NCIS” is still TV’s most watched drama series. But there was some debate whether CBS would continue the show beyond this season, mostly because MARK HARMON was thinking about moving on. He’s played the role of NCIS Special Agent Jethro Gibbs since 2003 on “JAG”. However, it’s now official: It WILL be back for a 19th season . . . WITH Harmon. That said, he may not be a full-time cast member going forward. The “Hollywood Reporter” says that his deal may only include “a limited number of episodes.”
It’s officially OVER between JENNIFER LOPEZ and ALEX RODRIGUEZ. They issued a joint statement yesterday saying, “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. “We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another’s children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support.” On his Instagram Story, Alex posted a video showing some pictures of the family in happier times, with COLDPLAY’s“Fix You” playing in the background . . . and he tagged Jennifer. There’s still no word why they split. According to TMZ, J-Lo still has the $1.8 million engagement ring, and they haven’t decided yet if she needs to give it back.
PRINCE PHILIP’s funeral will be held tomorrow at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCE HARRY will be part of the procession . . . but they will NOT walk together. They’ll be separated by a cousin, Peter Phillips, who is the son of PRINCESS ANNE. She’s PRINCE CHARLES’ sister. There are actually TWO processions, and William and Harry won’t be walking together in the second one, either. Buckingham Palace asks that you be ever so kind as to not read anything into this. They issued a statement saying the procession order was “a practical change rather than sending a signal. This is a funeral and we are not going to be drawn into perceptions of drama. The arrangements have been agreed and represent Her Majesty’s wishes.”
PETE ROSE is 80 now, and he’s still trying to make a buck off gambling. He’s partnered with a service where he will sell his “picks” for JUST $89 a month. He says he won’t actually gamble himself though.
KEITH URBAN was on “Ellen” promoting Sunday’s ACMs, and he shared a great story about the first time he heard the two songs he would eventually record with TAYLOR SWIFT . . . for her album “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”. It was around the holidays, and he was in Australia with his family. “I was doing some Christmas shopping [and] I get a text from Taylor saying, ‘I’ve got these couple of songs I’d like you to sing on, do you want to hear them?’ “I said, ‘Sure,’ so she sends me the songs. So I’m sitting in the food court at the shopping center listening to these two unreleased Taylor Swift songs. “It was an unusual place to be hearing them . . . but I loved the songs and luckily got to put a vocal on both of those.”
PHILLIP SWEET of Little Big Town has COVID-19 and will not be with the rest of the band when they perform “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” on Sunday’s ACMs. KAREN FAIRCHILD said he’s “over the hump” from the bad stuff but not up to performing yet.
LUKE COMBS is looking forward to the performances at Sunday’s ACMs because they won’t be as restricted as last fall’s show. Although there will be safety protocols, there’ll be more freedom, so he expects the set designs and collaborations to have more “bells and whistles.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence had successful heart surgery on Wednesday to install a pacemaker to steady his heart rhythm. “He is expected to fully recover and return to normal activity in the coming days,” Pence, 61, had the procedure at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus in Falls Church, Virginia. Before he took office alongside President Donald Trump in 2017, the former Indiana governor revealed he has an asymptomatic left bundle branch block in his heart. Over the past two weeks, his office said, he was experiencing a slow heart rate and went to the doctor, who advised him to undergo the procedure.
OPRAH is going on tour to promote her new book, “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing”.
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice just won another award for “I Hope You’re Happy Now,”. Lee actually teared up when the two found out they’d won the 2021 ACM Music Event of the Year trophy. Pearce shared the news of her very first ACM Awards win with Taste of Country during an interview prior to her 2021 ACM Awards rehearsal. The two singers had just found out about the honor, so she was all smiles. She has talked about how “I Hope You’re Happy Now” has brought her year full circle personally, and how the honors (including a CMA in the same category in November) put a poignant exclamation point on her professional relationship with the late producer Busbee. Brice has been there at every step, which is important to recognize, because he and Pearce didn’t know each other well prior to the recording. Still, when the award was announced, he was the one to shed tears. Look for them to sing their winning song at an awards show for the first time at the 2021 ACM Awards on Sunday. Their CMA performance was scuttled after he came down with COVID-19 in the fall. This time, she says she’s seen him, he’s healthy, and they’re ready to go.
BROTHERS OSBORNE announced the details of their “We’re Not For Everyone Tour” . . . and it’s massive. It’ll kick-off July 29th in Philadelphia . . . and make close to 50 stops before wrapping on November 20th in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. TRAVIS DENNING and TENILLE TOWNES will open select shows. Details are at BrothersOsborne.com.
Country Thunder Wisconsin is a four-day festival and Eric Church will be performing on July 16th. Dustin Lynch, Kane Brown, and Blake Shelton are headlining the other nights.
Yesterday was CHRIS STAPLETON’s 43rd birthday, and his wife Morgane celebrated by taking over his Instagram and posting some awesome pics. There are photos of him as a little boy dressed as a cowboy, playing piano and hoops, a high school yearbook pic . . . and as a clean-shaven, well-groomed adult male.
This week’s CD Releases include new music from Paul McCartney, Eric Church,
Liliana Mumy is 27. Sweet little Lucy from Tim Allen’s “Santa Clause” movies. Her dad is Billy Mumy, who played Will Robinson on the original “Lost in Space”.
Lorraine Nicholson is 31. Jack Nicholson’s daughter. She plays a rival surfer in the movie “Soul Surfer”, which is about shark attack victim Bethany Hamilton.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 74.
