Paul Simon is abandoning his retirement plans to embark on the Quiet Celebration Tour
On Tuesday, Simon announced via his social media that he is heading out on the Quiet Celebration Tour. Tickets go on sale Friday on his website.
The tour will kick off April 4 in New Orleans and end August 3 in Seattle.
Simon, who has lost most of his hearing in his left ear, was set to retire in 2018 after what he said at the time was his farewell tour.
In 2023, he addressed the challenge of his hearing loss during a post-screening Q&A for the documentary 'In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon' at the Toronto International Film Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
'I haven't accepted it entirely, but I'm beginning to,' he said.
Last year, in an interview with The Guardian Simon somewhat changed his tune, saying he was 'optimistic' about returning to the stage.
'Six months ago, I was pessimistic,' he said then.
Simon and Carpenter kicked off last Sunday's 'Saturday Night Live' special with a duet of 'Homeward Bound.'
Simon first rose to musical acclaim in the 1960s as one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, before he went on to have an award-winning solo career.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
32 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Happy Gilmore appeals to both MAGA and woke fans — and that's his genius
There's a danger in trying to pull too much hidden meaning from an Adam Sandler movie. For years, the comedian-turned-actor has starred in films that provide a few belly laughs ‒ at least for those of us with a certain sense of humor ‒ but not a lot of in-depth social commentary on the human condition. With Sandler, dating to his time as a "Saturday Night Live" cast member during the early 1990s, what you see is mostly what you get. With his style of comedy, you either love it or you don't. Except for the original "Happy Gilmore" and "The Wedding Singer," I find most of his movies unwatchable. Yet there was something about the original "Happy" movie, featuring a failed hockey player who turns into an irreverent golfing sensation, that inspired a cult following and compelled Hollywood to greenlight a sequel almost 30 years after the first movie's debut. After much more thought than a healthy person probably should give to such matters, I believe I've discovered why Happy Gilmore makes his fans happy: He's a character who appeals to both the woke- and the MAGA-oriented in our tribal society. If you remember any tidbits of the first movie, the MAGA side of Happy Gilmore's personality was easy to see, two decades before Donald Trump's first successful run for the presidency. As a hockey fan, Happy was a man's man. He had a short temper and a tendency for settling problems with his fists. He hated effeminate intellectual types, like the tax collector who was preparing to sell his grandmother's home at auction. If Trump says what a lot of people are thinking, Happy did what a lot of people would like to do ‒ either by taking a whack at those who annoyed him or tossing them through glass doors. Opinion: Jon Stewart warned comedians get 'sent away first.' Now it's happening. In the first movie, after discovering his talent for hitting long drives, Happy joined a professional golfing circuit, modeled after the real-life PGA Tour, then made a mockery of the sport's stuffy traditions and mannerisms. Parts of the story are very familiar. "Caddyshack" was another golfing movie that poked fun at the snobbery of the country club set and the decadent lives its members led. Happy and his followers in the first movie seem to identify strongly with the Make America Great Again crowd of modern-day politics, too. Happy's supporters at golf tournaments were bikers and other free-spirited individuals who delighted in following their Everyman hero's lead and defying rules and conventions aimed at ruining the common person's fun. Happy was Trump before Trump burst onto the political scene. That's not all, though: The Happy of the original movie was a pretty woke guy, too. Consider the people in his inner circle: There's his mentor, a Black former golfer. His caddy is a homeless person he meets at his first pro event. His main love interest is the smart and capable tour communications director, who is dismissed by chauvinistic men in her life. His role model is his elderly grandmother. Opinion: Ozzy didn't corrupt America's youth. He exposed the hypocrisy of their elders. Happy seems to see the value in people regardless of their gender, social status, color or age. While he is short-tempered and prone to violence, he also is quick to show forgiveness and compassion toward the less fortunate. That was the hidden genius of the first movie. Happy had traits that were relatable to people at both ends of our society's fragmented political spectrum. Die-hard conservatives and raging liberals alike could cherry-pick some of Happy's traits and claim him as their own. So how did this character development translate in "Happy Gilmore 2"? The new Happy, 30 years older and maybe somewhat wiser, hasn't mellowed all that much. He's still quick to use his fists to settle problems, or even toss those who bother him into a nearby lobster tank. He also has four sons who have grown into regular working Joes, all doing manual labor jobs and sharing their dad's pugilistic tendencies. "Money is for snobs," one of them declares early in the movie. Happy has a new live-in house guest − former pro golfer John Daly, an unabashed Trump supporter in real life, who plays himself in the movie. (Don't worry; there are plenty of other cameos from athletes, sportscasters and other celebrities to keep the surprises coming throughout the movie.) Opinion: I'm a PBS Kid at heart. Trump's cuts threaten what made me who I am today. Happy 2.0 still has qualities that should also endear him to liberals. His new caddy is played by Bad Bunny, a Hispanic singer who endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. His allies in the movie include the son of his Black golfing mentor from the first movie and a transgender woman. Happy spends a large portion of the movie trying to get his daughter into ballet school − in Paris, of all places − and he ends up defending some of the stodgy traditions he mocked in the first movie. In short, whether you're a liberal or a conservative, it's not hard to find parts of Happy's personality that fit your worldview. Whether that was by accident or design, it may explain why Hollywood thought movie fans would be willing to walk the course with Happy Gilmore again after all these years.
