", Sixth performance: Sang "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, Tongue Clue: Alexander Hamilton. She formed a street corner group, the Creolettes, whichwas heard by the rhythm and blues bandleader, Johnny Otis (obituary, 20 January). James was portrayed by pop star Beyonce in the 2008 film "Cadillac Records," about Chess. Knowles's role led to her invitation to the White House during the Barack Obama inauguration where she performed the song "At Last," generating a minor controversy since James said she was available to perform at the inauguration but was not invited. Etta James might look like an adorable little kitten (doesn't she?) Time Travel Clue: iPod circa 2001. Lights on or off? Fifth performance: Sang "Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, Bling Shot Clue: "Ring." "But that one hug could have changed the course of history," she says, Says she has to keep moving forward, so she chose an upbeat song to celebrate love, A fancy black-tie affair, lots of glasses of champagne, a cherry at the bottom of a glass, and orchids appear in the fourth package, To start the fifth package, she says the pressure is on, and there is some stiff competition, "Bull to me would be the one to beat. "Well, Nick, I am not Alexander Hamilton nor was I in the Broadway show yet. down the road. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Masked Singer is back for its sixth season, which means a whole new batch of celebrities in wild costumes whose true identity viewers must uncover. But Etta was already a well-known singer when she signed on to Chess' Argosy label. Etta attended the Calvary Assembly of God Church. Second performance: Sang "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen. "It's sunny and I like to play baseball," he says. She sang background vocals on Jesse Belvin's doowop classic, "Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams)" (1956). "Well, we don't work together all the time, but I think when we have worked together in the past we've worked really well," she says. The discography for the American singer Etta James consists of 29 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 12 compilations. "I like to read, ride motorcycles, and hike," she explains. Third performance: Sang "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & The Pips, Skunk's Party Favor Clue: A boombox. This unconventional and highly suspect method resulted in her developing a huge voice, especially for a child. I gotta win this thing! But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song she's going to get her ass whupped.". ", She says this guy is her collaborator that sticks with her through the "sweet and sour" and shares her dreams, An ice cream booth, a silver medal, balloons, hay barrels, a grey stuffed rabbit, hula hoops, and a strongman game all appear in the first package, Their second package kicks off in a doll house, Three ingredients to a perfect love song: "Fantasy," "pain," and "reality" (the woman argues it should be "heart" instead), The woman is shown trying to mash the stuffed red heart, she also smacks his globe away, "Well, it took us a lot of time and consideration to pick the perfect song for date night, but we think that tonight we have nailed it," he says, as the two of them high five, A book called Song Recipe Cookbook, a first aid kit with a red cross on it, a yellow stand mixer, a jar with confetti in it, a plate with the word "nothing" on it, a stuffed red heart, a potato masher, a small globe, and a banana split all appear in the second package, "We are so thankful to be doing this together, genuinely. . It is simply my hope to witness someone who will have the guts to really tell that story in the spirit Etta gave and deserves..the truth! Second performance: Sang "It's Gonna Be Me" by *NSYNC, Third performance: Sang "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks. She was best known for her raw energy and songs such as "At Last" and "Suga on the Floor.". In 1969, she tried methadone but was soon back with heroin. Why'd he pick the Dalmatian costume? To protect her income (or so she thought), she named her lover of the moment, Billy Foster, as co-writer instead of herself. Billie Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 as Eleanora Fagan and began singing in local clubs and renamed herself "Billie" after the film star Billie Dove ("Billie Holiday Biography"). As seasons changed, so did I", She says the one thing she's never had the chance to be is a mother, Says it took her a long time to come to terms with that, until she realized "the family that I already have" she says this as a picture of season 2's winner Wayne Brady (the Fox) is shown, Says she's protective of the ones that she loves, "If you come after them all cray cray, this whole land of shame will come your way, honey", She holds up two fingers as lightning flashes around her, "Tonight I'm going to blossom because, darling, life is good", A giant penny from 1972, a neon hummingbird, a reindeer, a raccoon, a bunny, glowing lights, a firecracker, rain, and intense sunshine all appear in the first package, First performance: Sang "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross, On why she chose Mother Nature: "Because Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with. have a nice afternoon! Second performance: Sang "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by Soggy Bottom Boys. Between this internal tug of war and growing up in a business that didn't cater much to a growing teenager, Etta's life journey was surrounded by upheaval and survival. