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The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, September 22, 2024
HOROSCOPES
CELEBRITIES
Trainor
‘can’t crack
the code’
on ‘Bass’
By Rodney Ho
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Meghan Trainor came
out of nowhere 10 years
ago with a cheeky song
that fueled a debate about
body image and stayed at
the top of the Billboard
Hot 100 for nearly two
months.
“All About That Bass”
became her calling card, a
style of retro pop that she
has continued to mine to
this day with a wink and a
smile. Over that time, she
also got married, had two
kids and turned 30.
“I’m 30 and thriving,”
Trainor said recently. “I’ve
never looked better. I have
better teeth. I’m aging
backwards. I love all the
love I’m getting with the
anniversary of ‘All About
That Bass.’ It’s very cool.
I got to sing it with Kelly
Clarkson!”
She has written many
songs since “All About
That Bass,” but none has
had that zeitgeist-level
impact.
“It’s wild,” Trainor said.
“I’ll never understand it.
I try to study that song. I
can’t crack the code. I can
get other hits, but I can’t
write another ‘Bass’.”
Now she’s touring on
the back of her sixth studio
album “Timeless.”
This is Trainor’s first
tour in seven-plus years
and her first with two
young children in tow.
Clarkson, who has brought
kids on her own tours
in the past, gave Trainor
advice: “Don’t try to be a
hero. You can’t do all the
fun mom things during the
day or you’ll wipe yourself
out.”
Trainor over the years
has worked with everyone
from Fifth Harmony and
John Legend to Sabrina
Aries (March 21-April 19):
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Your
There are more resources
available to you than you
realize. Although these
are all heavy matters, good
vibes should make them
easier to handle to your
advantage. If you’ve been
hoping to pay off a loan,
Finance apps are here to
keep you on track. A windfall might be coming!
lion’s den could use some
sprucing up. Fortunately,
now is the perfect time to
indulge your inner interior
decorator. Let your vivacious taste turn toward
your immediate surroundings! This can be terrific
for making your space feel
like a better reflection of
yourself.
Taurus (April 20-May
20): It’s always nice when
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
your relationships flow
smoothly. There is an
emphasis on enjoying your
most important connections. Bonds of all kinds
can benefit at this time,
be they romantic, professional, or platonic. Make
an effort to spend quality
time with your loved ones.
Gemini (May 21-June 20):
Meghan Trainor, seen March 19, is on tour after releasing her
sixth studio album,“Timeless.” CINDY ORD/GETTY
Carpenter and Teddy
Swims in 2022 before he
broke it big.
“He was already blowing
up in my life,” she said. “My
whole family loves him.
When ‘Lose Control’ went
No. 1, we all celebrated. My
son is the reason for all his
streams on YouTube. He
watches them over and
over again.”
Swims, she said, “is just
realness, authentic. He is
talented and kind and it all
comes out in his music.”
Trainor also recently
wrote a song for her
friend Paris Hilton called
“Chasin’,” a blend of pop
and reggaeton. “I love
and adore her,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe she
wanted to do this with
me. It was a bucket list
moment, to write for her.”
And earlier this year, she
took out a full-page print
ad to artist T-Pain thanking
him for their collaboration
on her chipper doo-wop
tune “Been Like This.”
“My manager and I kept
throwing out ideas on
what we could do for him
that was special,” she said.
“When someone thought
of the newspaper ad, I
wrote out the words. We
wanted it to be big, bold
and huge. It was the best
thing we could do. He was
stoked. I was happy. It got a
lot of attention!”
She recently became a
“Godmother” for a Royal
Caribbean Cruise called
Utopia of the Seas and got
to perform in an outdoor
amphitheater on the ship
over the summer. It was a
test run for her tour.
“I was out there to prove
to myself that I can be on
a stage and be totally fine,”
she said. “It was like 100
degrees. The hottest I felt
in my whole life. I was
dripping wet. I remember
telling the dancers to take
more breaks. We all got
through it together.”
