James Taylor songs will fuel an upcoming stage musical, 'Fire & Rain'
Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond — step aside. The next musical icon to turn their songs into a stage musical will be James Taylor.
Taylor's songs will fuel 'Fire & Rain,' a musical announced Monday, in development with a story by playwright and actor Tracy Letts and direction by Tony Award winner David Cromer.
'Fire and Rain' is one of Taylor's most iconic songs, released in 1970 on his second album, 'Sweet Baby James.' It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other hits include 'You've Got a Friend' and 'How Sweet It Is.'
No timeline was revealed on when 'Fire & Rain' will be first staged.
Taylor has won six Grammys and is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame. He is the first artist to have a Billboard Top 10 album in each of the past six decades.
Letts won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for writing 'August: Osage County' and his other plays include 'Bug,' 'Killer Joe,' 'Superior Donuts' and 'The Minutes.' Cromer has directed two of Letts' works — 'Bug' and 'Man from Nebraska.'
Taylor joins a growing list of musical artists who have turned to the stage.
Parton is writing new songs to go along with some of her past hits and co-writing a stage story inspired by her life for a stage musical that she hopes to land on Broadway in 2026. Diamond, Keys, Michael Jackson, Carole King and Gloria and Emilio Estefan all got biographical musicals on Broadway.
Taylor will join such pop and rock luminaries as Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, The Go-Gos, Sting,Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Edie Brickell, Trey Anastasio, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and Bono and The Edge with Broadway scores.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Taylor Swift fans convinced Matt Healy took swipe at her on stage at Glastonbury – did you spot it?
TAYLOR Swift fans have become convinced her ex Matty Healy took a veiled swipe at the star while on stage at Glastonbury. Frontman Matty appeared with his band The 1975 to headline Glastonbury's main Pyramid Stage on Friday night – something the singer has long-declared a lifelong goal. Advertisement 7 Matty couldn't resist a jab at songs made by his ex, Taylor Swift Credit: Alamy 7 Matty and Taylor briefly dated back in 2023 - but it's believed she wrote an album about him Credit: Splash 7 The cheeky singer declared himself "a poet" in reference to The Tortured Poets Department Credit: Alamy 7 The Tortured Poets Department references a man who "used typewriters, smoked cigarettes and ate chocolate" at her apartment Credit: Getty In the band's only major performance of 2025, they spent a reported four times their fee on a stand-out set design including a stage-length conveyor belt and set pieces. However, during his set, Matty took a moment to seemingly address the elephant in the room: his short-lived relationship with Taylor Swift. Ahead of their hit song Chocolate, Matty told the audience: "I want to be sincere for a second with everybody. "What this moment is making me realise is that, and I'm being sincere, I probably am the best. I'm probably the best songwriter of my generation. Advertisement "The best, what do we say… A poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. A generational wordsmith." Many took the cheeky jab at himself to be a swipe at Taylor Swift's 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department, which is long believed to be about their relationship. Matty and Taylor are believed to have dated from March to May in 2023, before splitting. In lyrics on the album, Taylor made several allusions to a mystery man who broke her heard, at one point saying he "smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate". Advertisement The titular track also refers to the man using a typewriter - which Matty has gone on record to using. Seeming to confirm he was the man behind the songs, Matty finished his speech on the stage at Glastonbury by "reminding people of his poetry" by going into their song Chocolate. The 1975's Matty Healy slammed by fans for performing with pint and a fag as parents ban kids from watching_1 He further mocked himself and the song's non-sensical lyrics by having jumbled subtitles play overhead as they played. Since Matty and Taylor's split, both have gone to have long-term relationships. Advertisement Matty is now engaged to model Gabbriette, with the pair sharing the news in June 2024. Gabbriette was at the festival, cheering Matty on alongside his mother Denise Welch. Taylor Swift has been in a relationship with NFL player Travis Kelce since September 2023. 7 Matty headlined Glastonbury with The 1975 on Friday night Credit: Alamy Advertisement 7 Matty and Taylor split in 2023 after just a few months of dating Credit: GC Images
Metro
15 hours ago
- Metro
Matty Healy predictably appears to take a swipe at ex Taylor Swift
Is Matty Healy 'obsessed' with Taylor Swift? That's the consensus, according to those who are convinced he took jabs at his ex-girlfriend during his Glastonbury set last night. Matty, 36, headlined Friday night at this year's Glastonbury Festival alongside his The 1975 bandmates. It was a surprisingly tame set by Matty's standards as he opted to be less political and certainly much less problematic than he has been in past performances. However, eagle-eyed fans couldn't help but spot a couple of references they believe to be attributed to his ex Taylor, who he dated for several months in 2023 before they swiftly split. For their Pyramid Stage set, Matty wore a black leather jacket with several pins, one of which was a figure of Peter Pan. Matty is known to be a fan of the fictional character, but Taylor, 35, also has a song called Peter, which features on her 2024 album The Tortured Poet's Department album. Speaking of, Matty is widely speculated to have made a quip about the singer's best-selling album while addressing his Glasto crowd. 'I want to be sincere for a second with everybody,' the Chocolate singer began. 