Entertainment
Jesse Welles: Keeping the spirit of American folk music alive
The story of America can be told through the lyrics of folk music – songs of the Great Depression, the civil rights era, and the social revolutions of the 1960s. As folk singer Pete Seeger put it in 1967, “A song isn’t a speech; a song is not an editorial. If a song tries to be an editorial or a speech, often it fails as a song. The best songs tell a story, paint a picture, and leave the conclusion up actually to the listener.”
And if you’re wondering whether folk music is still relevant today, take a listen to Jesse Welles. He is 33 years old, with a voice older than his years, and a message that speaks across generations:
It ain’t the banks
And it ain’t the taxes
It ain’t the payday loans and the high rent homes
And predatory fees and practices …
If you worked a little harder
Then you’d have a lot more
So the blame and the shame’s on you
For being so damn poor, yeah
From “The Poor”
CBS News
If it seems fitting right now to have a guy with six strings singing about the times, Welles said, “Every dog has its day!”
Well, it’s your own damn fault you’re so damn fat
Shame, shame, shame
All the food on the shelf was engineered for your health
So you’re gonna have to take the blame
From “Fat”
Welles can be soft-spoken in person, but behind the microphone he sings loud and clear. He takes aim at anyone he thinks takes advantage of working people – the “folks” in folk music.
There ain’t no “you” in UnitedHealth
There ain’t no “me” in the company
There ain’t no “us” in the private trust
There’s hardly “humans” in humanity
From “UnitedHealth”
At a Greenwich Village record store last fall, Welles dug through his musical roots, and his mother’s influence: “She really liked Crosby, Stills and Nash, and she liked Fleetwood Mac,” he said. “She liked pretty, pretty music. But no one was really talking about Dylan. So, I suppose that was maybe the first solo space mission I flew, was to go and find, like, some hard folk music.”
CBS News
He was in New York to perform on CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where he chose a song that speaks to the unease some feel about our moment in history:
Join ICE,
Boy, ain’t it nice?
Join ICE
Take my advice
If you’re lackin’ control and authority,
Come with me and hunt down minorities
Join ICE
From “Join ICE”
Welles is up for four Grammy Awards Sunday, recognition that this troubadour from Ozark, Arkansas, never expected, especially considering his talents seemed to be more on the football field rather than the stage.
He wasn’t always comfortable with his voice, which his sister said sounds like burnt toast. “But burnt toast is still edible!” he laughed.
With that simple and direct “‘burnt toast” sound, Welles gets millions of views on social media.
War isn’t murder
Good men don’t die
Children don’t starve
And all women survive
War isn’t murder
That’s what they say
When you’re fighting the devil
Murder’s okay
From “War Isn’t Murder”
He tapes himself, alone in the Arkansas hills, with lyrics that can seem ripped from the headlines, as in “No Kings.” But he laughs when asked if he sees himself as a political figure: “A political … ? Wow! No!”
Those songs got their start in his spare bedroom-turned-studio, where he played for us a new one:
I knew a man, his only wish
To answer to no one, drink like a fish.
He worked real hard and he got it all.
There was plenty to drink, and no one to call.
If you look down the road, you’ll see the sun
And it makes time, as you take time,
Just to end where you’ve begun.
I’ve got peace like a river.
I’ve got time.
I don’t need a thing
That ain’t already mine.
From “Peace Like a River”
Asked what he’s trying to say in his songs, Welles replied, “I can’t tell you what it means. Like, it’s up to everybody. Nobody is going to paint anything and tell you, ‘This is what I mean when I painted this.’ You know, that’s no fun. That takes away your experience.”
Welles has been embraced by legends of folk and rock. He recently performed with John Fogerty, and late last year he went into the studio with Joan Baez, bridging generations and bringing in new audiences.