4 hours ago
Tom Holland reveals new Spider-Man suit in 1st look at 'Brand New Day'
Marvel fans just got their first official look at Tom Holland's new Spider-Man suit for the upcoming movie "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," set to hit theaters on July 31, 2026. In a video released Saturday morning, Holland steps out in a redesigned costume featuring brighter red and blue colors and a larger spider symbol across the chest. The reveal came one day after Holland teased the update on Instagram for National Spider-Man Day with the caption, "Something brand new is coming…" The next morning, the full look dropped with the message, "Are you ready? – 7.31.2026." In addition to Holland's return, Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, The Hollywood Reporter reports. The film marks Ruffalo's first major appearance in a Spider-Man movie and comes 14 years after he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "The Avengers." Plot details for "Brand New Day" are still under wraps, but the title and costume suggest a fresh chapter for Peter Parker in the MCU.
Business Upturn
7 hours ago
- Business Upturn
How Rhonda Byrne turned belief into a billion-dollar business model in the United States
Rhonda Byrne is best known in the United States as the visionary behind The Secret , the self-help juggernaut that reignited America's obsession with the Law of Attraction. But beneath the glittering surface of her message— ask, believe, receive —lies a sophisticated commercial framework that turned a single idea into a multi-platform empire. This article explores the Rhonda Byrne business model, focusing specifically on how she monetised belief in the U.S. market through publishing, media, licensing, and digital strategies. With a sharp focus on monetisation mechanics rather than metaphysics, this article maps out how a spiritual concept evolved into a billion-dollar American business. The rise of Rhonda Byrne and The Secret 's influence on American consumer habits When The Secret first hit American bookshelves in 2006, few anticipated the cultural firestorm it would ignite. Based on New Thought philosophies and the age-old concept of manifestation, Byrne's brand of positivity offered something uniquely American: a promise that personal desire, if focused correctly, could translate into financial success, romantic relationships, or even health. The book's appeal was amplified by the Oprah effect—Byrne was featured twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show , instantly turning The Secret into a household name. But this was not merely a stroke of luck. Byrne's team had a meticulously prepared U.S. strategy: targeted marketing, viral DVD sales, and syndication-ready messaging that aligned perfectly with American consumer psychology, particularly in the post-9/11 era of anxiety and economic uncertainty. From self-publishing to global licensing: The monetisation of belief Initially self-published in DVD format in Australia, The Secret took a calculated leap into the U.S. through Byrne's independent media company, Prime Time Productions. This allowed full control over production and distribution—critical for maximising early profits and leveraging licensing rights. Once the product gained traction, Byrne negotiated with Simon & Schuster for U.S. book distribution, securing lucrative royalty terms while retaining key international rights. The licensing deals exploded from there: translated editions, branded journals, calendars, mobile apps, audio books, and classroom curricula. Byrne tapped into a global appetite, but it was U.S. licensing revenue—aided by Barnes & Noble deals and mass retail presence at Target, Walmart, and Amazon—that constituted the lion's share of initial earnings. She transformed a philosophical idea into an intellectual property portfolio. How The Secret was marketed as an American lifestyle product Rather than promoting The Secret as an esoteric text, Byrne positioned it as a lifestyle framework—accessible, digestible, and highly brandable. In the U.S., this meant aligning the brand with wellness, personal finance, self-empowerment, and productivity. Promotional materials often mirrored the aesthetics of life coaching and motivational content, appealing to the same demographic that consumed Tony Robbins seminars or Suze Orman books. The visual branding—sleek maroon tones, parchment-style fonts, and antique script—gave the illusion of ancient wisdom while being entirely repackaged for a modern American market. Byrne's U.S. strategy drew heavily on emotional branding, tapping into personal agency and aspirational living, two core pillars of American consumer culture. The spiritual economy and