Michael Sumler, Kool & the Gang's 'Chicago Mike,' dies in car crash at 71New Foto - Michael Sumler, Kool & the Gang's 'Chicago Mike,' dies in car crash at 71

Donald Kravitz/Getty Michael Sumler,Kool & the Gang's resident hype man for more than three decades, died in a car crash in Mableton, Ga., on Sunday. He was 71. The Cobb County Police Department confirmed Sumler's death toEntertainment Weekly, indicating that he was involved in a head-on collision on Veterans Memorial Highway west of Buckner Road at approximately 11:35 p.m. The operator of the other vehicle walked away without injuries, but Sumler was pronounced dead by the Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office. Mableton Mayor Michael Owens mourned Sumler ina Facebook postWednesday, saying, "We are saddened by the death of musician Mike Sumler. 'Chicago Mike' contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities. His style and energy added flair and excitement to Kool & the Gang for decades." Sumler joined the genre-fusing R&B and funk group in 1985, two decades after it was founded by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George "Funky" Brown, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Claydes Charles Smith, Ricky Westfield, Robert "Spike" Mickens, and Woodrow "Woody" Sparrow. Known as "Chicago Mike," Sumler was initially brought on as Kool & the Gang's stylist and choreographer but became beloved by fans for acting as the group's hype man. Prior to the crash, Sumler had performed at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre as part of "An Evening of Funk With Midnight Star, Con Funk Shun, and Rose Royce." Con Funk Shun founder Mike Coopermourned Sumleron social media Tuesday, writing that the band "sends our deepest condolences to the family of our friend 'Chicago Mike' from Kool & the Gang, stylist and dancer. Thank you Mike for always supporting Con Funk Shun. We had no idea that Sunday night's Love's Train would be your last ride. Rest in heavenly peace." Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Kool & the Gang have cycled through more than 40 members since their inception in 1964. Of the founding members, only Robert Bell survives. The band wasinductedinto the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 with a citation that noted their role as "essential innovators in the sound of funk, soul, disco, and R&B, creating rock & roll's most danceable anthems." Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byRobert Mejias
in
May 28, 2025

Michael Sumler, Kool & the Gang's 'Chicago Mike,' dies in car crash at 71

Michael Sumler, Kool & the Gang's 'Chicago Mike,' dies in car crash at 71 Donald Kravitz/Getty Michael Sumler,Kool & the...
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"The Office" star Jenna Fischer was surprised that latter seasons were good when she rewatched show

Byron Cohen/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Jenna Fischeris sticking up for the final seasons ofThe Office. TheBlades of Glorystar reflected on revisiting all 201 episodes of the NBC sitcom on her podcastOffice Ladies, which finished its 9-season rewatch in October. "My biggest takeaway from having rewatched it was that it's really good the whole time," Fischer, who played receptionist Pam Beesley on every season of the show, said in an interview withDana CarveyandDavid SpadeonFly on the Wall. Fischer explained that she's heard a narrative that the show declined in quality about halfway through its run, which lasted from 2005 until 2013, and that the sitcom struggled once series leadSteve Carellexited during season 7. "I think there was this lore, especially among the cast and the creatives, that maybe we hit our peak in season 3 or season 4," she said. "And also this belief that the two seasons after Steve left, we were just treading water and maybe they weren't as good. But when I watched everything, some of my favorite episodes were in seasons 8 and 9 after Steve had left. There were still these amazing storylines." Fischer went on to name some of her favorite moments and arcs from the show. "I have to say now, when I look back, some of my favorite episodes were also in seasons 4 through 6," she noted, shouting out the season 4 episode "Dinner Party," which featured a painfully uncomfortable gathering at Michael's house, as well as the season 5 storyline in which Michael starts his rival business, the Michael Scott Paper company "That's just great TV," Fischer opined. "But yeah, I think some of the award nominations stopped after season 3. So I think maybe we got in our heads and thought, 'Oh, I guess we're not creating as great.'" Roy Rochlin/Getty Fischer also said that she has mixed feelings about her work onThe Officewhen evaluating the quality of her performance. "Sometimes I watch it and I'm like, 'I'll never do work that good again. S---, that was great," she explained. "But then there's other scenes where I just cringe, where I'm like, 'Oh, God, I remember how I struggled with that and I couldn't do it, and now here it is for everyone to see, and I guess I just have to move on.' So I've had both reactions." Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Listen to the full conversation between Fischer, Carvey, and Spade above. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byRobert Mejias
in
May 28, 2025

“The Office” star Jenna Fischer was surprised that latter seasons were good when she rewatched show

"The Office" star Jenna Fischer was surprised that latter seasons were good when she rewatched show Byron Cohen/NBCU Photo Bank/NB...
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Beloved '70s Heartthrob Makes Exciting Career Announcement: 'Guess What?'New Foto - Beloved '70s Heartthrob Makes Exciting Career Announcement: 'Guess What?'