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president. This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Lydon/Rotten as the Jester sang "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," by Soggy Bottom Boys. While Etta wondered much about the true identity of her father, most of her issues of rejection and insecurity stemmed from her mother, Dorothy, a single teenage mother who traveled in and out of Ettas life like a bad storm. Trophy Clue: A light-up mirror that says "favorite hottie." Copyright 2023 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Well, I was supposed to be here with some other sweet things but now I'm all alone," she says. Their son, Donto, was born in 1968. Though Etta had a mother figure in an older woman affectionately named Mama Lu, Etta's life spiraled after her death. Speed Dating Clue: Would you ever date an ex again? What's it like inside the Mallard costume? ", A bottle of hot sauce, "Chiliwood" sign (spoof on the Hollywood sign), emojis, a tic-tac-toe board, a "keep dreaming" sign, and lots of flames appear in the first package, Starts the second package saying if she could go back in time, she'd go to the moment when she first hit it big, Says she was suddenly pulled "in a million directions" between interviews, red carpets and award shows, "Sometimes you can get so caught up in 'what's next,' that you're not really living in the 'what's now.' Robin says, "So it's not Jill Scott." Thanks for the share.. At that time, James was 14 and singing with a group then named the Creolettes. Appreciate your comment. Would you rather celebrate with a small gathering or big party? I mean I have bars, I've got moves, but I also have letters," she says. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Exactly 25 years ago today, Titanic made box office history. Thanks for a marvelous posting! All rights reserved. As "Dance With Me Henry",the song then topped the US charts for Georgia Gibbs. The song, with Richard Berry singing an unaccredited male part, was released on the Modernlabel and topped the US R&B chartsfor four weeks. If Etta James's life had not been weighed down with personal problems, mostly bad management, ghastly lovers, obesity, incarceration and heroin addiction, she would have been acclaimed as a remarkable female soul singer alongside Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Tina Turner. For those of you whove never read the the autobiography of Etta James, Rage To Survive, I stronglyencourage you tocheckout thisbook. "Tamera is losing her own identity to this Etta character," Debra says. While Mills was inside, James took up with a ex-junkie turned therapist, Sam Dennis, and their son, Sametto, was born in 1976. "I like to stay hydrated with my friends at the party," he says. When Beyonc played the role of Etta James for last year's Cadillac Records film, she performed At Last for the soundtrack. "No," she says. "Well there's a clue. Trophy Clue: The award for "Blockbuster Entertainer Winner." Celebs compete in this reality-singing TV show while wearing elaborate costumes to conceal their identities. Maybe in the James family, "a little down" is code for "blood-boilingly enraged". Their truth is not built with the intent of gimmick-like controversy but a need to be true to themselves no matter the cost. Updated December 15, 2021 at 09:50 AM EST. Well get ready for the wildest Wildcard yet," he says to start the first package, using a possibly fake accent, Says he's been called an "icon" and "you could say I've changed the course of history", "I've even been voted one of the most influential people of all time", He says he's been called a scoundrel, offended heads of state, and been banned from venues, "In reality, I'm not a bad guy. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California on January 25, 1938; her mother was just 14 years old at the time, and she never knew her father, though she would later say she had reason to believe he was the well-known pool hustler Minnesota Fats. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. All rights reserved. She made two albums with Joplin's producer, Gabriel Mekler, Etta James (1973) and Come A Little Closer (1974). It ain't me," the Banana says. What is also in question is why writer/director, Darnell Martin would write the role of Etta James with Beyonce in mind as stated in the New York Times. Privacy Policy document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The film, however, took several liberties with the facts, implying that Etta's career was launched at Chess Records. Who does etta james want to portray her in a movie - BRAINLY "The vibe, like their swagger," she replies. Do you prefer to call or text? The Great Etta James is a major female star. "My dimples," he says. