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Quincy Jones was perhaps best known for his work in pop and R&b music, but the composer, producer and arranger also left an indelible mark on film music with innovative and genre-defying scores. Honoring his groundbreaking contributions to cinema and song at the 2025 Oscars were Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Queen Latifah.

Of Jones, who died in November at the age of 91, Winfrey said: “One’s first thought is musical genius and for good reason.” She cited Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles as artists with whom Jones worked “and the driving force behind ‘We Are The World.’ … But the man, our beloved Q, had an equally important impact on film.”

“When we talk about Black excellence, we talk about Quincy,” added Goldberg from the Oscars stage.

Winfrey credited Jones for launching her own acting career. “He actually discovered me for The Color Purple which was my first film,...

Completing one of the most remarkable two-day stretches in awards-season history, “Anora” won the top feature film prize at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night. The victory came about an hour after its director, Sean Baker, won at the Directors Guild Awards two blocks away, and a little more than 24 hours after the film scored a surprise win for Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards.

The Critics Choice/DGA/PGA trifecta took the Palme d’Or-winning tragicomedic indie from a film that didn’t seem to have much Oscar momentum to the closest thing to a frontrunner in this weird, unsettled season.

TheWrap ran into a dazed Baker in a corner of the lobby after his PGA win and commented, “Hell of a two days.” Baker smiled, shook his head and agreed. “Hell of a two days,” he said.

If “Anora” can win with the Producers Guild and...

Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year and Kendrick Lamar pulled off two remarkable major-category victories at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

“It’s been many, many years,” Beyoncé acknowledged with a slight chuckle while finally accepting the prize that’s eluded her throughout her illustrious career, for Cowboy Carter. She went on to thank her many collaborators and dedicated the win to Linda Martell, the pioneering Black country artist who features on the LP.

“I hope we just keep pushing forward and opening doors,” Beyoncé continued.

Trevor Noah and dozens of music’s greatest artists toned down the self-celebration and focused the 2025 Grammys on helping Los Angeles rise from ashes.

“As usual we’re coming to you live from Los Angeles,” said Noah, opening the show on Sunday. “But what’s unusual are our circumstances this evening. Just a few weeks ago we weren’t sure that this show would even happen. You don’t need me to tell you this, but this city has just been through one of the largest natural disasters in American history. Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, entire neighborhoods have been erased, schools, local business, and entire communities have burned to the ground. Thankfully, due to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has emerged. Neighbors who had never spoken before are helping each other.

Cynthia Erivo‘s incredible vocals were on display during her tribute to the late Quincy Jones at the Grammys.

The award-winning singer and actress was joined by Herbie Hancock to perform the classic song “Fly Me to the Moon” at the 2025 Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 2) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Quincy tribute also featured Lainey Wilson and Jacob Collier performing “Let the Good Times Roll,” Stevie Wonder performing “Bluesette” and “We Are the World,” and Janelle Monae singing “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”

Cynthia was in attendance at the show alongside longtime partner Lena Waithe and a giant ring on her finger has sparked speculation about the status of their relationship.

Head inside to watch the video of the performance…

Watch the videos below.

Cynthia Erivo, accompanied by Herbie Hancock, performs "Fly Me to the Moon" during a tribute to Quincy Jones at the 2025 #Grammys pic.

Actress, singer, songwriter, and rapper Janelle Monáe can now add “Michael Jackson impersonator” to her résumé.

The 10-time Grammy nominee brought down the house with her cover of M.J.’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” complete with a moonwalk, during the ceremony’s Quincy Jones tribute on Sunday night. Monáe performed while wearing a Jackson-esque sparkly tuxedo, bedazzled socks, and sunglasses. She danced with her microphone for much of the routine, and then pushed it aside as she hot-stepped effortlessly around the stage. Watch the video:

Janelle Monáe performs “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” during the Quincy Jones tribute at the 2025 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/yvre306N38

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 3, 2025

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At one point, Monáe removed her black jacket (which Taylor Swift caught and proceeded to wear) and revealed an “I [heart] Qj” tank top in honor of...

