By JM Stephens
10:18am PDT, Aug 27, 2020
Simon Cowell breaks his back
Simon Cowell has proven that no matter how rich and famous you are, you cannot beat gravity! The British music mogul broke his back in Los Angeles while riding his electric bike. "Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages," he tweeted on Aug. 9. While Simon was quick to downplay the accident, witnesses saw the "America's Got Talent" judge go down hard. "He did a turn in his courtyard, changed gear, and then the bike went into a wheelie and threw him off the back," a source told Page Six. "Simon was in complete agony and was stretchered out of his home and taken in an ambulance to hospital. Friends at the scene quickly checked that he could move fingers and toes… When he fell off the bike, he landed right on his back, which broke in a number of places. He had to have a metal rod inserted into his back."
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Dunzo after 10 months
Thats a wrap! On Aug. 13, TMZ reported that singer-actress Miley Cyrus and Australian singer-songwriter Cody Simpson had recently ended their 10-month relationship. Miley took to Instagram Live to address the rumors later that day, confirming the split. "Right now, two halves can't make a whole and we're individually just working on ourselves to become the people that we wanna be, like everybody else at this age. We are just deciding who we wanna be in our lives, what we wanna do, and so, don't make it some drama story if next week we're hanging out, getting pizza. We've been friends for 10 years and we're going to continue to be friends, so just don't make it something that it is not."
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Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" breaks records
Cardi B continues to break records! After her provocative song "WAP" with Megan Thee Stallion dropped, the internet went crazy over the suggestive lyrics and female empowerment message. It quickly broke the U.S. record for the most first-week streams for a song ever. Then on Aug. 17, Billboard announced that not only did the track debut at No. 1 — giving Cardi her fourth Hot 100 No. 1 and Meg her second — but that is was also the first female rap collaboration to debut at the top of the chart. Cardi expressed her excitement on Instagram, writing, "Breaking pop records! HIP HOP DID THAT !! I'm sooo f****** happy. I'm so proud of us! Yooo God is sooooo big. I did NOT see this coming I wasn't even expecting all this yooo. Wap Wap Wap!!!!! Thank you @theestallion!!! GETTING DRUNKYYY EARLY!!!!" "WAP" also broke a major record on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, becoming the first female-led rap song to land a No. 1 spot in 28 years. It's also the first ever female rap collaboration to get to No. 1 Down Under and Cardi's first time topping the Australian charts. Congrats, Bardi!
A change in Britney Spears conservatorship?
Britney Spears wants a change! On Aug. 18, TMZ reported that Britney asked a judge to remove her father as the sole conservator of her estate in favor of having Jodi Montgomery — a licensed conservator assigned to temporarily fill in for Jamie beginning last September as he battled health issues — take over. In the documents, Britney's lawyers also made it known she did not want her father to control her business affairs any longer and instead wants a "qualified corporate fiduciary" in charge of her finances. According to TMZ, "conversations have been had about adding a corporate fiduciary — which we're told would likely be a bank — but that the talks have included Jamie staying on as co-conservator of the estate." A judge then extended the conservatorship, which has been in effect since 2008, through at least February 2021.
Barack Obama releases his annual playlist
Former President Barack Obama continues to prove that he is cool with a capital C. The politician took to Instagram to release his 2020 playlist and, like every time before, he shocked everyone by not only connecting with the youth but by making sure he threw some songs in there that his age group would also enjoy. The 53-song playlist covers all genres of music with some of the stand-out recommendations being "Gaslighter" by The Chicks, "Savage Remix" by Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce, "Nick of Time" by Bonnie Raitt and "My Future" by Billie Eilish.
Taylor Swift calls out Donald Trump
Taylor Swift has changed her tune since the 2016 election. The pop icon, who was often criticized for not speaking up about political issues before Donald Trump was elected president, has spent the past few years using her platform to encourage her fans to get involved in the political process. On Aug. 15, Taylor called out Trump directly on Twitter for his behavior involving the U.S. Postal Service. The superstar tweeted, "Trump's calculated dismantling of USPS proves one thing clearly: He is WELL AWARE that we do not want him as our president. He's chosen to blatantly cheat and put millions of Americans' lives at risk in an effort to hold on to power." It's the latest subject the pop star has weighed in on following statements on issues including LGBTQ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Surprisingly, Trump this time refrained from responding to Taylor.
Saving their marriage?
While heading to a tropical island with your family for a vacation might sound fantastic, a recent trip taken by rapper-designer-politician Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian West wasn't exactly the happiest journey. TMZ reported on Aug. 2 that the Kardashian-West clan hopped on a private jet bound for a secret destination so they could privately work on their very public issues as the sought to save their six-year marriage. TMZ reported that the trip was meant to "be a time for [Kanye] to prove … he's willing to change for his family," and that Kimye wanted to "try and work things out." They headed to a $43,000-a-night glamping vacation in Colorado immediately after their tropical getaway, then Kim returned to their home in California while Kanye went back to his ranch in Wyoming. However, on Aug. 19, Kanye tweeted a video of Kim giving him a kiss, which was widely considered to be confirmation that they're indeed working it out.
R.I.P.
On Aug. 23, reps for Justin Townes Earle revealed the passing of the singer-songwriter — the son of country rocker Steve Earle — at 38. … On Aug. 21, the Red Hot Chili Peppers announced that former guitarist Jack Sherman had died at 64.
Kane Brown gets lost… on his own property
You know you've made it when your property is so big that you get lost! On Aug. 10, country music star Kane Brown took to Facebook to explain how got lost in his massive backyard. So lost, in fact, that he had to call the police to save him. "The real story is I moved into a new house. I own 30 acres of 3,000 around me. I told my wife I wanted to go check out the property," he began. Kane went on to explain that he told his wife he was going to go walk the property with two of his friends for 30 minutes. However, three hours later, he still hadn't made it back to the house. "Thirty minutes turned into three hours. It started raining, turned dark and dropped to 40 degrees. I left my phone on the back of my truck. My friend's [phone battery] was on 7%," he explained. Kane called a friend to help and that pal found him… but they were still lost. "He has four other friends riding around in [an ATV] and they start getting shot at. My buddy's girl who has asthma started then freaking out. We HAD to get her out. So we call the cops." Upon arrival, police heard the gunshots but thought Kane and his group were firing at them. "We yell at them and tell them we are not armed and made it out," Kane concluded. "That's the story but I love the getting lost in my backyard better." Makes you appreciate those one-bedroom apartments a little bit more, huh?
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom welcome a baby girl
Congrats are in order for Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. It was announced on Aug. 26 that the couple welcomed a little girl: Daisy Dove Bloom. Daisies seem to be the theme for Katy as her most recent single was titled "Daises" and her engagement ring from Bloom is a daisy-shaped ring.
Ciara discusses losing her baby weight
Singer Ciara and her football playing hubby Russell Wilson welcomed a little boy, Win Wilson, on July 24 and a month after the birth Ciara is opening up about her weight loss journey. On Aug. 24, the singer posted a photo to Instagram saying, "48lbs to go! Starting the game plan tomorrow!! P.s. don't know how easy it's going be considering 3 baby's now! Going to work really hard at this! Let's go Mamma's." The couple share daughter Sienna, 3 and Ciara has a son from a previous relationship named Future, 6. The couple is grateful for this time as a family with Ciara saying, "With the kids not having their normal schedule, we've definitely been finding ways to be creative and to figure it all out. I just try my best to find the joy and the goodness in all of it. There's definitely going to be a lot of learning to do because every day is a new day in this era. But I think as a parent, once you have two, any more after that it's like you're ready."