Joan Baez and Jesse Welles perform “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” at The Filmore in San Francisco:
For Jesse Welles, it is his way of keeping the spirit of American folk music alive. “I think it’s important that it doesn’t go away,” he said. “It’s something that you know has been going on, it’s been going on for centuries and centuries. You wake up one morning and you go, this is what I do. This is what I was supposed to do.”
You can stream Jesse Welles’ Grammy-nominated album “Under the Powerlines (April 24 – September 24)” by clicking on the embed below (Free Spotify registration required to hear the tracks in full):
For more info:
Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Carol Ross.
Entertainment
Kylie Jenner reunites with Travis Scott for their kids’ joint birthdays
Kylie Jenner reunited with her ex-boyfriend Travis Scott over the weekend to celebrate their kids’ back-to-back birthdays.
The SICKO MODE rapper went all out as he took charge of the birthday celebrations for Stormi, who turned eight years old on February 1, and Aire, who turns four the very next day.
Videos and photos from the birthday bash shared online showed a lavish fantasy land partly inspired by Travis’ Astroworld, with custom signs reading “Stormi World” and “Planet Aire” scattered throughout the venue. The proud dad even designed giant inflatable versions of his children’ s heads modeled after his iconic Astroworld mask at the venue’s entrance.
Inside the sprawling venue was a desert-themed fantasy land complete with full-scale carnival rides, including a pink roller rink and a diner. One sweet moment showed Stormi skating around an indoor roller rink while Travis stayed close, holding her hand and helping her keep her balance.
Kylie was also hands-on throughout the party, joining Travis to sing “Happy Birthday” to both kids as they stood in front of the elaborate setup.
Among the attendees was Kylie’s sister Khloe Kardashian, who shared snaps from the bash to her Instagram Stories.
The children’s grandmother, Kris Jenner, also took to Instagram to pay a special tribute. “Happy birthday to my precious Stormi and Aire! You are both loved beyond measure, and you make our world brighter every single day. Happy birthday my angels!” the matriarch wrote.
Notably missing from the festivities was Kylie’s current boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, who did not appear in any photos or videos from the event.
Kylie and Travis, who dated on and off from 2017 until 2023, once again showed that when it comes to Stormi and Aire, they’re a united front.
Entertainment
“Melania” documentary opens with better ticket sales than expected, despite criticism
Promoted by President Trump as “a must watch,” the Melania Trump documentary “Melania” debuted with a better-than-expected $7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The release of “Melania” was unlike any seen before. Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the rights, plus some $35 million to market it, making it the most expensive documentary ever. Directed by Brett Ratner, who had been exiled from Hollywood since 2017, the film about the first lady debuted in 1,778 theaters in the midst of Mr. Trump’s turbulent second term.
While the result would be a flop for most films with such high costs, “Melania” was a success by documentary standards. It’s the best opening weekend for a documentary, outside of concert films, in 14 years. Going into the weekend, estimates ranged from $3 million to $5 million.
But there was little to compare “Melania” to, given that presidential families typically eschew in-office memoir or documentary releases to avoid the appearance of capitalizing on the White House. The film chronicles Melania Trump over 20 days last January, leading up to Trump’s second inauguration.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump hosted a premiere of the film at the Kennedy Center, with attendees including cabinet members and members of Congress. There, Ratner downplayed its box-office potential, noting: “You can’t expect a documentary to play in theaters.”
Mr. Trump addressed a number of political topics at the premiere event, answering reporters’ questions about the Federal Reserve, Iran, Cuba and more. The first lady told CBS News on the event’s red carpet why she believed people would connect with the documentary.
“I think you will see a lot of emotions, from humor to sadness to grief to celebration, family,” she said.
Jose Luis Magana / AP
The No. 1 movie of the weekend was Sam Raimi’s “Send Help,” a critically acclaimed survival thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. The Walt Disney Co. release debuted with $20 million. The film, with a $40 million budget, was an in-between kind of release for Raimi, whose hits have typically ranged from low-budget cult (“Army of Darkness”) to big-budget blockbuster (2002’s “Spider-Man”).