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles and had a very tumultuous childhood as she was brought up by foster parents who ill-treated her. Who captured her heart? Etta Says She Was "Just Playing" | The Young, Black, and Fabulous ", She says there are two sides to every story, and she's here to tell hers, Also says she's "seen it all" over the years, There are misconceptions that she's "quick to get into a fight" but she says "honey, that couldn't be further from the truth", "You don't always have to react when provoked," she says as she hits a guy with her tail, She's shown spraying a pink bottle of "hater spray" as she says she's ready to get back out there and "make it do what it do, boo" after taking time off to be with family, A gold train set, a very expensive-looking pink bag with gold detailing, a first class ticket from Seoul to, Says she is a "forever student" but the biggest thing she's learned is "life happens", She had a full-ride scholarship when she got some unexpected news that changed her life, Says she was forced to take a different path, as a book titled "Big Book of Acting" is shown, "Success isn't measured in a diploma. "I'd Rather Go Blind" became a UK Top 20 hit for Chicken Shack in 1969 as well making the charts for Ruby Turner (1987) and Sydney Youngblood (1990). [36] The film included "At Last," performed by Beyonce. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back Cadillac Records: The "UNTRUE" Story of Etta James I don't think she looks like me, but that's all right. "Sometimes," she says. Etta James tried backtracking on her criticisms of Beyonce and President Obama late Thursday. Shes also a proud Florida Girl born and raised inFt. Lauderdale, Fl. I feel like I'm at the Met Gala! says the actress. She's beautiful and scary at the same time. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. All rights reserved, Cadillac Records: The "UNTRUE" Story of Etta James, Kashif Presents: The History of R&B music, Morris Day and Sheila E. Bring the Funk to Kiss 104.1 Flashback Festival, Jazz 91.9 WCLK Presents Patti LaBelle with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for 45th Anniversary Benefit Concert, #SoulfulSaturday : How Deep Is Your Love PJ Morton Feat. "I always feel like I'm the underdog, and tonight is gonna be a dog fight, so I had to go with my favorite dog the Dalmatian," he says. Trophy Clue: A first-place plaque for the "State Champion Bible Quiz." "I chose the Caterpillar costume because ultimately my life has been all about metamorphosis," he says to start the first package, Says he was lonely growing up because things weren't always great at home, and he was often "rebelling", He left home at a young age, slept in his car at one point, and even started stealing to make ends meet, "My parents used to tell me that I was going to end up in jail, and boy were they right", But that encouraged him to keep going and show everyone up. Beyonce Talks About Playing Etta James - HuffPost James had been taking hard drugs since 1961 and was becoming increasingly unreliable. My parties are notorious for having great music, everybody dancing," he says to start the third package, Says he was a wallflower as a kid, but now he's the life of the party, He's shown dancing and clicking his heels together, Dedicates his third performance to Britney Spears, "My feet have never been more gigantic but I know that I definitely have what it takes, and tonight, I get to be in the center of the ring", An invite to Carnegie Hall, pom-poms, a record player, and a pair of scrubs are shown in the third package, To start the fourth package, he says if he could time travel, he would go back to when he "left [his] stable job to go and chase my dreams", "Like the Fresh Prince, suddenly, my life was turned upside down", Bull says he found himself alone in a strange, new place, He says he had an apartment full of cockroaches but he is so thankful that it all paid off and worked out, Says there's a rumor going around that he asks the most questions of any of the contestants but he says he's just "very, very nosy", He says he's been trying to catch the other contestants in the bathroom to figure out who they are, A pile of nails, a picture of Hall & Oates, theater masks, cockroaches, lots of candles, and flowery drapes all appear in the fourth package, "This is absolutely the most nervous I've ever been in my entire life/career," he says to start the fifth package, Says he's used to being "a solo performer" but this is a whole other level, Bull says he has a habit of comparing himself to others in a way that can be "crippling," and adds that Skunk is incredible and someone he thinks he's listened to since he was a child, "After years of chasing my destiny, I got a big break," he says to start the sixth package, He says he thought it would change his life but instead it changed who he was, which he later regretted, He's shown being frozen, and then thaws out and throws off a white cape, "When I was true to myself, my success skyrocketed", The frozen plants around him come to life and sprout, and are surrounded by colorful butterflies, Says he'll never miss the chance again to express himself, A checkered racing flag, a man with a tiara and scepter, a rainbow-colored mermaid tail, a red wardrobe, and a white cape all appear in the sixth package, "When I was younger, I always felt like I was playing a character," he says to start the seventh package, Says he was told boys should play sports and not let their emotions show, so he tried all that, but he knew he was someone else, "When there's no role models like you, it can make you feel a little invisible", Says it took a long time to find people who saw him for who he truly is, and that changed everything, Now, his focus is to help others in that