-
Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 24, 2015
September 24, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
Married:
USHER and his longtime girlfriend GRACE MIGUEL. Us Weekly reports the pair secretly tied the knot, before hopping a plane to Cuba for their honeymoon over Labor Day weekend, and noting: Usher's wedding band is clearly visible in an Instagram photo posted by his new bride.
ARETHA FRANKLIN has a gift for the Pope. The Philadelphia Inquirer says she'll be performing for His Holiness on Saturday at the Festival of Families concert, and will offer the Pope a box set of recorded sermons by her father, civil rights activist and preacher, The Reverend C.L. FRANKLIN. Aretha will sing "Amazing Grace" at the concert, along with one other tune that she says will be a surprise. (Marino)
The White House:
The White House says it's planning for the possibility of a shutdown next Wednesday, October 1st, if Congress can't agree on a budget. Spokesman JOSH EARNEST told reporters that it was "only prudent to begin such planning... (it's)... a process that we have unfortunately become all too familiar with."
Money to pay for the operations of the federal government will dry up next week unless Congress passes a short-term funding measure, which could be blocked over opposition to federal money being allocated to Planned Parenthood. (Pacelli)On, off and way-off-Broadway:
VIOLA DAVIS is working on a stage project with playwright TONY KUSHNER. She just became the first African American to win the Best Lead Actress in a Drama Emmy for "How To Get Away With Murder," and Variety says Viola and Tony will write a play about Congresswoman BARBARA JORDAN. She passed away in 1996 but also achieved many "firsts" including the first Southern African American woman elected to Congress. (Marino)
Models:
"Duck Dynasty's" SADIE ROBERTSON is a denim model now. People Stylewatch says the jeans-wearing reality star is the face of Wild Blue Denim's upcoming holiday campaigns. She'll also appear as the model for their spring line. (Bartha)
Broadcast, cable and video news:
CLAIRE DANES gets a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame at 11:30 (Pacific) this morning in front of the White House Cafe at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard.
ALEX GANZA, the co-creator and Executive Producer of "Homeland," will be speaking and help unveil her star. -
-