The List for Monday, May 30th 2023

Welcome to The List,

Jewel delivered the National Anthem at the Indy 500 yesterday, and it was . . . different. She slowed it down a little and added some soul . . . maybe even a little country flavor, with only her acoustic guitar to accompany her. Not surprisingly, there are people complaining that it was the absolute worst thing they’ve ever heard . . . and others calling it brilliant.  Whatever the case, this isn’t the first time she’s performed the anthem like this.  She did a similar version at the NBA All-Star Game back in February.

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Benedict Cumberbatch and his family were at their home in London when a crazy guy with a knife kicked his way through the security gate and started screaming about wanting the place to burn down.  He was hit with a fine and a restraining order. Surprisingly not a “Dr. Strange Dismemberment spell”.

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The NY Post says Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, is going to undergo a $500 million renovation that will take 10 years. A new roller coaster and new hotel will be part of the renovation. Sounds fun!

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Lee Greenwood was in France over the weekend, but he wasn’t there to drink over-priced wine and eat smelly cheese.  Although that could’ve happened.  He visited graves in Normandy where some 10,000 American soldiers are buried. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach where soldiers came ashore during World War 2.  Lee planted American flags on some graves, and also honored them by singing “God Bless the USA“.

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The Little Mermaid” owned the box office this weekend, with a $117.5 million Memorial Day take.  There’s big news coming out of Hollywood for John Wick fans…Lionsgate’s motion picture group chair Joe Drake teased development of a fifth movie in the studio’s John Wick’s franchise Thursday.  With all the spinoffs on the board he said. “We’re building out the world and when that 5 movie comes, it will be organic,  But you can rely on a regular cadence of John Wick.”

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Jay Leno tells the NY Post that only one thing would make him retire from stand-up comedy. ”A stroke. Then you slow down. That’s when you retire — when you have your stroke.” Not burning yourself up apparently, And finally, Jennifer Nettles still has her TV job.  Fox has renewed “Farmer Wants a Wife” for a second season.  Jennifer is the host.

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