A slew of musical artists paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones at the Grammys on Sunday night.

The music legend, who died Nov. 4, was honored with a medley of some of the hundreds of songs he had a hand in during his prolific career as a record producer, film composer, multi-genre artist, entertainment executive and humanitarian.

Will Smith introduced the tribute, calling Jones — known as “Q” to his friends — “one of the most influential and groundbreaking figures of our times.”

Smith noted how Jones changed his life “forever.” He added, “You probably wouldn’t even know who Will Smith was if it wasn’t for Quincy Jones. He made so many greats across multiple genres sound even better.”

Smith went on to talk about how Jones worked with the likes of Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra, with whom Jones formed “a musical partnership...

Quincy Jones was honored at the 2025 Grammy Awards during a special in memoriam segment. Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe headlined the tribute to Jones, who died last November at the age of 91. Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, and Lainey Wilson also delivered performances in tribute to Jones, while Will Smith made his return to a major televised show at Crypto.com area on Sunday night.

Erivo sang “Fly Me to the Moon” — made famous by the producer’s arrangement for Frank Sinatra — accompanied by Hancock on the piano before being joined by a full band.

Original story published Feb. 2 at 1:56 p.m. Pt; updated Feb. 2 at 4:54 p.m. Pt

Of the 94 Grammy categories, the vast majority were handed out Sunday afternoon at the pre-telecast event hosted by songwriter Justin Tranter. See that Premiere category rundown below.

The remaining envelopes will be opened during CBS’ live primetime broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt, with Trevor Noah returning as host for the fifth consecutive time — see his monologue. The nine Grammy categories still to come, in the confirmed order of the ceremony’s rundown, are:

Best Rap Album Best Pop Vocal Album Best Country Album Best New Artist Best Latin Pop Album Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Record of the Year Song of the Year Album of the Year

And here are the remaining Grammy performers, in order of the ceremony’s rundown:

I Love LA Tribute: Dawes w/ All Star Band,...

Here’s How Jennifer Garner Executed “I’m F***ing Ben Affleck” Sketch On Jimmy Kimmel Live (Photo Credit – Facebook)

It turns out that Jennifer Garner was the secret genius behind one of late-night TV’s most iconic sketches. Yep, the hilarious I’m F***ing Ben Affleck from Jimmy Kimmel Live! wouldn’t have existed without her lightbulb moment. And when you learn how it came to life, you’ll wonder why she doesn’t have a comedy writing credit.

The story starts with Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running “feud” with Matt Damon—a gag born from a bad night at the office. Kimmel, down on his luck after hosting a lineup he generously described as “below D-list,” ended the show with a cheeky apology: “I want to apologize to Matt Damon. We ran out of time.” It was an off-the-cuff joke, but Damon’s publicist encouraged him to keep it going.

Year 2024 has officially come to a close, which means it’s time to recap some of the best documentaries, and there were a lot.

From the top of the year all the way down to December, the documentary did not disappoint. The world was taken aback after Investigation Discovery released its highly-anticipated four-part docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids of TV,” which details the numerous workplace abuse allegations involving several Nickelodeon shows and former Nick writer-producer Dan Schneider. Plus, we got an inside look at the making of “We Are the World” with Netflix’s “The Greatest Night in Pop,” and we visited wildlife matriarchies across the globe in Disney’s “Queens.”

Check out our list of the top 10 best documentaries from this year.

Vince McMahon in “Mr. McMahon.” (Credit: Courtesy of Netflix) ‘Mr. McMahon’

“Mr. McMahon” a six-part series, details the rise of World Wrestling Entertainment...

The holidays are coming, and if the weather outside is not to your liking, maybe binging on some excellent music documentaries could save the day

Focusing on Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella performance as one of her key live performances up to that moment, the film focuses on everything that was involved for her as an artist to reach such a peak, and the quality of the insights might also lie in the fact that Beyoncé also produced and directed this documentary herself.

