Sebastian Yatra Teams Up with Rita Wilson for “A Man Called Otto” Track “Til You’re Home”

Sebastián Yatra is bringing it home

The 28-year-old Colombian Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter has joined voices with Rita Wilson to record the new track “Til You’re Home” for the upcoming film A Man Called Otto starring Wilson’s husband Tom Hanks.

Sebastian Yatra“I am extremely honored by Rita Wilson’s invitation to join her on ‘Til You’re Home’ for the A Man Called Otto soundtrack,” Yatra said in a statement. “The story behind the film is heartwarming and moving and I was inspired to convey that emotion in this song. Overall, this project has been very inspiring and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

“Til You’re Home” was co-written by Wilson and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer David Hodges. Its co-producers include Wilson and Grammy winner Matt Rollings.

The song, with its warm, inviting vocals over a piano, is already receiving recognition, as it was nominated for best song in a film (independent) at the 2022 Hollywood in Music Media Awards.

The collaboration is a first for Wilson and Yatra, which was sparked after the director of A Man Called Otto, Marc Forster, asked Wilson to write a song for the film.

“I was very humbled and grateful for the opportunity, but also made him promise to be honest with me if he didn’t want to use the song. As the producer of the film, my first allegiance is to the film and to the director’s vision,” Wilson said. “David Hodges and I had written together before and have always been like-minded musically and lyrically. A lot of the inspiration began with David Magee’s script. This is a movie about love, the depths of love and how love continues even after a person leaves this earth,” she continued.

“There are two LatinX characters in the film – I wanted to find a way to bring them into the song,” Wilson added. “I envisioned it as a duet… I have loved Sebastián Yatra’s voice since hearing him in Encanto, and he felt like the perfect person to do it. We were incredibly lucky he said ‘yes’ and all the planets aligned.”

A Man Called Otto — which hits theaters on Christmas Day — tells the story of Otto Anderson (Hanks), someone who no longer sees purpose in life after losing his wife. He plans to end it all, but his plan is derailed when a young family moves next door and he meets his match in the character Marisol, who challenges Anderson to see life through a different lens, leading to a friendship that changes his life for the better.

The A Man Called Otto soundtrack album, featuring composer Thomas Newman’s score and “Til You’re Home,” will be released December 30 via Decca Records.

Jennifer Lopez Joins Michelle Obama’s ‘When We All Vote’ Initiative

Jennifer Lopez is helping get out the congressional vote…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is among the celebrities who’ve joined a national nonpartisan voting initiative launched by former Michelle Obama as the effort gears up for the November congressional elections.

Jennifer Lopez

“Are you ready for the midterm elections?” the former first lady asks in the a video announcement.

J.Lo is one the newest co-chairs of Obama’s When We All Vote initiative, alongside H.E.R, Steph Curry, Becky G and Bretman Rock.

They join Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, Liza KoshyJanelle MonaeLin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Paul, Megan Rapino, Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson.

The volunteer co-chairs use their platforms to help boost voter registration and education with the goal of helping increase turnout for congressional and state elections in November. Democrats currently have slim majorities in both the House and Senate.

“The right to vote is so important and I hope to inspire many in my generation to exercise that right often and purposefully,” H.E.R said in a statement provided by When We All Vote. “That’s the only way that we can hope to make change in policies that affect us all now and for many years to come.”

Mrs. Obama launched the voter education and registration initiative for the 2018 midterm elections.

Rita Moreno Dons ‘Vote’ Mask as Part of When We All Vote’s New ‘Get Out The Vote’ Campaign

Rita Moreno isn’t masking her feelings about the importance of voting this year…

With the November election right around the corner, the 88-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress and Latina icon is encouraging people to do their civic duty without uttering a single word.

Rita Moreno

Moreno is taking part in When We All Vote’s new campaign.

Director and producer Allen Hughes has brought together a wide range of artists, athletes, industry leaders, and notable community members wearing a “VOTE” face covering to inspire maximum voter participation.

