TOM CRUISE organized a three-month aviation training program for the actors in “Top Gun: Maverick”. . . so the F-18 flying sequences are legit. The actors learned how to escape an aircraft that’s landed in water, and how to operate cameras and be their own director while flying.
TheRinger.com ranked the 50 best romantic comedies in history. The top three are: “When Harry Met Sally” . . . “Pretty Woman”. . . and “You’ve Got Mail”.
One of the writers on “Better Call Saul” says that the final season ties the whole universe together. “I don’t think you’re going to look at ‘Breaking Bad’ the same way again after you’ve seen this whole season.”
A new species of MILLIPEDE was recently discovered in the Appalachian Mountains, and Virginia Tech scientists have named it Nannaria swiftae . . . after TAYLOR SWIFT. One of those scientists, Derek Hennen, says, “Her music helped me get through the highs and lows of graduate school, so naming a new millipede species after her is my way of saying thanks.”
When you think of honky-tonks, you might think of a place where a fight could break out at any moment. But that kind of behavior won’t be welcome at GARTH BROOKS’ Nashville club when it opens. He said, “I want the Chick-fil-A of honky-tonks. I want a place where you go, where you feel good, feel safe and everybody’s got good manners. My main push, from day one, is that they are sweet people. They are nice people. It’s a house of love and a house you are safe in. I’m hoping that right when you walk in, it’s a ‘love everybody’ stated right there. I want a place that’s just safe.” He even wants inclusive music. It’ll be a combination of classic and today’s country. In more Blake news: He posted a clip of himself doing an acoustic version of “Austin”. The song came out in 2001, and he’s been performing it like that for years, but I guess he wants to make sure everyone hears it.
DARIUS RUCKER has added 14 dates to his summer tour. The new dates are in July, August, and September. Tyler Booth, Daves Highway, Larry Fleet, Caylee Hammack, Ryan Hurd, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane, and Tenille Townes will open select shows. Sept 3—BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS BETHEL, NY
DIERKS BENTLEY was asked to share a “big moment”, and he had a good one. “I was at a U2 concert, and Bono started singing ‘Drunk on a Plane’ in the middle of his song, ‘Beautiful Day’. It’s like, ‘what alternate reality are we in? This must be a simulated reality because there’s no way this is real life.'”
ERIC CHURCH and MORGAN WALLEN are pretty tight. Eric says they write songs together, like to go fishing, and “try to talk weekly.” And since Morgan’s had his share of troubles, Eric has also dispensed a little advice. “I just told him to keep it about the music.”
Jessica Simpson is sharing more about her latest weight loss journey. The 41-year-old talked about losing 100 pounds for the third time during an appearance on The Real, after posting a photo of herself in a bikini to Instagram earlier this month. When asked about how she went about dropping the pounds, she said “determined patience” was her method. “I believe in setting small goals for yourself because in my life and how I’ve done it, there’s easy ways to throw in the towel and just feel like it’s impossible. So, the small goals for me are what helped me achieve the main goal.”
JENNIFER GARNER celebrated her 50th birthday by hosting a food drive at her house.
LIZZO confirmed she’s in a relationship.
Maria Sharapova is 35. Russian tennis star.
Troy Polamalu is 41.
Kate Hudson is 43.
James Franco is 44.
Ashley Judd is 54.