targeted wellness branding in the U.S. In America, the spirituality industry is less about doctrine and more about utility. Byrne's brilliance lay in her ability to reframe Law of Attraction as a toolset, not a belief system. This resonated especially with Millennials and Gen Xers looking for secular spirituality. Her products were marketed not through churches or religious circuits, but through wellness expos, YouTube testimonials, and self-help influencer networks. Additionally, the U.S. version of The Secret movement attracted an audience of women between the ages of 25 and 50—predominantly middle-class, self-motivated, and interested in holistic health, business success, and personal transformation. Byrne effectively monetised U.S. wellness branding trends decades ahead of today's meditation app and coaching subscription booms. The business backbone of the Rhonda Byrne empire Beyond the initial success of The Secret , Byrne expanded her brand into a multi-product business ecosystem. While many associate her only with books and DVDs, the full business structure involves real estate holdings, streaming services, limited-edition releases, and private publishing contracts—all orchestrated under her corporate entities registered across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Two decades later, the Rhonda Byrne business model has evolved into a long-term revenue machine powered by repackaged content, re-releases, and evergreen messaging that continues to sell to new audiences. Product diversification: Beyond books and documentaries Byrne didn't stop with The Secret . Follow-ups like The Power , The Magic , and Hero were timed strategically for holiday seasons in the U.S., often bundled with journals, vision boards, or guided affirmations. These books were not standalone projects; they functioned as modular expansions of the same core message, enabling customers to buy into a continuity marketing loop. By 2020, Netflix premiered The Secret: Dare to Dream , a feature-length film starring Katie Holmes. The movie wasn't just content—it was an elaborate content marketing tool reinforcing the brand's legitimacy for a younger, more digitally native U.S. audience. Every product served a dual purpose: revenue and lead generation for future sales. U.S. publishing deals and royalty structures behind the scenes While Byrne retains much creative and brand control, her partnership with Simon & Schuster in the U.S. has been pivotal. Unlike typical first-time authors, Byrne reportedly negotiated above-industry royalties, sometimes as high as 25% on hardcover sales. Add to that the back-end licensing of audiobook rights through Audible and streaming rights via Netflix, and Byrne's U.S. royalty stack is deeply diversified. Also crucial: republication rights. Her business entities license older works in repackaged forms—gift editions, e-book bundles, and anniversary releases—ensuring long-tail profitability from existing content libraries. Her team leverages these deals across major American book fairs and online marketplaces, particularly Amazon and Apple Books. The role of exclusive distribution in building brand scarcity Unlike many self-help authors who flood multiple platforms, Byrne's strategy emphasized selective exclusivity. For instance, early editions of her DVDs were only available via the official The Secret website or specific American retailers. This helped build a sense of rarity and desire—similar to luxury fashion drops or limited edition sneakers. This scarcity strategy also applied to Byrne's speaking engagements and media appearances—they were infrequent but high-impact. By limiting access, she increased perceived authority and demand within American self-help and spiritual circles. Rhonda Byrne's digital strategy and influence on new-age entrepreneurship As digital platforms exploded in the 2010s, Byrne adapted quickly. She understood that the future of spiritual and motivational content wasn't on bookstore shelves but in online ecosystems. Her website, became the central node in an expanding web of content, courses, and streaming options tailored to a U.S. market increasingly hungry for 24/7 access to self-help. and monetising an online following Launched as a basic companion site in the 2000s, evolved into a subscription-based streaming platform offering exclusive content, including affirmations, masterclasses, guided visualisations, and member-only film access. Users could pay monthly or annually—introducing a recurring revenue model uncommon in spiritual publishing at the time. Beyond video content, the site hosts affiliate products, branded merchandise, and ticketed digital events, all monetised through e-commerce integrations and