When We All Vote

Those taking part in this year’s mask campaign include Tony Bennett, Dr. Dre, Robert De Niro, Larry David, Megan Rapinoe, Sean Penn, David Crosby, Snoop Dogg, Diane von Furstenberg, Padma Lakshmi, Sterling K Brown, Tyler Oakley, Kevin Love, Ron Howard, Judd Apatow, Lindsey Vonn, Michael Keaton, Bryan Cranston, Sandra Oh, Steve Buscemi, Pamela Adlon, Christopher Poindexter, Rita Moreno, Iliza Shlesinger, and Deepak Chopra, along with healthcare worker Cady Chaplin.

“This is clearly an existential election year, and it’s critical that every eligible voter in every community engage in this election,” Hughes says. “The very soul of our nation is on the ballot November 3rd, 2020.”

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote uses a data-driven approach to increase participation in elections. The group focuseson increasing participation in every election while closing the race and age voting gap. The goal is to change the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.

In addition, Michelle Obama has added Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson to this year’s co-chair list.

For more information on the organization and its new campaign, visit whenweallvote.org.

Penelope Cruz to Take Part in One World Campaign’s #PassTheMic COVID-19 Awareness Campaign

Penelope Cruz is passing the mic for a good cause…

The 46-year-old Spanish actress is among the celebrities who’ll be surrendering their social media accounts for ONE World Campaign’s #PassTheMic campaign. 

Penelope Cruz

The campaign will have actors like Cruz, Julia RobertsDanai GuriraHugh JackmanDavid OyelowoShailene Woodley and Rainn Wilson handing over their platforms to global health, economic and policy experts and frontline workers. 

The experts will offer pertinent information grounded in data, science and facts as they address why a global response to this pandemic is so crucial.

The campaign will kick off on Thursday with Roberts handing off her accounts to Dr. Anthony Fauci who is a key member of the White House’s coronavirus task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Yemi AladeConnie BrittonMillie Bobby BrownSarah Jessica ParkerBusy PhilippsRita WilsonRobin Wright and more also set to participate. 

Experts taking over their accounts include Bill Frist (physician and former US Senator from Tennessee, Doctor), Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (former President of Liberia), Vera Songwe (Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa), Craig Spencer (Director of Global Health in Emergency Medicine, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center) among others.

#PasstheMic is part of One’s One World Campaign call-to-action for a global response to COVID-19 looks to protect the most vulnerable and supports people worst hit economically while strengthening health systems and creating a more equal world.

Fifth Harmony to Perform at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Ally Brooke Hernandez, Lauren Jauregui and Camila Cabello are ready to rock our nation’s capital…

The Latina singers and their fellow Fifth Harmony members will perform at the 92nd Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C., on December 4.

Fifth Harmony

The national tree lighting tradition was started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923 and is presented by the National Park Service. Support is provided by the National Park Foundation, the fundraising arm for the parks and event sponsors.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will co-host ceremony.

Wilson will perform during the show, along with Ne-Yo, Steve Miller, Chely Wright, Patti LaBelle, Nico & Vinz and The Tenors.

The festivities kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET with a pre-show on the Ellipse at President’s Park.

As a sponsor of this year’s event, Google’s Made With Code will give girls around the country a chance to code a lighting design for the 56 state and territory trees using introductory programming language. The designs will appear live on the trees. Coding starts Tuesday at madewithcode.com.

Herrera Honored by EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund

She may be a noted fashion designer, but Carolina Herrera is also an extremely charitable woman…

The 74-year-old Venezuelan-born designer was honored by the EIF Women’s Cancer Research Fund at an event hosted by Chelsea Handler.

Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera

Herrera, who received the Nat King Cole Award, was recognized for her contributions to philanthropic organizations. Meanwhile, the night’s other honoree Kylie Minogue accepted the Courage Award for her dedication to spreading awareness following her triumph over breast cancer.

The 16th annual event, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel by Saks Fifth Avenue, benefited the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund in the campaign for finding a cure.

Attendees included Kobe Bryant, Angie Harmon, Mitch Glazer, Kelly Lynch, Julianne Hough and Amber Valletta. Honorary Chairs Rita Wilson and Kate Capshaw, and co-founders Kelly Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jaime Tisch, joined guests in an effort to garner continued support for innovative cancer research.

“I want us to find a cure for breast cancer,” Wilson told The Hollywood Reporter about her support for the organization. “I want there to be a blood test where you can easily find out if you’re at risk.”

The EIF’s WCRF also funds research conducted at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-accredited medical institutions, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The evening closed with a musical performance by Bruno Mars.