Latest news with #Elvis
Elle
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Austin Butler's Dating History Includes Vanessa Hudgens, Kaia Gerber, and More
THE RUNDOWN Austin Butler had been very busy lately, with starring turns in some of the biggest blockbuster hits of recent years, like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Dune, and as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The star has also managed to have a personal life, which includes some high-profile romances. Though Butler is often in the spotlight, he's generally pretty close-mouthed about his love life. He may walk the red carpet with his partners, but Butler keeps details of his relationships discreet. Here's what is known about Butler and his complete dating history so far. Hudgens and Butler met on the set of High School Musical, according to the Daily Mail. At the time, Hudgens was dating Zac Efron, but she and Butler remained friends. They didn't spark dating rumors until 2011, a year after she split from Efron. In September of that year, they were seen leaving her house in Los Angeles. In January 2012, they were photographed kissing at a Lakers game. Soon after, they made their red carpet debut at the premiere of Hudgens' film, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. In December 2013, Butler made his first appearance on Hudgens's Instagram timeline, as part of a group of friends from her church, Hillsong. She wrote in the caption, 'We may be rowdy but man we have fun. Love these people with all my heart. Thanks @hillsong for my new home.' The couple didn't discuss their relationship that much in public, but in August 2015, Hudgens told Entertainment Tonight, 'It's important to put that other person first. If you're constantly looking for ways that you can make them happy, and they're constantly looking for ways that they can make you happy, then you kind of lift each other up as much as possible, and you can't go wrong.' Reports that the couple might be on the outs began appearing in late 2019, after they spent the holidays apart. On Jan. 2, 2020, Hudgens discussed the difficulties of often being long-distance with Butler in an interview with Cosmo UK. 'It's eight years this year–FaceTime, good communication, respect and trust [are what keep us going],' she said. 'The longest we've been apart was four months. It sucks! You start hating hearing yourself say, 'I miss you.' But if it's your person, you make it work.' In mid-January 2020, Us Weekly reported they'd broken up, with a source saying, 'Vanessa and Austin are officially broken up, and Vanessa has been telling those close to her about their breakup.' Two sources speaking with E! said that the pair 'are split for now,' but claimed they planned to 'see what happens.' The insider continued, 'They have such a history and deep connection [that] they could find their way back to one another. Right now, she felt like he needed to go and be single and see if that's what he really wants.' Butler was shooting Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic in Australia at the time, while Hudgens was working in Los Angeles. The second source claimed that 'they're just shooting on two different continents, and it's a matter of distance. There is no bad blood at all, and they have a lot of respect for each other.' However, the two never publicly reconciled, and Hudgens went on to marry baseball player Cole Tucker. In January 2023, Butler did comment on his past relationship with Hudgens after referring to her as his 'friend' when discussing who motivated him to play Elvis. Fans noted the designation, and it sparked some controversy. In a follow-up with the Los Angeles Times, reporter Mark Olsen asked Butler, 'There's something else I hope you can clear up. You've talked about a moment even before you had the role, it was Christmastime, and an Elvis song came on and you were with a friend, and you were singing along.' Butler interjected to say, 'I was with my partner at the time.' After Olsen asked if that partner was Hudgens, Butler replied, 'That's right. We'd been together for so long, and she had this sort of clairvoyant moment and so I really, I owe her a lot for believing in me.' Butler worked with Olivia DeJonge on the set of Elvis, and it was rumored they had a brief fling after they were seen at a movie theater looking cozy in Melbourne, and then again on the beach in November 2020, per the Daily Mail. But they were never seen together after that year. In August 2021, Butler was photographed kissing Lily-Rose Depp in London, who had herself recently split up with her boyfriend Timothée Chalamet. They were also not seen together again, and Depp went on to date rapper 070 Shake. Like with most celebrity romances, Butler's connection with model Kaia Gerber began as a rumor. But in December 2021, a source confirmed with Us Weekly, 'They are low-key dating. It's still very new.' Butler had been seen on December 8 at a Celine fashion show in Los Angeles, where Gerber was walking the runway. Butler was accompanying her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. A source told People a few weeks later, 'She seems really happy. All of her friends think he's really cute.' Though they made many public appearances throughout their relationship, the couple did not speak about their love much in public. In February 2024, Gerber told WSJ magazine, 'Honestly, I feel like so few things in my life are private, and that is one of the things that I try to keep as sacred as possible.' In May 2022, Butler was asked about Gerber by GQ and replied, 'I don't think there's anything I want to share about that. But thank you for providing the space.' That same month, they were seen kissing in Cannes after a screening of Elvis. In September 2023, a source told Us Weekly that after almost two years together, they were both feeling good about their relationship. 'They've both been so busy with their careers that the time has flown by,' the source said, adding that 'they spend as much time together as they can. Although Austin and Kaia are both in the public eye, they're really down to earth and have a very secure relationship, so they never let jealousy or anything like that get in the way.' They continued, 'Kaia loves that her family gets along so well with Austin. He's joined them on several vacations, and he's definitely a part of the family.' Butler did tell Entertainment Tonight in February 2024 that he was proud of Gerber's British Vogue cover that month. 'It was legendary,' he said. 'It was amazing. I loved getting to see that. What an exciting cover. I loved it.' Gerber and Butler were last seen together in October 2024, heading from dinner to Gracie Abrams's concert at Radio City Music Hall. But rumors of a breakup started circulating after they failed to make more public appearances. In January 2025, sources told TMZ that they had split 'around the end of 2024.' 'The relationship just simply ran its course after a good three years together,' the insider claimed. Gerber began dating actor Lewis Pullman in early 2025.