same way and he appreciates the patience people have had with him, He's shown carrying roses and also being presented with a cake, Says he hasn't always done or said things perfectly, but "I've always marched towards a better future for all", "I promised myself to always be bold, strong, and celebrate exactly who I am", He's shown getting pelted with a football and then wandering a forest of willow trees, A football, tap shoes, smoke or fog in a forest, a white cake, rose petals and a small bouquet of roses all appear in the seventh package, First performance: Sang "Drops of Jupiter" by Train, Second performance: Sang "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts. Great Etta James Accomplishments - 1035 Words | Internet Public Library Now, however, things seem to have changed. Not saying I wasnt pleased to see Beyonces commitment to the role written however that role was poorly written and watered down. What occupation would you be the worst at? "Nick, this award was a crowning achievement in my life, but nothing comes close to when I received that VMA Award," he says. But she watched the dance on TV, according to the New York Daily News, and told her son that the performance "was great". I cant stand Beyonce, she had no business up there singing my song that Ive been singing forever.. But, I did perform at the same venue where, Seventh performance (with Jesse McCartney): "Breakeven (Falling to Pieces)" by The Script, Eighth performance: Sang "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree, Ninth performance: "Invisible" by Hunter Hayes, First package is set in a hamster cage (of course), "I wanted to become the Hamster because unfortunately my body is shaped very much like a Hamster, and also because I felt stuck in a bit of a wheel", "Who hasn't felt cooped up this past year or so", Mentions hopping from one project to the next with his famous friends, "I'm used to being in all kinds of arenas", Says now he's breaking routine so he can let out all his pent-up energy, He's shown breaking out of his cage as an alarm goes off, A neon blue water bottle, cabbage, carrots, a sign with a mashup of the letters "v, s, a, m," a box with green and gold stars and circles, a red fish, and a poster for Alcatraz Island all appear in the first package, "As you've probably guessed by now, I'm a bit of a party animal," he says to start the second package, Says in his 20s, he was living in "a huge city, living with my best pals", He's shown dancing with a big group of friends, "There's nothing like not being famous and the next day being famous", He says the fact he's still friends with all those people is phenomenal, and they're "really going to get a kick out of" him being on the show, A picture of a basset hound, a purple purse, a royal scepter, and a, "If I could go back in time, I'd go back to the night my wife and I went to an afterparty after a Luis Miguel concert", Says everyone was there Drew Barrymore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jerry Seinfeld but the only person his wife was impressed by was Miguel, "She was ecstatic. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. "Nicole, I love when you plant a little seed and you watch it grow and do great things over the years," the Banana says. Thank you so much for your comment! Beyonce To Portray Legendary Blues Singer Etta James In 'Cadillac Records' Film about influential record label also features Adrien Brody, Cedric the Entertainer, Jeffrey Wright. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Back to the Future (1985) and Suicide Squad (2016). She became a delinquent, drinking hard and ignoring school. Describing the song in her autobiography, James wrote, "I was blind. In 1973, James was arrested for passing bad cheques and entered hospital for rehabilitation. She's spanned musical genres. ", Seventh performance (with Michael Bolton): "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, First clue package is very groovy and '70s-inspired, "I wanted to become the Octopus because eight is a lucky number and I think I'm a lucky guy", Says he reached success at a very young age and he felt like he had it all, "Everyone took me smiling as me not being serious", He's shown dancing around and goofing off, He says people wanted him out and he fell pretty hard, and had to learn to let go of his ego, He's shown tied to a cement block underwater, but when he rises again the guys give him a high five, A gold telephone, seaweed, disco balls, a stack of cards with the eight of clubs on top, a shark, and ABC blocks appear in the first package, First performance: Sang "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard, "I'm excited about becoming the Pufferfish because I know a thing or two about defending myself", She says for most of her life she wanted to blend in but couldn't, "I was the weird kid in science class who messed up all the experiments," she says, She says her voice was "always different, not necessarily in a good way" as she's shown at a mic when a high-pitched feedback noise forces everyone to cover their ears, Pufferfish says she had to learn to "stand up" for herself and hopes she "stands out", A disco ball, a scale with two beakers on it, a boomerang, an erupting volcano, a white guitar that says "guitarra" on it, and lots of dry ice science experiments all appear in the first package, Says she was very sheltered and grew up in a religious household, Going to movies and listening to music were off limits and she kept her dreams to herself, "When I first rose to fame, I definitely turned heads", Some of the things she wore got her church talking, but she didn't care because it felt good to express herself, "I'm leaning into that sexy side here. She died on January 20, 2012 in Riverside, California, USA. The life of Ms. Etta James is as fascinating as her voice, complicated as her vocal interpretations and raw as her passion. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Bull's Locker Clue: Cheerleaders in blue uniforms come out of his locker, and there's a giant red rose on the door. "Because of miseducation, I'm always ready for the action," she says. In the movie, "Cadillac Records," the character based on Etta's life was portrayed by Beyonce Knowles. As always, EW has you covered for all of your clue needs along the way. Etta James, the legendary vocalist who is perhaps known for her version of the song "At Last," has died. Etta debuted her version in 1961. James, who would have turned 74 on Jan. 25, died in Riverside, Calif. We would both have a roasting hot first date," she says. We both got double trouble," she explains. ", Says she's done it all with her biggest supporter right by her side, until recently when they went their separate ways, "I would call out for them and they just weren't there", But when that person found out Beach Ball was doing the show, they reconnected, "My biggest supporter will always have my back", A peach, a shower of money, lightning flashes, a boombox, a clapboard, and a traintrack crossing sign all appear in the first package, First performance: Sang "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. According to Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, he had these words to say concerning the issue of this affair: Now, my father was no angel, but (he) was never caught in an affair, Chess said. Have they ever dated anyone on the panel? Why Queen of Hearts? As for At Last while it may be Ettas trademark tune, the track was first performed by Glenn Miller and his orchestra in 1941 and later by Nat King Cole in 1957. The best known version comes from Rod Stewart on his 1972 album Never A Dull Moment. Their relationship ended when Gwen took up with Fuqua, so the song predicted what would happen. Lulu Rogers died in 1950 and James moved to San Francisco with Dorothy. Dec 17, 2008, 05:12 AM EST | Updated May 25, 2011. Judges' guesses: Faith Evans, Mary J Blige, Toni Braxton, Sade, Lauryn Hill, Janelle Mone, Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah, Tamar Braxton, Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, Jill Scott, Brandy, Judges' guesses: Dennis Rodman, Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Judges' guesses: Paula Abdul, Issa Rae, Maya Rudolph, Jessica Alba, M.I.A, Nelly Furtado, Vanessa Hudgens, Zoe Saldana, Judges' guesses: Aisha Tyler, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Tracee Ellis Ross, Judges' guesses: Brian Littrell, Sisq, Dwayne Johnson, Darren Criss, Justin Timberlake, Zac Efron, Rufus Wainwright, Donald Glover, Anthony Ramos, Leslie Odom Jr., Taye Diggs, Cheyenne Jackson, Lil Nas X, Billy Porter, Usher, Jason Derulo, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Adam Lambert, Jaden Smith, Jeremy Pope, Tituss Burgess, Neil Patrick Harris, Judges' guesses: Danny DeVito, Bill Murray, Andy Richter, Jack Black, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Paul Rudd, Martin Short, Marc Anthony, Gabriel Iglesias, Judges' guesses: Hugh Jackman, Vin Diesel, Chuck Norris, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Rod Stewart, Gordon Ramsay, Judges' guesses: Britney Spears, Fergie, Rene Zellweger, Ireland Baldwin, Ashley Judd, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves, Jessica Simpson, Jewel, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Clarkson, Sia, KT Tunstall, Paula Cole, Christina Aguilera, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Judges' guesses: Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Freddie Prinze Jr., Nick Offerman, Jon Bon Jovi, Mario Lopez, Kiefer Sutherland, John Rich, Dog the Bounty Hunter, George Foreman, Judges' guesses: RuPaul, Roberta Flack, Tina Turner, Leslie Jones, Grace Jones, Tina Knowles, Judges' guesses: Nelly, Katt Williams, Reggie Bush, Judges' guesses: Katharine McPhee and David Foster, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, Craig Robinson and Ashley Tisdale, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, Sarah Bareilles and Josh Groban, Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, Jeff Goldblum and Emilie Livingston, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Zooey Deschanel and Lamorne Morris, Jessie J and Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder and Leona Lewis, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, Judges' guesses: Olivia Rodrigo, Kesha, Hailee Steinfeld, Lady Gaga, Pink, Idina Menzel, Ellie Goulding, Sara Bareilles, Judges' guesses: Howie Dorough, Aaron Carter, AJ McLean, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Tyler Hubbard, Jim Parsons, Jake Gyllenhaal, Judges' guesses: Dee Snider, Ricky Gervais, Roger Daltrey, Elon Musk, Simon Cowell, Joe Elliott, Flea, Judges' guesses: Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Khloe and Kim Kardashian.