Keith Richards: Under the Influence (2015)

Taking a look at the musical legend and an intriguing character that is Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards was an intriguing prospect that could have gone awry at any point, but the film’s director, Morgan Neville, was able to escape all the possible traps and come up with a film that is so easy to watch.

Miss Americana (2020)

The devoted fans of Taylor Swift...

Lionel Richie, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a legendary singer-songwriter — first with the Commodores, then as a solo artist — as well as a record producer, an American Idol judge and, most recently, a producer and subject of the Netflix documentary about the making of the landmark charity single “We Are the World,” The Greatest Night in Pop. The doc was the most watched English-language film on the streaming service the week it dropped last January, and went on to receive three Emmy nods, including best documentary or nonfiction special. It is now eligible for the best doc feature Oscar and is nominated for the best music film Grammy.

This episode was recorded in Studio A at the former A&m Studios in Hollywood, now known as Henson Studios, where Richie and 45 other A-listers recorded “We are the World” almost exactly 40 years ago,...

There used to be a time when Netflix was just a relatively cheap streaming service where we could watch non-original shows and movies. That changed some time ago, and we are the better for it. The streaming giant makes a lot of money, of course, but they also pour back in some of those dollars to make quality original programming.

Netflix might produce more shows than movies - films can be more costly, obviously - and while every flick is not the remaking of Citizen Kane, the majority of the streamer's originals are better than what we see at the cinemas. In other words, if you take a risk on Netflix one Thursday night, you might unexpectedly find a new favorite movie.

But what we the best of Netflix's original films this year? A couple of the below are not the usual feature film-type material. All of these are worth...

Bill Murray doesn’t think “Saturday Night Live” is any worse now than when he was on the show.

While appearing on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast Wednesday, Murray admonished those critics who think the heyday of “SNL” is long in the rearview. The former cast member said the current skits are just as good as anything he was a part of.

“People always give me a hard time like, ‘Oh god, the original show was so great and it’s lousy now.’ No it’s not,” he said. “The show that’s on now, they do stuff that’s just as good as anybody ever did all the time.”

Watch the interview below:

Murray continued, “And the damn producer’s gotten so good, he’s gotten so damn good at it. He’s ruthless.” Teasingly leaving the 30 Rock legend nameless, he then confirmed: “It’s Lorne Michaels.

On Nov. 2, CBS and CMT simulcast a one-hour prerecorded benefit on behalf of the United Way for relief following hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused $50 billion-plus in damages across Appalachia and the broader Southeast. Blake Shelton, the Zac Brown Band, J.B. Smoove and others made appearances and performed. While the effort raised $6.2 million, it was also indicative of the shrinking footprint of linear television.

In the past, such endeavors were mostly live events, and media conglomerates at times made extraordinary shows of “roadblocking” their air to command the public’s attention and pocketbooks. Veteran TV producer Joel Gallen recalls hearing from the heads of the major networks immediately after Sept. 11 to give them two hours of primetime to orchestrate what became America: A Tribute to Heroes, which raised more than $200 million for the United Way. “It’s unique to receive a call from ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox where they’re coming together like that,...

As music critic and writer Steve Huey once explained, “from 1976 to 1984, the radio airwaves were dominated by really smooth music.” Once known as soft rock, since the mid-2000s pretty much everyone has called it Yacht Rock.

We’re talking of course about the music of people like Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross — pop songwriters at the intersection of soul, jazz and disco who were defiantly uncool for their day but are now recognized as the legends they are. And as an early Christmas president, HBO is giving people a crash course via “Yacht Rock: A Documentary,” which debuts Nov. 29.

Directed by Garret Price, the film features commentary from legends like McDonald, Loggins, Cross and more, plus some of the people they influenced — like Thundercat, Mac DeMarco and Questlove.

Watch the trailer below now:

And as you can see in the trailer, thankfully it also finally...