RTÉ News
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music
The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" mixed with newer hits like "Down to the Honkytonk". Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. "When I started out it was a very tiny genre" in Kenya, he said at the festival. "It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today." There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. "Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit," said Sir Elvis. "It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same." 'Life, love, hate, forgiveness' Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?". "Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through," said Anne. "I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day," she added. "I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life - the quiet, the calm." The clothes are also a big part of the appeal. The festival was organised by Reja Manyeki, who runs a clothing and events company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. It was still pretty niche when he opened in 2018 but "now people love country music. It touches all corners (of society). "We do cowboy-themed events, birthdays, weddings, end-of-year parties... Now everyone comes, even schools." Big farming and Christian communities also make Kenya fertile ground for country and gospel music. First to perform at the festival was Samson Maombe who's picked up millions of streams for his Swahili-language takes on Christian country tunes. But for "King George" Gustavo, lead MC of the festival, it's the tales of everyday life that keep him hooked and ensures he listens to Alan Jackson "every single day". "The lyrics speak to life, love, hate, forgiveness, cheating, drinking..." he said. "You identify with that, and then obviously there's a bit of dancing." Anne Anene, the Dolly Parton fan, says country music is also an escape. "In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace."
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's Home Of Country Music
The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" mixed with newer hits like "Down to the Honkytonk". Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. "When I started out it was a very tiny genre" in Kenya, he told AFP at the festival. "It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today." There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. "Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit," said Sir Elvis. "It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same." Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?". "Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through," said Anene, a customer service representative for a health insurance firm. "I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day," she added. "I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life -- the quiet, the calm." The clothes are also a big part of the appeal. The festival was organised by Reja Manyeki, who runs a clothing and events company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. It was still pretty niche when he opened in 2018 but "now people love country music. It touches all corners (of society). "We do cowboy-themed events, birthdays, weddings, end-of-year parties... Now everyone comes, even schools." Big farming and Christian communities also make Kenya fertile ground for country and gospel music. First to perform at the festival was Samson Maombe who's picked up millions of streams for his Swahili-language takes on Christian country tunes. But for "King George" Gustavo, lead MC of the festival, it's the tales of everyday life that keep him hooked and ensures he listens to Alan Jackson "every single day". Anene, the Dolly Parton fan, says country music is also an escape. "In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace." Sir Elvis is the biggest star of the Kenyan country scene AFP Kenya's country scene has grown in the last decade thanks to live gigs and the popularity of the outfits AFP Shared traditions of farming, Christianity and links to local folk music help explain country's popularity in Kenya AFP
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The best bars and nightclubs in Zakynthos
Away from Laganas' rowdy three-kilometre-long strip, Zakynthos' (also known as Zante) nightlife scene is far more laid back. Cafés and bars radiating out from Solomas square in Zante town attract locals who sit out in boisterous clusters greeting friends, eating traditional honey and almond mandoles and playing backgammon tavli. A string of chic bars on Bochali's Venetian castle-crowned hill just outside of town attracts a hip crowd who come here to sip cocktails and admire panoramic views. This Ionian island has a traditional music scene, too and it's well worth seeking out the local bars where they still host atmospheric and traditional kandathes nights. For further Zante inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants and things to do. Plan an extended visit with our ultimate guide to planning a Greek island-hopping holiday. Paradise Cocktail Bar There's always something going on at this funky little bar in the low key resort of Tsilivi. Far from Laganas' rowdy crowds this family-run venue, which has been around for more than 23 years, proudly promotes itself as the place to have 'an old fashioned good night out' with plenty of fun and occasional games, ranging from reggae nights and quizzes, to plate smashing and drag nights. With banners on street lamps proclaiming it to