K-pop star AleXa from Oklahoma became the final winner of NBC’s American Song Contest which wrapped up its eight-week run on Monday (May 9).

As Soompi notes, American Song Contest is a musical competition series, based on the hit Eurovision Song Contest, where artists representing each state and territory compete for victory. Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg host the show, and some of the contestants on the show are Michael Bolton, Macy Gray, and Jewel. For the finale episode, AleXa delivered a stunning performance of her dance-pop song titled ‘Wonderland’ live onstage. Becoming the only contestant to score as high as 710 points, AleXa triumphed over nine other artists including Grammy winner Michael Bolton.

“I was not expecting to win at all, but I am so thankful,” said the singer through her agency ZB Label. “I was able to perform on stage until now due to the love and support of so many people. Thank you so much for giving this unbelievable gift.” AleXa entered the competition while representing her home state Oklahoma, and she was the only K-pop artist out of the 56 participants. NBC Entertainment announced on Twitter, “The LEGENDARY first ever winner of #AmericanSongContest is…” and released a clip featuring AleXa.

The LEGENDARY first ever winner of #AmericanSongContest is……….. pic.twitter.com/5CkBrVtz14

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) May 10, 2022

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Alexandra Christine Schneiderman, known professionally as AleXa, is an American singer based in Korea who debuted in 2019 after gaining popularity by appearing on Soompi’s audition program Rising Legends in 2016 and on Mnet’s Produce 48 in 2018. Her first digital single was “Bomb” (2019).

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Legendary musician and santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passed away on May 10 at the age of 84. He was suffering from kidney-related issues for the last six months and was on dialysis. He passed away on Tuesday morning after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, who is credited with popularizing the classical musical instrument Santoor was born in Jammu. He started learning the santoor at the age of thirteen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official Twitter handle to offer condolence on the demise of the legendary musician. “Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji. He popularised the Santoor at a global level. His music will continue to enthrall the coming generations. I fondly remember my interactions with him. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he wrote.

Our cultural world is poorer with the demise of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Ji. He popularised the Santoor at a global level. His music will continue to enthral the coming generations. I fondly remember my interactions with him. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 10, 2022

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As one-half of Shiv-Hari, he composed music with flute legend Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia for an array of films such as Silsila, Lamhe, and Chandni among others. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma had his first public performance in 1955 in Bombay and went on to compose the background music for one of the scenes in the 1956 film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. He, along with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and guitarist Brij Bhushan Kabra in 1967, produced the acclaimed concept album Call of the Valley.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma received the prestigious Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

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Oscar nominated star James Franco is set to play the titular role in the upcoming action crime thriller Mace, from director Jon Amiel.

According to Deadline, the title, which is the first production from Meyers Media Group, follows the story of two very different kinds of cops. Mace (Franco) is a veteran officer, corrupt and dangerously unhinged, while Virgil Woods is a young rookie who believes that he can change the system that fosters cops like Mace from within. Inspired by the racial injustice on the streets of America, Woods refuses to be bullied and pits his principles against the amoral Mace, risking everything he believes in to stop Mace from destroying the city when Mace unleashes a gang war to cover up his crimes.

The film will be helmed by Jon Amiel, with a script written by David Chisholm. Lawrence Steven Meyers, Randy Dannenberg, and John Evangelides will be producers for the film while Brendan McDonald and Kirk D’Amico will serve as executive producers. Amiel previously helmed BBC series The Singing Detective that gained his much international acclaim. He has also directed titles such as Copycat with Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver, The Man Who Knew Too Little with Bill Murray and Entrapment with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Jonathan Tybel will be an associate producer for the film. Per the report, the film is in pre-production and expected to begin filming later this year in New Jersey. Myriad Pictures is launching worldwide sales on the title in Cannes next week. “We are thrilled to be returning to Cannes with this highly original and unique film,” said Kirk D’Amico, Myriad Pictures CEO. “It is a gritty story set in a modern-day police department where nothing is what it seems. We think that this material in the hands of such an experienced director as Jon Amiel will yield extraordinary results.”

Also Read: James Franco breaks silence 4 years after sexual misconduct allegations, says he had sex addiction and slept with students

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Having carved her niche with unconventional and experimental roles over the years, Vidya Balan has earned an astounding fan base across the globe. Adding to the same have been the OTT releases of Shakuntala Devi, Sherni, and Jalsa on the digital platform, reaching out to over 240 countries at once. Now Vidya Balan is all set on commencing the shoot for her next with Anu Menon, which has been titled Neeyat.

After shooting for Anu Menon’s directorial Shakuntala Devi in the UK earlier, Vidya Balan is all set to be back in the UK for Anu Menon’s Neeyat. Expected to go on floors in May, Vidya will be shooting for the thriller over a two-month schedule. Currently, the actress is basking in the success of her third consecutive Amazon Prime Video release Jalsa, after the successes of Shakuntala Devi and Sherni earlier.

As for the film, Neeyat follows the story of a billionaire’s birthday getaway that turns into a murder mystery, with detective Mira Rao left to find the truth. Produced by Vikram Malhotra’s Abundantia Entertainment the film will feature an ensemble cast comprising Ram Kapoor, Shahana Goswami, Shashank Arora, Mita Vashisht, Prajakta Koli, Neeraj Kabi, and Amrita Puri.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan aka Rooh Baba thanks ‘OG Manjulika’ Vidya Balan for her reaction to the trailer of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

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Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and The Good Doctor‘s Freddie Highmore are on board to co-star in Manacled Mormon comedy Sinner v. Saints from Fleabag director Tim Kirkby.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, set in 1970s L.A. and London, the film is based on the extraordinary real-life scandal that made headlines worldwide, involving an eccentric MENSA beauty queen who goes to extreme lengths to stop the Mormon church from stealing her sexual obsession: a nebbish Mormon missionary. WestEnd Films is launching international sales on Sinner v. Saints in Cannes. Mark Williams and Andriana Williams, head of Zero Gravity’s Inspire Division, are attached to produce. The screenplay is written by Jill Hoppe and based on the book Joyce McKinney And The Case Of The Manacled Mormon by Anthony Delano, as well as news reports. The film will begin shooting in the first quarter of 2023 in the U.S. and U.K.

“It’s rare to find an over-the-top true story with compelling characters and zany twists and turns like this,” said Andriana Williams. “The all-consuming passion, absurd lawbreaking, and outrageous antics made news around the world then and can be sure to entertain today.” Kirkby added, “I’ve never read a more no-holds-barred fever dream of a script that whisks the reader on a journey of sex, obsession, and rock ‘n’ religion like Sinner v. Saints. Obsessive first love is a magnificent premise, and sprinkle on top a killer true story involving abduction, quirky supporting characters and the era of free love, and you have a cocktail of something very potent. It is a pleasure to roll around in the world of our anti-heroine Joyce McKinney.”

On the work front, Massie Williams is best known for her starring role as Araya Stark in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones and films like The New Mutants and The Book of Love. Meanwhile, Freddie Highmore is best known for playing Charlie Bucket in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Norman Bates in Bates Motel. He currently stars in the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor.

Also Read: Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams recalls attending BTS concert prior to lockdown; her bias Jungkook was injured at the time

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