After the Egot died at age 91 earlier this month, Quincy Jones‘ cause of death has been determined.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revealed in Jones’ death certificate that he died of pancreatic cancer, with no other contributing factors, according to TMZ.

Jones’ publicist Arnold Robinson previously announced that he died on Sunday, Nov. 3 at his Bel-Air home.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” said Jones’ family in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

The musician, composer, producer and songwriter was behind such Michael Jackson albums as Thriller, Off the Wall (1980), Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987), as well as decades of work with Frank Sinatra, conducting his and Count Basie’s It Might as...

America’s late-night talk show hosts are currently reeling from the dismal election results, but what about ex-hosts?

Well, Jay Leno proclaimed that it was a “great day for democracy” during an interview on The Talk, proving once again that we really don’t need to hear from Jay Leno on any subject ever again for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, Leno’s former competitor David Letterman has also been weighing in on the election, albeit in a slightly subtler manner.

Letterman was a vocal supporter of the Democrats this year, and was scheduled to host a fundraiser for Joe Biden until he dropped out. The event still happened, but with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff instead — although not getting Commander, Biden’s bitey German Shepherd, to perform some Stupid Pet Tricks feels like a missed opportunity.

While Letterman hasn’t made any public statements this week, his official YouTube...

Celine Dion paid her respects to the legendary producer Quincy Jones. On Tuesday, she reflected on his mentorship and the cherished moments the two spent in the recording studio.

“I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of my friend, the one and only musical genius, Quincy Jones,” Dion wrote in an Instagram post. “Quincy touched my world as both a cherished mentor and as also as someone I looked up to for his deep impact on virtually every form of American music.”

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A post...

Jamie Foxx has joined the likes of Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Toto’s Steve Lukather, and others who have paid tribute to the “peerless music producer” Quincy Jones in the wake of his death at the age of 91. In his own post, Foxx thanked the late producer for his indelible impact on music and the kindness he showed his late sister.

“You allowed her to feel like she was a superstar,” Foxx said of his sister, DeOndra Dixon who died in October 2020. “She loves you just like all of us did…...

You can hear the influence of Quincy Jones, who died Sunday, in practically every genre of music. In the music of Stevie Wonder — who grew up listening to Jones’ own records and work with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and others — Jones’ influence lives strongest in the way Wonder arranges his music and in the verve of his singing.

Jones and Wonder worked together several times, including productions for Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, and USA for Africa, but Wonder still marvels at the times Jones recorded his songs — including “You’ve Got It Bad,...

Quincy Jones, the iconic songwriter and producer behind some of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, has died at the age of 91. His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that Jones died peacefully at his Bel Air home on Sunday night, surrounded by family.

Jones is set to receive an honorary Oscar from the Academy Awards later this month.

Born in Chicago, he eventually settled in Seattle, where his passion for jazz flourished. After earning scholarships to Seattle University and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jones left his studies to tour with bandleader Lionel Hampton in 1952, marking the start of a storied career.

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Throughout the 1950s, Jones toured extensively and served as music director for the French label Barclay Disques. Then, he returned to the U.S. to work with Mercury Records. His breakthrough as...

What couldn’t Quincy Jones do?

He wrote, composed and arranged music for your favorite artists and even produced films and TV shows that launched some of your favorite actors. He not only changed careers — he changed lives.

Here we break down some of the biggest acts and projects Jones worked on, from Michael Jackson’s seminal Thriller album to “We Are the World” to winning 28 Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony.

Michael Jackson

Before he met Jones while working on The Wiz, Jackson had been known for the Jackson 5 and released four solo albums that had mild success. Then they made Off the Wall and the King of Pop fully arrived. Released in 1979 around the time Jackson turned 21, the album helped him transition from young singer to critically acclaimed, matured artist. The album’s disco, funk and R&b sound resonated on the charts, helped Jackson win his first...