Legendary heartthrobShaun Cassidyhas big plans on the docket. The former teen idol, 66, whose mom isPartridge FamilymatriarchShirley Jones, took to Instagram to make a major announcement on Wednesday. Starting in September, he's planning to kick off a major music tour to 50 cities. "The Road To Us is first about fun, then about connection—a connection I feel is more important now than ever," Cassidy said in a statement on his Instagram page, along with a photo of himself toting a guitar in one hand and a bunch of roses in the other. "Be it in a concert hall or at the kitchen table, bringing people together—to laugh, cry, or blast out some hit songs—is like rocket fuel for the soul. I can't think of a better reason to take the ultimate road trip!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaun Cassidy (@officialshauncassidy) Dressed in a black button-down shirt and jeans, Cassidy looked casual and joyful as he strolled in front of a drive-in theater. He noted that he kicks off the tour at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on September 13 and will take the music and storytelling event, titled "The Road to Us," across North America. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 While Cassidy has found tremendous success on the music stage and the TV screen, he stayed out of the spotlight for a few years as he thrived as a writer and producer. He even worked behind the scenes as an executive producer on the NBC medical series,New Amsterdam. Despite his success in diverse fields, Cassidy has never forgotten his family. Back in April, Cassidy shared a sweet message for his mom's 91st birthday,Paradepreviously reported. "Took mom out to lunch to celebrate her 91st trip around the sun, though I've often felt like the sun spins around her. Happy Birthday, Mom!" he captioned the shot, along with several hashtags including her birthdate. Pictured in front of a cream-colored cake with a stunning floral topper, Jones looked thrilled as she celebrated her birthday with her son. Everyone fromNancy SinatratoBernie Taupinchimed in to send best wishes for the big day. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaun Cassidy (@officialshauncassidy) Related: Shaun Cassidy Shares Sweet 91st Birthday Message for Mom Shirley Jones Beloved '70s Heartthrob Makes Exciting Career Announcement: 'Guess What?'first appeared on Parade on May 28, 2025

byRobert Mejias
in
May 28, 2025

Beloved '70s Heartthrob Makes Exciting Career Announcement: 'Guess What?'

Beloved '70s Heartthrob Makes Exciting Career Announcement: 'Guess What?' Legendary heartthrobShaun Cassidyhas big plans on the ...
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Justin Bieber Reacts to Hailey's $1B Beauty Deal After Sharing Major PDA Photo of His WifeNew Foto - Justin Bieber Reacts to Hailey's $1B Beauty Deal After Sharing Major PDA Photo of His Wife

Diggzy/Shutterstock Hailey Bieber announced on Wednesday, May 28, that rhode was acquired by e.l.f. for $1 billion She then posted an Instagram celebrating the brand's new chapter, and thanked her rhode team and community Justin then screenshotted her Instagram post and proudly shared it to his profile Justin Bieberis celebratingHailey Bieber's latest business accomplishment! On Wednesday, May 28, Hailey, 28, announced that her beauty brand,rhode, was acquired by e.l.f. cosmetics for $1 billion. Hailey also shared the news on Instagram, where she elaborated on the big business decision. Justin, 31, then screenshotted her announcement and added it to a carousel. He also included a screenshot of her Instagram caption, although he didn't add his own comments. "🥹❤️," Hailey wrote in the comment section. Justin Bieber/Instagram "When I launched@rhodein 2022, I always had big dreams for the company, and the most important thing to me is to keep bringing rhode to more spaces, places, and faces globally," Hailey's caption began. "So today I am so incredibly excited and proud to announce that we are partnering with e.l.f. Beauty as we step into this next chapter in the world of rhode," Hailey continued. "I found a like-minded disruptor with a vision to be a different kind of company that believes in big ideas and innovation in the same way that I do and will help us continue to grow the brand." "I feel invigorated, excited and more ready than ever," she explained, adding that she will now serve as Chief Creative Officer, and Head of Innovation of rhode as well as strategic advisor to e.l.f. Beauty. She then thanked her rhode team and the "supportive" rhode community. "This next chapter is going to be even more incredible together! As I've said, this is only the beginning. 🤍." The businesswoman also spoke toAllureabout the news, saying, "When you're launching a brand, you're just so focused on what's right in front of you at the time. And of course, you always have really big dreams and really big goals for it. This is definitely one of those things being realized. I could have never anticipated that it would happen at this exact time." She added about her decision to pair with the e.l.f. team, "Vibes matter!" e.l.f Justin's celebratory Instagram post follows a differentInstagram carouselthat he uploaded on Wednesday, May 28. In one of the photos, Hailey is sitting on her husband's lap, smiling from ear to ear.The "Baby" singer is captured smiling, with his chin on the side of Hailey's face, while he grabs her boobs. The next slide was a zoomed-in version of the same photo. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The musician's recent Instagram photo comes after his Tuesday, May 20, posts, celebrating his wife's first-everVoguecover. Initially, Justin shared photos from the shoot with a caption that revealedhe once told Hailey she would "never be on the cover ofVogue." "Yo this reminds me when Hailey and I got into a huge fight," he began in the caption. "I told hails that she would never be on the cover of vogue. Yikes I know, so mean." He concluded the post with an apology to Hailey saying, "So baby u already know but forgive me for saying u wouldn't get a vogue cover cuz clearly i was sadly mistaken." But, he later deleted the caption, replacing it with a series of emojis reading, "🤷🫵🏻🫶🏼🥹." Read the original article onPeople