The microbudget sci-fi horror film “Iron Lung,” directed by YouTuber and filmmaker Markiplier, came in second with $17.9 million, far exceeding expectations. The Jason Statham action thriller “Shelter” debuted with $5.5 million.
But most of the curiosity was on how “Melania” would perform. A week earlier, the White House hosted a black-tie preview attended by Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy, Apple chief executive Tim Cook and former boxer Mike Tyson.
The film arrived in a week dominated by coverage of federal immigration tactics in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
“Melania” didn’t screen in advance for critics, but reviews that rolled out Friday, once the film was in theaters, weren’t good. Xan Brooks of The Guardian compared the film to a “medieval tribute to placate the greedy king on his throne.” Owen Gleiberman of Variety called it a “cheese ball informercial of staggering inertia.” Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “To say that ‘Melania’ is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.”
But among those who bought tickets over the weekend, the response was far more positive. “Melania” landed an “A” CinemaScore. Audiences were overwhelmingly 55 and older (72% of ticket buyers), female (72%) and white (75%). As expected, the movie played best in the South, with top states including Florida and Texas.
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm FranchiseRe, called it “an excellent opening for a political documentary.”
“For any other film, with $75 million in costs and limited foreign potential, it would be a problem,” said Gross. “But this is a political investment, not a for-profit movie venture, and if it helps Amazon with a regulatory, taxation, tariff or other government issue, then it will pay back. $75 million is insignificant to Amazon.”
“Melania” is Ratner’s first film since he was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. Multiple women, including the actor Olivia Munn, accused Ratner of sexual harassment and misconduct. Ratner has denied the allegations. Last fall, after Trump’s reported intervention, Paramount Pictures said it would distribute his “Rush Hour 4.”
“Melania,” which will stream on Prime Video following its theatrical run, was released globally. Shortly before its debut, South African distributor Filmfinity said it would no longer release it. The company said it changed course “based on recent developments.”
International ticket sales for “Melania” were expected to be minuscule.
Weekend box office estimates for the U.S.
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “Send Help,” $20 million.
2. “Iron Lung,” $17.9 million.
3. “Melania,” $7 million.
4. “Zootopia 2,” $5.8 million.
5. “Shelter,” $5.5 million.
6. “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” $5.5 million.
7. “Mercy,” $4.7 million.
8. “The Housemaid,” $3.5 million.
9. “Marty Supreme,” $2.9 million.
10. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” $1.5 million.
Entertainment
Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan turn over a new leaf after decades-long feud
Paris Hilton says it’s all water under the bridge with Lindsay Lohan.
Appearing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Thursday, January 29, the Simple Life alum revealed that she and her longtime rival have reconciled and even bonded over motherhood after years of public tension.
“We are planning to get the kids together,” Hilton, 44, shared. “I am so happy for her. She is glowing. We love being moms.”
Both women have entered a very different chapter of life since their headline-making party days, bonding over motherhood. Hilton shares son Phoenix and daughter London with husband Carter Reum, while Lohan welcomed son Luai with husband Bader Shammas. According to the reality TV star, becoming mothers helped put old drama into perspective.
Their feud famously dates back to 2006, when rumours swirled about a love triangle involving Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos. That same year, oil heir Brandon Davis insulted Lohan while out with Hilton, who was caught on camera laughing. Lohan later claimed Hilton hit her at a party, which Hilton strongly denied.
The jabs continued for years. In 2017, Hilton said Lohan “wasn’t invited” to the iconic “Holy Trinity” night with Britney Spears. And during a 2019 WWHL appearance, she called Lohan “lame” and “embarrassing.”
But by 2022, Hilton insisted there were “no bad vibes,” saying, “We’re not in high school.” She later revealed she reached out to congratulate Lohan on her engagement and even offered some mom-to-mom advice when the Parent Trap star announced her pregnancy in 2023.
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