Stripe-based payment portals. The platform also leverages email funnels and behavioural tracking, retargeting U.S. users with product suggestions and exclusive offers. Byrne's influence on the U.S. motivational speaker circuit While Byrne herself is not a prolific public speaker, her influence shaped the U.S. motivational speaker economy. Speakers at events like Mindvalley Live or Hay House summits frequently cite The Secret , with some even licensing Byrne's messaging in seminars. In return, Byrne's team has engaged in content partnerships and cross-promotion across high-traffic U.S. podcasts and social media channels. This integration not only enhanced visibility but created downstream revenue—many motivational coaches now serve as de facto brand ambassadors, funneling new American audiences back to The Secret ecosystem. How her brand shaped online coaching and wellness marketing models The Byrne brand prefigured the now-common coaching economy—think Law of Attraction coaching, manifestation mentors, and mindset consultants. Many of today's digital wellness entrepreneurs credit The Secret as their inspiration and often structure their business models similarly: digital downloads, email courses, private Facebook communities, and branded merchandise. Her approach gave rise to a template for belief monetisation: package an ideology, attach it to a lifestyle, build community, and layer it with content upsells. This structure is now common among American wellness influencers and spiritual coaches. A unique business legacy: What Rhonda Byrne's model tells us about U.S. spirituality commerce Rhonda Byrne didn't just publish a book—she catalysed an entire economic movement rooted in individual agency, emotional branding, and spiritual consumerism. In the United States, where belief and capitalism often intersect, Byrne's business model offers a textbook case of how spiritual ideologies can be turned into commercial IP portfolios. Her influence on U.S. self-help media and Gen Z spiritual entrepreneurs From TikTok manifestation videos to Instagram pages filled with affirmation quotes, Byrne's legacy is imprinted across Gen Z spiritual commerce. Many younger entrepreneurs now build businesses by combining social media virality with spiritual frameworks—exactly what Byrne did before the era of influencers. Her success proved that there's a scalable audience in America for content that blends hope, empowerment, and consumerism—and that spiritual messaging can be both emotionally resonant and highly profitable. Precursor to influencer-driven wellness empires in America Byrne's empire predated the influencer economy, yet foreshadowed it. Like today's YouTubers or meditation app founders, she built a niche, created high-conversion content, and scaled vertically across platforms. From that perspective, Byrne can be seen as a proto-influencer—except her product wasn't herself, it was belief itself. Modern figures like Jay Shetty or Gabby Bernstein have replicated aspects of the Rhonda Byrne business model, monetising mindfulness, manifestation, or spiritual insight via digital memberships, workshops, and product sales. Why the Rhonda Byrne business model may become a Harvard case study Given its unique blend of ideology, IP management, media strategy, and emotional marketing, the Rhonda Byrne business model offers a rich case study for American business schools. It intersects key subjects: branding, publishing economics, cultural psychology, and platform monetisation. In many ways, it's a model of soft power capitalism, where personal transformation fuels commercial transactions. Conclusion: Rhonda Byrne and the monetisation of belief in America's digital spiritual economy Rhonda Byrne's billion-dollar success was never just about The Secret —it was about strategically packaging belief for a country where hope sells. Her brand preceded the modern wellness boom, prefigured the influencer monetisation playbook, and created a repeatable framework for how spiritual ideas can thrive in America's digital economy. Like Calm or Headspace, Byrne built a business not from tangible products, but from an emotional and cognitive experience. The difference? She did it before mobile apps or Instagram ever existed. As U.S. consumers continue to spend billions on spiritual self-help, Rhonda Byrne's model remains a blueprint for monetising metaphysics—one that continues to shape the future of belief-driven capitalism in America. This article is intended for informational and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute endorsement or promotion of any individual, company, or entity mentioned. Business Upturn makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided.