byRobert Mejias
in
May 28, 2025

Justin Bieber Reacts to Hailey’s $1B Beauty Deal After Sharing Major PDA Photo of His Wife

Justin Bieber Reacts to Hailey's $1B Beauty Deal After Sharing Major PDA Photo of His Wife Diggzy/Shutterstock Hailey Bieber announced o...
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Hoda Kotb Opens Up About Her Dating Life After Leaving the "Today" Show: 'I Know It's Coming' (Exclusive)

Hoda Kotb exclusively opens up to PEOPLE for this week's cover story about her dating life since she left theTodayshow The journalist departed the NBC morning show in January after 17 years Kotb is mom to her daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 6, whom she shares with ex Joel Schiffman Hoda Kotbisn't putting a timeline on dating and finding love. The formerTodayco-host exclusively opens up to PEOPLE in this week's cover story about why she hasn't been focused on romance following herdeparture from the NBC morning showin January. Kotb, 60, says numerous factors have contributed to her not putting herself back out there in the dating pool just yet, including her family's move to the suburbs, her kids starting a new school and her experiencing "a new kind of beginning life." "I've been really getting my sea legs," she explains. "When it happens will be the time it's supposed to happen." Brian Doben "When things are supposed to end, they end. And when things are supposed to begin, they begin. But you have to be wide open because if you're not, it's not happening," she continues. "So I think that chapter is yet to come, but I know it's coming." The famed broadcast journalist adds, "And I'm excited for that chapter." Kotb was previously married to Burzis Kanga and engaged to Joel Schiffman, with whom she co-parents hertwo daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6. Elsewhere in this week's PEOPLE cover story, Kotb opens up about herreasons for leavingTodayafter 17 years. "I wasn't able to bear witness to my kids' daily lives because of what I was doing," she says of Haley and Hope — the latter of whom isliving with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from making insulin, requiring vigilant blood sugar monitoring and frequent insulin injections. Brian Doben "It's really cool to just realize that there's so much more to life," she continues. "I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between." To read more about Hoda Kotb's life afterToday, pick up the newest issue of PEOPLE on stands now. Kotb has been settling into a new life, relishing the amount of time she has for her daughters and making plans for the future. She's been hard at work launching a wellness company, Joy 101, complete with an app, live events and a subscription newsletter that will all center around themes of joy, mindfulness, meditation and wellness. Despite leavingTodayfour months ago, Kotb slid right back into her old groove when reuniting withJenna Bush Hageron the May 28 episode ofToday with Jenna & Friends— and she had nothing but love for her friend. Kotbtold a teary-eyed Bush Hagershe has been "literally crushing it" ever since her exit, saying, "I've been watching you every single day. You've been incredible. You've been crushing it, crushing it, you really have been." Read the original article onPeople

byRobert Mejias
in
May 28, 2025

Hoda Kotb Opens Up About Her Dating Life After Leaving the “Today” Show: 'I Know It's Coming' (Exclusive)

Hoda Kotb Opens Up About Her Dating Life After Leaving the "Today" Show: 'I Know It's Coming' (Exclusive) Hoda Kotb ex...
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