Joan Jett

Joan Jett

Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

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Watch The First Trailer For Joan Jett Documentary 'Bad Reputation'

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Take a sneak peek into the GRAMMY-nominated rocker's upcoming documentary
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jul 25, 2018 - 4:03 pm

Are rock stars born or made? In the case of Joan Jett, you could argue both. But the upcoming documentary, Bad Reputation, might get us closer to the answer by giving us a little more insight into the GRAMMY-nominated rocker's life and career.

A new trailer for the film, directed by Kevin Kerslake, covers Jett's rise as a musician, including navigating the boys club of rock and roll, her first band the Runaways, her solo work, and co-founding Blackheart Records. And it all started with her first guitar at age 13.

"I went and took a lesson and the guy said, 'Girls don't play rock and roll,'" she reveals. "And I said, 'Bull.' … Tell me I can't do something, you know I'm gonna be doing it."

The film will include archival footage as well as interviews with Jett and Billie Joe Armstrong, Iggy Pop, Pete Townshend, Debbie Harry, and Miley Cyrus who will paint their personal pictures of Jett.

You can get your hands on the full-length feature documentary starting Sept. 28. While it may be titled Bad Reputation, Jett's legacy has inspired all of us to shout from the rooftops right along with her: "I Love Rock 'N Roll."

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Dan Reynolds

Dan Reynolds

Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage.com

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Dan Reynolds' LGBTQ Documentary 'Believer' Arrives

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The Imagine Dragons frontman's film follows members of the LGBTQ community in the Mormon religion
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jun 26, 2018 - 1:55 pm

It feels like we've been waiting ages to see Image Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds' documentary on members of the LGBTQ community within the Mormon religion, but on June 25 that wait was over. Reynolds' documentary, Believer, is now streaming on HBO.

The documentary follows Reynolds as he explores what it's like to be an LGBTQ member of the Mormon religion through the lens of Reynolds' own journey from Missionary to GRAMMY-winning rock star and fierce LGBTQ advocate. The film focuses especially on LGBTQ youth, who have a higher rate of suicide than their heterosexual peers.

"It was a shaming experience that sent me into the first depression I experienced in my life," Reynolds told USA Today on his experience of being kicked out of his religious university for having sex with his then-girlfriend. "That, on a very small scale, is what our LGBTQ youth feel every single day, which is that within homes of faith, you have to choose between what you believe and who you love. No one should be forced to choose that." 

Believer follows the founding of Reynolds' LoveLoud Foundation, which raises awareness and funds to support LGBTQ youth through a yearly music festival. The 2018 installment of LoveLoud Fest will take place July 28 in Salt Lake City with Imagine Dragons, Zedd, Mike Shinaoda, Grace Vanderwaal, and more. All funds raised from the event will benefit LGBTQ organizations, including Encircle, Trevor Project and the Tegan and Sara Foundation.

You can catch Believer streaming now on HBO, and if you want to support Reynolds' work supporting the LGBTQ community, tickets are available to LoveLoud Fest via the organization's website.

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Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

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Dolly Parton, Linda Perry Team Up For 'Dumplin'' Film Soundtrack

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The powerful pair of singer/songwriters pen the soundtrack for upcoming film starring Jennifer Aniston
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2018 - 1:34 pm

When you need a film soundtrack, who better to call then GRAMMY-winning country legend Dolly Parton and singer/songwriter/producer extraordinaire Linda Perry?

Parton and Perry collaborated on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Dumplin', co-writing six new songs for the album that feature Parton with a number of other singers. It will also include several freshly recorded versions of previously released Parton hits. Parton executive produced the album, and Perry also wrote and produced the film's score.

Dumplin', which stars Jennifer Aniston and is directed by Anne Fletcher, is based on a best-selling book written by Julie Murphy. The book's protagonist, a plus-size girl, decides to enter a beauty pageant to spite her mother, who is a former pageant queen.

Murphy's book has a strong Parton tie, connecting to the artist throughout, right down to the main character's name: Willowdean, a close reference to Parton's sister Willadeene. So it makes perfect sense Parton herself would be instrumental in the film's soundtrack.

Details about the release of Dumplin' will likely be forthcoming as the film is currently in negotiations for distribution. Parton and Perry are also expected to talk more about the project during the Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out session at the Nashville, Tenn.-based Music Biz 2018 conference.

Of the film's message, Parton said, "It's really a wonderful and uplifting thing for young girls altogether."

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Tina Turner

Tina Turner

Photo: David M. Benett/Getty Images

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Tina Turner Documentary Slated To Begin Production This Summer

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A film about the Queen of Rock and Roll's career and life will get off the ground this summer
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
May 4, 2018 - 1:50 pm

Tina Turner has gifted us with a bevy of GRAMMY-winning hits, including classics such as "Proud Mary" with Ike Turner, "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "One Of The Living." Now she's gifting us with her blessing on the first documentary about her life and career.

Filmmakers are set to capture the Queen of Rock and Roll's life on film starting this summer. The documentary, tentatively titled Tina Turner, will be executive produced in part by Turner's husband Erwin Bach along with the same film company responsible for the 2018 Whitney Houston documentary, Whitney.

Turner's documentary will provide an unprecedented look inside her life and career, including interviews with Turner herself, friends, family, and collaborators. It will also feature footage of Turner's incredible performances, some that has never been seen before. We'll also get a look into Turner's personal life and her journey from Nutbush, Tenn., to a legendary career that earned her a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

"This is the first time I've agreed to a be part of a major documentary about my life and it’s certainly a leap of faith," said Turner, according to Billboard. "But I'm excited about the process we’re about to embark on and hope my story, presented in an honest and authentic way and made by award winning documentary filmmakers, will give audiences a true sense of what life has been from my point of view. And if my story inspires people and gives them hope it will have been worth it."

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GRAMMYs

Rami Malek

Photo: Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Twentieth Century Fox

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Queen Movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Is Highest-Grossing Music Biopic Ever

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The film has earned $175.7 million in North America and $433 million internationally for a total of $608.7 million
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Dec 14, 2018 - 11:32 am

The Bohemian Rhapsody biopic based on the life of GRAMMY-nominated band Queen has become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.

The film now holds the record domestically, internationally and worldwide, taking the throne from the previous record holder, 2015’s Straight Outta Compton.

Deadline reports that the film has earned $175.7 million in North America and $433 million internationally for a total of $608.7 million as of Wednesday, Dec.12.

READ: Rami Malek Is Finally Ready To Rock You With 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Out Today

The film has received nominations for the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes.

Actor Rami Malek, who plays Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, shared a message with Queen fans earlier this year about his excitement for telling the band's story. 

"Die-hard Queen fans, I'm very excited for them to see this film, I'm become pretty much a die-hard Queen fan myself," Malek shared. "What's special about this film is that we get to see the coming of age of this band from all walks of life, come together and collaborate on the greatest songs we've ever heard. You get the see the making of those songs and you get to see the glory of them resurrected onstage."

The ‘70s rock band, led by the vivacious Mercury who died at 45 of AIDS-related illness, faced criticism during their career, with one Rolling Stone critic calling them “the first truly fascist rock band.” But that couldn't stop the band's popularity; Queen regularly filled concert venues while on tour, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You" remain two of the most iconic rock songs to this day.

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