It is impossible to overstate Quincy Jones' influence on music and the music business throughout the second half of the 20th century. There wasn't a genre that Jones, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91, couldn't master as a composer, producer, performer, or all three. He kicked off his career playing trumpet for vibraphone god Lionel Hampton, served as trumpeter and music director for Dizzy Gillespie, and produced effervescent pop hits like "It's My Party" for Lesley Gore while expanding his range compositionally via jazz LPs and, perhaps most importantly, film music -- a field where the African-American artist stood out among a sea of white men.

Curiously, there isn't as much serious scholarship on the work of Jones, which is rather astounding considering his seismic 1970s and '80s impact as a producer for Michael Jackson on two of the top-selling LPs of all time ("Off the Wall...

From the first seed of an idea to the creative chaos of cramming 40-plus celebrities into a single recording studio, The Greatest Night in Pop, the new documentary from director Bao Nguyen (Be Water)chronicles every obstacle and behind-the-scenes story that led to the iconic song we all know and love. Still performed at karaoke bars and school recitals all over the globe, “We Are the World” gathered together dozens of pop and rock luminaries on one unprecedented night to raise millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for African famine relief. Upon its release in 1985, it quickly became the first single to be certified multiplatinum. The song was produced by the late Quincy Jones, and co-written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson at the height of their fame — in an interview with Tudum, Richie says Jones “organized chaos” to pull of the legendary recording session. “We Are the World”...

Logistically, the task seemed impossible: Gather 46 of the world’s most massive musical stars in a Los Angeles studio and record a hit song, all in a single night. Oh, and the reason for this ambitious endeavor? To raise a record-breaking amount of money to benefit African famine relief and forever alter global pop culture.

No pressure or anything.

On Jan. 28, 1985, that’s exactly what happened during the recording session for “We Are the World.” The story of The Greatest Night in Pop is told in a new documentary film from director Bao Nguyen (Be Water): the idea, the song, and the long, wild night in the studio with some of the most significant musicians of the 20th century.

“This story starts with a call from Harry Belafonte,” Nguyen tells Tudum, referring to the late singer and activist’s idea...

Quincy Jones’ countless friends, fans, and peers have started sharing tributes to the legendary musician and producer following his death on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the age of 91.

On Instagram, the estate of Michael Jackson called Jones “a legendary talent whose contributions to music spanned generations and genres,” and celebrating his “unmatched” collaborations with Jackson, from their hit albums to the seminal charity single, “We Are the World.”

“But it was Quincy’s role as a father that was the most important to him,” the Jackson estate added. “Condolences to all of his children.

Music legend, Quincy Jones has sadly passed away. He was 91 so he lived a very full and colorful life in an amazing industry. So, is there a cause of death, and how are his beloved Hollywood friends and followers reacting to the news? Keep reading for more details.

Music Legend Quincy Jones Dead At 91

It is a sad day as legendary music producer, Quincy Jones has passed away at the age of 91. He has had an illustrious career and worked with incredible legends. They included the likes of Michael Jackson, Will Smith, and “Old Blue Eyes,” Frank Sinatra. According to TMZ, Jones died on Sunday, November 3rd in his Bel-Air home.

Quincy Jones-YouTube

He was surrounded by loved ones on that sad night with his publicist, Arnold Robinson, releasing a heartbreaking statement:

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing.

Quincy Jones, producer of several of the best-selling albums of all time, died at his home in Bel Air on Sunday as per his publicist. Though his work covered all genres, Jones will forever be best known for helping coronate the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, by helping craft Jackson’s infectious and highly lucrative sound across three classic albums: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. In 1985, he produced the “We Are The World” session, arguably the apex of 1980s pop music.

Jones, who in 1968 became the first African-American nominated for a Best Original Song Academy Award with “The Eyes of Love,” received an astonishing 80 Grammy nominations and 28 Grammy Awards throughout his career. His wins were for arranging, producing, and performing, and he won the 1988 Album of the Year prize for Back on the Block, an R&b-pop-hip hop cross-generational collaboration including artists like Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, Ice-t, Kool Moe Dee,...