'What this moment is making me realise is that I probably am the best. I'm probably the best songwriter of my generation. The best, what do we say… A poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am.' Fans have put the pieces of the puzzle together and believe Matty is still hung up on his ex in some form. @anonatrisk claimed on X: 'Trump, Elon, Kanye and Matty Healy.. Worst man you can think of, all obsessed with Taylor Swift.' @cowboybobsrodeo suggested: 'For a man who implied taylor swift is too obsessed with her lore as an artist matty healy sure loves to reference her intentionally to stir the pot.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'I do not understand why he's doing this.. Like who is this for what's the point of continuing to long out this situation when he's literally engaged,' @vngofmyheart wondered. @jenessa2710 also wrote: 'Matty shes moved on from you lol take the hint travis is much better than you.' Others noted that Matty is believed to be engaged to Gabbriette Betchel, who he started seeing in September 2023, while Taylor is famously in a relationship with NFL superstar Travis Kelce. Taylor and Matty were first rumoured to be dating two months after her split from British actor Joe Alwyn in February 2023. By May, it was widely speculated that the musicians were an item after Matty had been spotted at several dates on her Eras Tour. However, TMZ reported that they had split with a source saying the popstar was 'single' again. Matty has previously said he doesn't use past relationships as inspiration for his music. Speaking on Joshua Citarella's Doomscroll podcast, he explained: 'Last year I became a way more well-known public figure for loads of different reasons. More Trending 'I think that a lot of artists, they become very interested in their lore, or they become interested in the things that have happened outside of their art that people know about, and they want to address that, and [that's] fair enough.' He continued: 'Maybe on my first record, when it was very much a series of journal entries, like little bits of heartache, I used to write about relationships a lot more and stuff like that. 'But honestly, I would kind of just be lying if I made a record about, I don't know, all the stuff that was said about me or my casual romantic liaisons or whatever it may be, that I've kind of become known for just because I was famous. 'I think that's an obvious thing to draw from, and I'm just not interested in it. And I think the maintenance of the status quo is something that I always fight against.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I won't risk my safety by seeing Charli XCX at Glastonbury 2025 MORE: A drunken one-night stand left me pregnant — and my partner has no idea MORE: Iconic band 'devastated' as they pull out of Glastonbury hours before set
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Darts legend Phil Taylor admits new job ‘like an apprenticeship' and he feels ‘like a fish out of water'
PHIL YOUR BOOTS Darts legend Phil Taylor admits new job 'like an apprenticeship' and he feels 'like a fish out of water' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PHIL TAYLOR has admitted he feels like a "fish out of water" in his new job as a presenter. The record-holding 16-time world champion announced his official retirement from darts in May, after playing on the senior circuit since 2018. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Phil Taylor has admitted he feels like a "fish out of water" in his new job as a presenter Credit: Rex The Power is considered the greatest player to set foot on the oche, also winning 87 major PDC titles and 16 World Matchplay trophies. Seven years ago, at the age of 57, he stepped away from the PDC but continued to grace exhibitions. Four years later, he took part in his first competitive event since retirement, the inaugural World Seniors Darts Championship. Since leaving it all behind him, Taylor has swapped his arrows for a microphone, although admits he isn't as confident in his new gig. READ MORE DARTS NEWS CROWDED OUT Heta wanted to 'run into crowd and do something silly' at US Darts Masters The 64-year-old will take another stab at being a presenter when he joins the team at the World Seniors Darts Champion of Champions on Sunday. He said in the build-up to the tournament, live and free on Pluto TV,: "I'm like a fish out of water at the minute, so I'm still learning. I've got to take my hat off to these commentators. "If it was a football match, I wouldn't have a clue who's passing the ball or playing for which team! I wouldn't even know who's on whose side. It's remarkable what they do. "Every time I present, I'm learning. I will get used to it, but it's like an apprenticeship, I think. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "So you've got to do your apprenticeship and learn your job. I'll keep pushing forward and learn. But I am enjoying it. "There's no pressure, obviously. I haven't got to get up and start practising to make sure I'm getting ready for nighttime, so I can just relax and enjoy it." Darts legend Phil Taylor reveals he'd consider buying EFL club with Robbie Williams Taylor appeared briefly on the World Seniors Tour but made the decision to call time on all competitive darts just last month, revealing that he didn't want to disappoint fans. He added: "I was really, really looking forward to it. Loved the idea of the Seniors Darts. Enjoyed playing in it. "But I couldn't perform like Phil Taylor could perform. So it broke my heart a little bit. "My body had changed. I'm 65 this year. It got harder and harder for me, and I couldn't perform. And people were paying money to come and see me. "It broke my heart not to perform like I can. And I thought, 'I can't do this anymore. This is not right. If I do something, I have to do it properly.' I'm a bit of a perfectionist. "I haven't even got a set of darts now. Or a dartboard. I've got a dartboard in the back room. But it's still in the box. I was so dedicated and everything. But I can't do it now. "So, I do other things. I see my grandkids a lot more. And the best thing in the world is staying and sleeping in your own bed. Which I'd not done for 30 years and I love it."