be 'the best bar in Greece' and a wrecked pink motor parked outside with a sign that reads 'Elvis' mothers car', this one is easy to find. Jungle Bar Named for its salt flats, which were abandoned in the 1980s and are now a magnet for migrating birds, the seaside resort of Alykes has one of the island's best low-key nightlife scenes – and the family-run Jungle Bar, set on a busy road in the centre of town, is one of the best places to enjoy it. Children are welcome at this bar's saloon-like terrace (great for people watching) where they serve an extensive range of (competitively priced) cocktails and mocktails, along with Guinness and beer on tap, to the tune of Eighties and Nineties hits. Movida Club Moonlight works magic on this sky bar sat atop the sweet-scented, pine-studded Bochali hill, close to the Venetian castle's crumbled walls, where the city's hip crowd come to sip handcrafted cocktails. Trees strung with glittering lights surround a wood-decked terrace with amphitheatre-like views of the inky black Ionian Sea way below and Zante town's sparkle way beyond. In summer, drinkers (perched on high-backed wooden chairs) are serenaded by the high-pitched toot of Scops owls, and local and international DJs who play mainly chill-out hits. There's also a limited menu: try the handmade burgers with chunky fries. Website: Price: ££ Getting in: Dress code is hip/casual. Cebu Club Although it's just down the road from Laganas, the nightlife in Argassi, just a few kilometres from Zante town, is far more chilled. Early evening is the time to hangout with locals – who flock here to eat in a string of taverns and fast food joints – before heading to one of the laidback clubs. Cebu's palm tree-shaded garden behind high walls is the perfect place to gaze at the stars through waving palm fronds, whilst sipping cocktails. There's also a football-pitch-sized dance space inside where local and guest DJs do their sets. Zakanthi Bar Restaurant Housed in a tall ochre building with olive green shutters along a quiet street in chilled seaside resort Kalamaki, this laidback bar is surrounded by a pretty garden – clipped lawns, palm trees and plants in pots – which makes it feel very private. Interiors are rustic-cosy (think flagged stone floors, chunky wooden tables and candles) but the best seats are outdoors, where friendly waiters serve cocktails handcrafted by a resident mixologist, as the sweet sounds of classic and jazz music filter out from speakers concealed amongst the trees. In summer they also have regular live music nights. Contact: 0030 26950 43586; Price: ££ Getting in: Dress code is elegant casual; it's best to book on weekends. Cotton Club Zakynthos When beret-clad Christian Marstrander and wife Merete, the Norwegian owners of Ibiza's celebrity-loved Cotton Club, first stepped ashore in Zakynthos they were captivated by the Ionian island's pristine seascapes and lush greenery, and vowed to create a second Cotton Club here. An ideal place to escape the coastal crowds, this sophisticated lifestyle club sits on a pine-clad hill with breathtaking views over Laganas bay. Come here during the daytime to sip cocktails and chill by the pool, or stay later to enjoy live DJ's and plant-based menus in the club's al fresco restaurant - for those who choose to linger, they also rent out villas, along with a sleek line of luxury yachts. Porto Azzuro Beach bars are ten a penny in the beach resort of Vasilikos, but Porto Azurro's location – just steps from the warm shallow waters and soft sand of its eponymous beach – combine with an imaginative range of cocktails (try the Greek Collins made with grappa-like tsipouro, instead of gin) makes it a popular lunchtime choice. Drinks can be ordered on the bamboo-shaded terrace of the bar, or from the never-want-to-leave comfort of a sunbed. They also serve Mediterranean snacks: olive oil-drizzled choriatiki salads, fresh grilled meat souvlaki and seafood. Villa Rossa Wine bar Although the best grapes were once exported as currants, these days Zante produces some excellent wines from a wide range of local varietals – and not just the ubiquitous white wine Verdea, either. Housed along the Vassilikos peninsula in an atmospheric villa, with creaking wooden floors and ornate antique furnishings – and which once belonged to the powerful Roma family (who also owned Archontiko Roma in Zante town) – Villa Rossa has plenty of choice. Sit at picnic tables (with plenty of cushions) beneath citrus-scented cypress trees and choose from an extensive list served with spicy ladotyri cheese and other snacks. Portokali Along a side street in the popular seaside resort of Argassi, Portokali (Greek for 'orange') really rocks that amber vibe with carrot-coloured deco ranging from lampshades to seating. Surprisingly, however, the orange-with-everything theme is not oppressive because this quirky live music bar restaurant nestles in lovely lush gardens. There are immense palm trees thrusting palm fronds to the velvet, star-spangled sky and ancient olive trees strung with (orange) hammocks where you can laze and listen to live music which plays most nights here and can be anything from laidback jazz to lively rock 'n' roll. There's also a restaurant serving traditional local treats, including – you guessed it – portokalopita (orange cake). Contact: 0030 26950 45730; Price: ££ Getting in: Casual, but get there early – this place is popular. How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Heidi Fuller-Love I'm a fan of traditional music, and have spent many summers listening to kanthades in Zante's kafeneions and hiking the island's remotest goat trails.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