Legendary music producer and composer Quincy Jones, who amassed 28 Grammy Award wins across his multi-decade career, died on Sunday at the age of 91.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the Jones family said in a statement obtained by our sister site Variety. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense...

Quincy Jones, the legendary record producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose contributions to contemporary music spanned over seven decades and multiple genres such as jazz, pop, and hip-hop, has died at the age of 91.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” Jones’ family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Jones was one of the most celebrated icons in the music industry, garnering a record 80 Grammy nominations and 28 wins, including three Producer of the Year honors and two Album of the Year and Song of the Year awards each. His most recent win came in 2019 when Quincy, the semi-autobiographical documentary written and co-directed by his daughter Rashida Jones, took home Best Music Film.

As a producer and arranger,...

Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Will Smith and the Estate of Michael Jackson were among the prominent Hollywood figures to pay tribute to Quincy Jones following news of his death early Monday.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

A giant in the music industry, Jones had a phenomenal career that spanned more than 60 years. He produced Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad; helmed the historic recording sessions for the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” the best-selling single of all time; and produced Lesley Gore’s 1963 chart-topping hit “It’s My Party.”

Jones received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, an honorary Oscar in 2024 and the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and reeled in 28 Grammys from an all-time best 80 nominations.

The Estate of Michael Jackson said in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter,...

Quincy Jones, the musical giant who did it all as a record producer, film composer, multi-genre artist, entertainment executive and humanitarian, has died. He was 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, said that he died Sunday night at his Bel-Air home surrounded by his family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Jones received the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and 28 Grammys from an all-time best 80 nominations. He was to be presented with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards on Nov. 17.

Survivors include one of his seven children, actress Rashida Jones.

In a phenomenal career that spanned more than 60 years,...

Quincy Jones, who distinguished himself over the course of a 70-year career in music as an artist, bandleader, composer, arranger and producer, has died. He was 91.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to a statement shared with Variety by his rep Arnold Robinson. A cause of death was not disclosed.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the Jones family said in the statement. “He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the...

The 2024 Netflix music documentary The Greatest Night in Pop features behind-the-scenes footage and details of the historic "We Are The World" song's creation. Released back in 1985, "We Are The World" brought together the biggest names in the music industry from all types of genres, including pop, country, folk, rock, and more. The song was assembled by producers Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian and was originated by musician and activist Harry Belafonte and manager Ken Kragen.

The Greatest Night in Pop features new present-day interviews from Lionel Richie, who was a songwriter on "We Are The World" along with pop star Michael Jackson. Richie and Jackson had become acquaintances while their immensely successful music careers were just taking off as the lead singers of The Commodores and The Jackson Five, respectively. "We Are The World" remains to be one of the best-selling songs of all time, selling over 20 million physical copies during the mid-1980s.

The San Quentin Film Festival — the first-ever film festival taking place inside of a prison — has added a new title to its lineup: “Four Letters,” a documentary short that was scored and executive produced by Common.

The festival marks the first industry and press screening of “Four Letters,” but its world premiere took place on screens across all state prisons administered by California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation in April as a part of Second Chance Month, an initiative led by justice reform nonprofit Prison Fellowship.

“Four Letters” tells the story of software engineer Charles Anderson before, during and after his incarceration to follow, per the official description, “his journey from the depths of the criminal justice system to the heights of global tech giants.” Anderson, who serves as a producer on “Four Letters,” first discovered coding in prison before using the skill to connect with recently incarcerated youth and discuss...

If “We Are the World” marked The Greatest Night in Pop, then the Monterey International Pop Festival can easily be considered one of the most remarkable weekends in rock history. Yes, Otis Redding gave the performance of a lifetime and Ravi Shankar secured his legendary status, but it was Jimi Hendrix whose set goes down in history as fire, culminating in him setting his guitar ablaze during a transcendent rendition of “Wild Thing.” That night will no doubt be part of the upcoming doc about the life, times and experiences of Jimi Hendrix.

