-founder Elia Kazan after a single audition, becoming the Studio’s first Puerto Rican member. While in the Big Apple, Colón worked in theater and later landed a role on the soap opera Guiding Light.

Early on in her career, she appeared mostly in westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The High Chaparral, and Have Gun, Will Travel.

Most recently, Colón appeared on television and film in Better Call Saul, Top Five and Bless Me, Ultima.

She’s also the founder and director of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York City.

This year’s ceremony will be held Thursday, September 10 at 12:00 pm in the White House’s East Room. First Lady Michelle Obama will also be in attendance.

Here’s the complete list of recipients:

John Baldessari, visual artist
Ping Chong, theater director, choreographer, and video and installation artist
Miriam Colón, actress
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
Sally Field, actress and filmmaker
Ann Hamilton, visual artist
Stephen King, author
Meredith Monk, composer, singer, and performer
George Shirley, tenor
University Musical Society
Tobias Wolff, author and educator

J Balvin Releases Video for New Single “Ginza”

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin is taking risks with his latest single…

The 30-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer has released the official video for “Ginza,” the new track he recently performed at the Premios Juventud.

J Balvin adds a bit of soca to his familiar reggaeton sound on the blazing dance track, to equally contagious effect.

“With ‘GInza’ I wanted to go beyond my comfort zone,” he said in a statement, “take a risk and bring a new sound to my music. I want to continually explore new and original ideas for Latin music…Cowards rarely make history.”

J Balvin has a jam-packed summer/fall ahead of him. After having turned down an invitation to perform at Donald Trump‘s Miss USA pageant following the presidential hopeful’s controversial remarks about Latinos, he’s instead performing at the July 25 opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, joining First Lady Michelle Obama, Eva Longoria, and fellow headliners Stevie Wonder and Avril Lavigne.

Then, starting in September, he’ll head out on his La Familia tour with Becky G. The tour kicks off September 23 in Miami and wraps October 25 in San Diego, California.

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