31 Awkward Moments That Prove You're Getting Old
The age at which someone feels "old" definitely depends on the individual's perspective of it. So, when we asked some of our readers to share the moment they realized they were old, the responses varied a lot! Here is what was said... "When you mention your age, and no longer get the, 'Aww, you look so much younger.' Just an awkward silence and tumbleweed." "You know you're old when most of the contacts on your phone begin with 'Dr.'" "You no longer give a flying fig newton about what you wear. Comfortable? You wear it, period." "When high school classmates post selfies on Facebook, and I'm shocked into the realization that I look as 'old' as they do." "Two little shits said 'okay auntie' to me when I told them not to eat the unripe cherries from the tree because they will get a tummy ache." "I was at Ross, cashier very sweetly 'had to ask' if I qualified for senior discount. I asked the age required, she told me, I said, 'Oh no, not yet!'... Then I got in the car and thought about it (did math). I DID QUALIFY, WTAF!?! oops. 😆🤣🤣🤣" "For me, personally, it's when someone calls me 'bro' but then calls me 'sir' almost immediately afterwards." "The way I can see through all the tricks that used to work when I was under 35. I know I am old because now I see them coming a thousand yards away!" "I knew I was old when I began regularly checking my bathrooms to be sure there was an ample supply of toilet paper…" "My sister and I were finishing our meal at a restaurant where tables were close together, and we were talking with a couple of guys in their late 20s, early 30s at the next table. When we got up to leave, I said, 'You boys enjoy the rest of your dinner!' I was immediately struck by the thought, 'OMG, when did I become my mother?' Normal me would have said you 'guys,' not 'boys.'" "I'm a 37-year-old woman. I just shaved my head because I felt like it. First time going from medium to short, I also have very dark hair. I knew I was greying on the sides in the front, but OH MY GOD EVERY CLUMP I SHAVED OFF HAD GREY IN IT! WTF." "When I started referring to ppl in their 40s as young." "I knew I was getting old when I lost the battle with my weight. Even now, I can lose weight with lots of effort, but no matter how many vegetables I eat, I gain it back eventually. And it just gets harder the older I get. Of course, there are the things going wacko with your body. Started with a little high blood pressure, acid reflux, arthritis, gallbladder, then tearing rotator cuffs just doing every day stuff, and now a stroke. It feels like a cascade effect that I only have minimal input or control over." "Just this morning, I picked up an empty trash can — it was narrow, about waist-high, seven pounds max — and sprained my back." "When the fitness instructor at the gym I was touring said they would play Elvis music if I requested it." "My daughter said watching bands break up. For me, it's watching them all die! And making sure all my plans end at 8 p.m." "When they just automatically give you the senior discount." "You know you're old when a nun calls you ma'am!" "I remember watching Football and thinking, 'Wow, the players all look so young!' Now I think the same thing about the referees." "I'm 25 and admire people's landscaping and think about houses. I still live with my parents, so I think it's me wanting to move and do my own thing." "I refer to myself as 'older.' Old means someone older than me. I'm 73. I flipped out a little when my firstborn turned 50! Of course, I couldn't have a 50-year-old child 😜!" "Saving good boxes is a dead giveaway. Also, realizing that I will be 80 in two months. Seems as though I was only 49 when I went to sleep last night. Still, it beats the alternative." "I knew I had crossed into the old lane when a store clerk called me precious. And now I have the crepey skin! For God's sake, how does that even happen?" "I realized I'd become old when half the attendees at a rock concert had walkers and canes, and the band had their kids and grandkids playing with them." "I realized I was getting old the first time I saw an old person and realized they might be younger than me." "Told a friend about a recipe I loved. When I went to make a copy of it, the notation I made on the recipe was dated 1970. Since we are in 2025, I realized that I had been making it without the cookbook for over 55 years. I suddenly felt ancient." "I knew I was old when I saw the article about how they had dug up a time capsule and marveled at its contents. It was buried in 1975 when I was already 25 years old." "I really learned I was old when I realized the new pope is much younger than me!" "I had to stop at a college campus recently to pick up some records. Hadn't been on that campus since I'd gone there almost a decade ago. Looking at all the students my first thought was, 'Why do they all look like babies?!' That's when I realized I was getting older lol." "I knew I was old when I saw a picture where I was in the background facing the wrong way, and my hair was all either gone or half gray!" And, finally: "The ultimate realization: In your 20s, you're really worried about what people think about you. In your 30s, you're not really worried about what people think about you. In your 40s and beyond, you realize no one was really thinking about you anyway." Do you relate to any of these, or have additional thoughts to share? Let us know in the comments!