Director Bao Nguyen – who was also behind the Bruce Lee doc Be Water – said of his approach to his Jimi Hendrix film, “Telling the story of Jimi Hendrix during his pivotal years in London is both a profound honor and a unique responsibility. London has always been a city that inspires me. Having lived there, I felt...

A feature film documentary about the life of Jimi Hendrix is on the way. On Friday, the film’s producers announced that Bao Nguyen, the director behind The Greatest Night in Pop, will direct the upcoming film, Jimi.

“Telling the story of Jimi Hendrix during his pivotal years in London is both a profound honor and a unique responsibility,” Nguyen said in a statement. “I approach this project with deep respect for his legacy and the cultural significance he holds as an American original.”

The documentary “will tell the story...

On the heels of three Emmy nominations for his most recent documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, Bao Nguyen has entered production on Jimi, an authorized, feature-length doc on the meteoric rise of rock star Jimi Hendrix for Double Agent (Asif Kapadia’s 2073), Network Entertainment, and Experience Hendrix.

The origin story watches as 23-year-old unsung sideman Jimmy James arrives in the Swinging London of 1966 and quickly establishes himself as “Jimi Hendrix,” blowing away the luminaries of the era with his virtuosic technique. Within a year, Hendrix is catapulted back to the U.S. for his breakout psychedelic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, exploding into the most iconic guitar player in the history of popular music. Through newly commissioned interviews, never-before-seen photos and meticulously curated and restored archival footage, as well as the immortal Hendrix tracks that dominated the charts, Jimi will tell the story of a transformational...

The Greatest Night in Pop director Bao Nguyen has been tapped to helm Jimi, a feature documentary about the origin story for the legendary rock star Jimi Hendrix.

Authorized for the first time by the Jimi Hendrix estate, the film is produced by Network Entertainment, financier Double Agent and Experience Hendrix.

“Telling the story of Jimi Hendrix during his pivotal years in London is both a profound honor and a unique responsibility. London has always been a city that inspires me. Having lived there, I felt a deep connection to its creative energy, much like Jimi did when his creativity reached extraordinary heights,” Nguyen said in a statement on Friday.

The director was recently nominated for three Emmys for his work on The Greatest Night in Pop. Produced with Lionel Richie, the film recalled the making of a benefit single for African famine relief and the superstar artists that shaped...

“The Greatest Night in Pop” director Bao Nguyen has found his next music-themed project: a feature-length documentary about Jimi Hendrix.

“Jimi,” from Double Agent, Network Entertainment and Experience Hendrix, is authorized by the iconic rocker’s estate.

According to a press release, the film “will tell the story of a transformational period in music history when Jimi Hendrix set the world — and his guitar — on fire.” It will follow the young Hendrix’s rise to rock ‘n’ roll stardom in the 1960s as he wowed audiences in London before heading back to the U.S. for his breakthrough psychedelic master class at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

“Jimi’s time in London was some of the most pivotal in his life journey and his musical career. The social scene, night life that often bled into day, connections made, decisions on where he wanted to take his music and where he...

Michael Joseph Jackson was born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. The son of Joe and Katherine Jackson made his public singing debut as part of the Jackson 5 in 1964, joining his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. By 1968 the group was signed to Motown and achieved worldwide success with Michael as the lead singer.

In 1971 Michael began his solo career with Motown and achieved instant success with hits like “Got to Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin” and “Ben.” By 1973, the success was dwindling and Michael’s songs weren’t charting like they used to. After taking some time to grow into a man (and an artist), Michael was signed to Epic Records and released the “Off the Wall” album in 1979. With five singles including the chart-toppers “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough” and “Rock With You,” Michael had catapulted himself into a certified multi-platinum superstar.

From that point on, everything Michael...

Michael Joseph Jackson was born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. The son of Joe and Katherine Jackson made his public singing debut as part of the Jackson 5 in 1964, joining his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. By 1968 the group was signed to Motown and achieved worldwide success with Michael as the lead singer.

