#_author:robert kessler

[robertskessler]

Stars React to the Sudden Death of Prince

Prince (Photo: WireImage)

After a brief hospitalization last week, Prince died Thursday morning at his home in suburban Minneapolis, his publicist has confirmed. A legend since his second album Prince came out in 1979,  the star’s seemingly sudden death has shocked the world.

“Dearly beloved We are gathered here today 2 get through this thing called Life…” -Prince

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 21, 2016

Long Live The King.

— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) April 21, 2016

Numb. Stunned. This can’t be real.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016

Here’s to one of the strongest spirits the world has ever known We will miss you forever, Prince. pic.twitter.com/vEGAd0HLxS

— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) April 21, 2016

He Changed The World!! A True Visionary. What a loss. I’m Devastated. This is Not A Love Song.

A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:17am PDT

“PRINCE We Love You Shockadelica Joint” A celebration of his life. We will dance, sing and shout to his music. Wear something purple. Time: 8PM Location: 40 Acres 75. S Elliott Place Between DeKalb Ave and Lafayette Ave. Fort Greene. Da Republic Of Brooklyn, New York.

A photo posted by Spike Lee (@officialspikelee) on Apr 21, 2016 at 12:03pm PDT

Genius, legend, inspiration, friend. The world will miss you. I’ll never get over it.

A photo posted by Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey) on Apr 21, 2016 at 12:29pm PDT

Thank you #Prince for all of your inspiration and sharing your incredible talents with the world. You will be incredibly missed. #RIP

— Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) April 21, 2016

And just like that…the world lost a lot of magic Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much…

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 21, 2016

A Prince Among Men When I was in college I had 2 friends who were obsessed with Prince. They’d been to concerts, had his albums, sang every word to his songs. I didn’t get it. I wasn’t into Prince. I knew a few songs but to me he was a li’l man in purple ruffles. I don’t like purple and hated ruffles. Then I moved to Los Angeles and for some ungodly reason I joined the pyramid scheme known as Columbia House CD Club and ordered 8 CD’s for a penny. I KNOW RIGHT?!?! That’s a steal! (It wasn’t. Google it.) One of the albums I got for 3/8 of a cent was Prince’s The Hits/The B Sides. It was a box set and it was a revelation I never saw coming. I was obsessed with that damn box set. How had I not been into music’s purple waif genius? Thanks to that pyramid scheme I was never NOT listening to it. It was my Hamilton Cast album at the time. I would drive around LA jobless while it blasted on my sound system. I drove an ’84 convertible Mustang at the time and would drive up and down Sunset Boulevard with my top down singing When Doves Cry Let’s Go Crazy 1999 Nothing Compares 2 U Diamonds and Pearls Delirious Little Red Corvette I Would Die 4 U Kiss Cream Purple Rain But my favorite to sing like I WROTE THAT SHIT was 7. I just knew that some Hollywood powerhouse would hear me in my raggedy ass car, recognize the raw talent and make my Hollywood dreams come true. Thank you Prince for being a part of my early starlet dreams . . . KISS.

A photo posted by Retta (@unforettable) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:06am PDT

Shocked and soooo sad!! #RIP PRINCE #music #legend #gonetoosoon

A photo posted by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:01am PDT

PRINCE . You legend. Rest In Peace

— lily (@lilyallen) April 21, 2016

Today we lost a true artist. Thank you #Prince for all the music you put into this world. #RIP

A photo posted by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:02am PDT

Today is a very sad day. His music rearranged me… he will forever be my #1. pic.twitter.com/EnC5XWUiYt

— Halle Berry (@halleberry) April 21, 2016

Rest In Peace Prince.

— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) April 21, 2016

This is so heartbreaking I had this Prince pic drawn on my wall years ago because his music inspired so many R.I.Ppic.twitter.com/60msa6hm3I

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) April 21, 2016

an artist who showed true creative freedom and challenged all barriers. there are a million things to say. rip, beautiful.

A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:07am PDT

PRINCE??!!!!?!!?!!!!!!

— JoJo (@iamjojo) April 21, 2016

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

— JoJo (@iamjojo) April 21, 2016

There will never be another. #prince #ripprince

A photo posted by Christina Ricci (@riccigrams) on Apr 21, 2016 at 10:42am PDT

Today the doves will be crying purple tears #Prince

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) April 21, 2016

Gone but never forgotten. . . Rest In Peace. . . https://t.co/oEzTEeN4BL

— Brandy (@4everBrandy) April 21, 2016

RIP Prince! Condolences to his family, friends and fans #ripprince pic.twitter.com/BAVM6HbuVb

— Iman Abdulmajid (@The_Real_IMAN) April 21, 2016

I am really not right over this. RIP #Prince this is devastating.

— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) April 21, 2016

R.I. P. #Prince. An exceptional talent! He made an enormous contribution to music.

— Carole King (@Carole_King) April 21, 2016

Rest in power, Prince.

— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 21, 2016

He was doing a post EMMY secret show in a tiny club. Maybe 40 people. He pulled me up on stage to dance w HIM. It was A MOMENT #PRINCE

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 21, 2016

RIP Prince. You were the king pic.twitter.com/RwKxVsOx8F

— Joel McHale (@joelmchale) April 21, 2016

The greatest live act I ever saw. Genius, poet, sexy mother fucker. RIP Prince.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) April 21, 2016

Prince. #RestInPurple

A photo posted by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) on Apr 21, 2016 at 11:05am PDT

Prince the doves really are crying now. Listening to your music. Remembering you. #RIPPrince

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 21, 2016

Nothing compares to you. pic.twitter.com/DF8ayQj8CX

— James Corden (@JKCorden) April 21, 2016

In a world of copycats, hacks, lip syncers & posers, Prince cut thru all the bullshit w/ such vision & talent and confidence. RIP 2 a legend

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 21, 2016

THIS CAN NOT BE POSSIBLE!!!!!!! NO NO NO NO NO

— Andy Cohen (@Andy) April 21, 2016

[robertskessler]

Tracy Morgan Returns to the Stage at the Emmys, Delivers Emotional Speech

In one of the most memorable moments of the 2015 Emmy Awards, Tracy Morgan returned to the stage for the first time since the car crash that nearly killed him in June 2014.

"Thank you so much, I miss you guys so much," Morgan said as he walked onstage to present the final award of the night for Outstanding Drama Series. "Last year, Jimmy Kimmel sat on the stage and said, 'We'll see you back here next year, Tracy Morgan.' Well, Jimmy, thanks to my amazing doctors, and the support of my family, and my beautiful new wife, I'm here. Standing on my own two feet."

Related: Complete List of 2015 Emmy Winners

Morgan's return to the stage received a rapturous applause, and the camera frequently cut to his 30 Rock co-stars Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski, both of whom were nominated for their work on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

"I'm honored to be here at the Emmys. It's been a long road back," said Morgan. "I suffered a traumatic brain injury that put me in a coma for eight days, when I finally regained consciousness, I was just ecstatic to learn that I wasn't the one who messed up," he joked of his recovery. "Only recently I've felt like myself again, which means a whole lot of women are gonna get pregnant at the afterparty!"

Related: Best and Worst Dressed at the 2015 Emmy Awards

Morgan, 46, recently settled with Walmart for an undisclosed amount of money after one of the company's tractor trailers slammed into a limo Morgan was taking home from a show. A recent NTSB report found the truck's driver had been awake for more than 28 straight hours at the time of the crash.

Morgan's Emmys appearance only marks the start of his comeback. He will also host Saturday Night Live on Oct. 17. "So, it’s going to take more than 18 wheels," Morgan told The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s going to take more than that to stop me from making you all laugh. I’m going to do that until I die."

Morgan was a castmember on SNL for eight seasons, and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2009 for 30 Rock.

[robertskessler]

Olivia Culpo Nearly Passed Out on the Emmys Red Carpet

Anyone who watched even a minute of pre-Emmys coverage surely heard at least one person comment on the sweltering temperature in Los Angeles. That heat has claimed its first victim: Olivia Culpo.

While the former Miss Universe was playing a game with E!'s red carpet hosts Giuliana Rancic, Ross Matthews, and Brad Goreski, it was obvious she wasn't feeling well as she kept shifting back and forth and noted, "You guys, it's so hot." Before cutting to a commercial, Rancic asked, "Olivia, are you OK?" The camera panned off the group, but when it came back, Culpo was doubled over.

Related: Complete List of 2015 Emmy Award Winners

Shortly after, she tweeted a photo of herself being wheeled into the awards ceremony with the caption, "When u almost pass out on LIVE TV!" Her dignity may have been damaged, but at least she's got her sense of humor.

When u almost pass out on LIVE TV!😂 @GiulianaRancic @helloross @mrbradgoreski its ok I know u would have caught me pic.twitter.com/Tc6ZJ7tafD

— Olivia Culpo (@oliviaculpo) September 20, 2015

Culpo, 23, was not the only star affected by the heat. Many celebrities such as Modern Family's Sarah Hyland commented that they were having trouble staying dry. Sarah Paulson was even carrying a hand-held fan on the red carpet!

Related: Emmys Red Carpet Arrivals

The temperature also disproved the theory that the Hollywod-run Illuminati can see the future; tonight's red carpet trend is black.

[robertskessler]

Rick Ross Gets Engaged to Lira Galore: See the Ring!

Thursday night via Snapchat, Lira Galore revealed that she'd gotten engaged to rapper Rick Ross. On Friday morning, she posted shots of her engagement bling to her Instagram page.

So what kind of a ring does the man who once wore a chain of himself wearing a chain of himself buy for the woman he loves? The answer is: a giant one.

"Thanks @rafaelloandco for making everything EXTRA special," the 22-year-old model wrote alongside the above snap.

The ring is 11 carats and features a 5-carat emerald-cut diamond in the center. It reportedly cost $350,000. According to TMZ, Ross, 39, proposed to Galore inside Rafaello and Co.'s store. The jeweler shared a shot of the happy couple on its Instagram as well.

This will be the first marriage for both Galore (real name Lira Mercer) and Ross (real name William Leonard Roberts III).