In 1971 Michael began his solo career with Motown and achieved instant success with hits like “Got to Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin” and “Ben.” By 1973, the success was dwindling and Michael’s songs weren’t charting like they used to. After taking some time to grow into a man (and an artist), Michael was signed to Epic Records and released the “Off the Wall” album in 1979. With five singles including the chart-toppers “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough” and “Rock With You,” Michael had catapulted himself into a certified multi-platinum superstar.

From that point on, everything Michael...

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The State of the Race

The Emmy nominations for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special were definitely more predictable than their counterparts on the series end. Most of the projects recognized fit the mold of what has won recently, with one nominee “Girls State” even being...

“Jim Henson Idea Man” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 ahead of its worldwide premiere on Disney+ on May 31, just in time to qualify for the 2024 Emmys. The film ultimately racked up eight nominations and leads our racetrack odds for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special based on the combined predictions of Gold Derby users. But not everyone agrees with that consensus. The Expert journalists we’ve surveyed from major media outlets think differently.

Helmed by Oscar winner Ron Howard, “Idea Man” chronicles the life and career of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. It’s the most nominated film in its Emmy race, with bids for its cinematography, directing, picture editing, music composition, sound editing, sound mixing and writing in addition to its nom in the top category. It’s backed by five out of 11 Gold Derby Editors, 21 of our Top 24 Users and 20 of our All-Star Top 24, giving...

In the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, tensions are high as more than 40 of the top musicians of the ’80s, including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross and Cyndi Lauper, only have a few late night hours to record the anthem “We Are the World.”

The tension is so palpable that it was still present decades later at the January premiere of the documentary, recalls Lionel Richie, who co-wrote the song with Michael Jackson and was a producer on the doc.

“When we did the premiere, Huey Lewis was sitting with me, and he leaned over to me and said, ‘I don’t think we’re going to make it.’ And I said, ‘Huey, it was 40 years ago. We made it,’ ” Richie says, laughing.

The song was recorded in January 1985 by the supergroup of stars, which also included Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner and Harry Belafonte...

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? fans are buzzing after the latest episode featuring the season’s first official winners of the top prize.

The season premiered weeks ago on ABC and introduced a change to the format. Instead of one contestant playing the game, there are two.

In addition, it’s a pair of celebrity contestants who are typically good friends, colleagues, or family members, such as Jack and Kelly Osbourne.

While previous Millionaire formats had everyday contestants playing the game to leave with some significant money, the celebrity pairs are playing for money that goes to charities of their choice.

During the Wednesday, August 14 episode, viewers saw another pair of celebs attempt to climb up the board and win the $1 million.

One of the two teams did just that, which was the first time it had happened on the game show under the new team format.

Millionaire celebrity...

Cash Cobain and Laila’s! long-awaited single, “Problem,” is here. The nearly-eight-minute track dropped a week before the surging New York rapper/producer’s Play Cash Cobain album is set to drop on August 23. Humorously billed on X as a “we are the world” track, the slick flip of Laila!’s “Not My Problem” features a slew of artists: Fabolous, Big Sean, Kenzo B, Lay Bankz, Luh Tyler, Anycia, Chow Lee, Kaliii, 6lack, Flo Milli, Yn Jay, Flee, Don Q and Rob49. The artists take turns riffing on Laila’s...

Three years after “Boys State” won the Emmy for Best Documentary Special, its first companion film, “Girls State,” is competing for the same honor. While it has solid potential to directly follow “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” as the third Apple TV+ special to take this prize, it will have to stand out from a crowd of strong contenders, including the same platform’s “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces.”

Unlike most Primetime Emmys, Best Documentary Special is a non-competitive area award that is bestowed upon any nominee that earns the approval of 90% of the members of the TV academy’s documentary peer group. This means that the five programs in the 2024 lineup are not vying for a single trophy and could all potentially prevail. However, if no nominees hit said 90% threshold, only the highest-rated one will win.

In order to determine which of this year’s nominees...