Sept. 22 birthdays: Singer
Toni Basil is 81. Actor
Paul Le Mat is 79. Singer
David Coverdale is 73.
Actor Shari Belafonte is
70. Singer Debby Boone is
68. Musician Joan Jett is
66. Actor Bonnie Hunt is
63. Rapper Mystikal is 54.
Actor Daniella Alonso is
46. Actor Tatiana Maslany
is 39. Actor Tom Felton is
37.
Tarot.com
It’s a lovely day, so you
might as well go out and
see what you can make
of it. Perhaps a new spot
has opened up that has
potential to become a new
favorite haunt, or you’ll
happen across a lucrative
money-making opportunity. The more social you
are, the easier it will be.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct.
22): It’s going to be very
Your usual routines can
be more pleasant than you
realize. It’s time to enjoy
your life. This can make all
the little things flow much
more smoothly. Others
will also be more willing to work with you for a
common outcome. This is
also a great time to get your
health in order.
difficult to deny yourself
anything for the foreseeable future. These good
times can also turn you
into a money magnet, so
if you’re proactive, you
can increase your value by
the time Venus moves on
again. Make a point to stop
and smell the roses!
Cancer (June 21-July 22):
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Sometimes life really
is this lovely! This is an
excellent time for pursuing romantic connections,
but beyond this, it is also a
very creative and artistic
time. Be sure to let your
talents express themselves,
as you never know what
could earn you your fifteen
minutes. Let yourself be
known!
You’re giving off an extra
special spark. This is a
great time to focus on your
appearance — specifically
regarding any changes
you’ve been contemplating, anything from a fresh
hairstyle or a tasteful
tattoo. The results will
almost definitely be to your
liking. This is certainly not
the time to dim your shine.
TODAY IN
HISTORY
not end the fighting and
rejoin the Union.
Associated Press
On Sept. 22, 1862, Pres-
ident Abraham Lincoln
issued the preliminary
Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved
people in Confederate
states should be freed as of
Jan. 1, 1863, if the states did
In 1957, Haitian women
were allowed to vote for
the first time, 153 years
after Haiti became an independent country.
In 1975, Sara Jane Moore
fired two shots in an
unsuccessful attempt
to assassinate President
Gerald R. Ford outside a
San Francisco hotel.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec.
21): There’s no need to
push or stress yourself
out. This is the perfect
moment to don a pair of
rose-colored glasses and
see the world, especially
as your dreams could feel
prophetic. Just don’t wear
those rose-colored glasses
so long that you forget how
to see red flags!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): Your popularity is
positively undeniable!
During this cycle, you can
have even more fun than
usual by coming together
with friends and acquaintances. Additionally,
consider opening yourself
up to new connections.
There’s rarely been a better
time to circulate.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Your reputation is at an
all-time high. Life can ease
basically anything, so you
may notice less red tape
at work and could be able
to make more progress.
People will be more prone
to seeing the best in you, so
make an effort to use this
power without going too
far with it.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March
20): There is so much
beauty and wonder beyond
the horizon — it would
be a shame to ignore it.
Be aware that you may
suddenly crave more spice
in your life. If your usual
routine seems overly beige,
immerse yourself in things
that are different from
what you’ve experienced
before.
In 1985, rock and country
music artists participated
in “Farm Aid,” a concert
staged in Champaign, Illinois, to help the nation’s
farmers.
In 2014, the United States
and five Arab nations
launched airstrikes against
the Islamic State group
in Syria, sending waves
of planes and Tomahawk
cruise missiles against an
array of targets.
Can Vassos restore luster to Bachelor Nation?
‘Golden’ franchise’s
Season 2 gives star
a second chance
By Greg Braxton
Los Angeles Times
Joan Vassos was wideeyed as she stood in front of
the Agoura Hills mansion
that is the setting for ABC’s
“The Bachelor” franchise.
A large crew of technicians
and producers worked
nearby, preparing to film
Vassos’ introduction as
“The Golden Bachelorette.”
“I’m having all the feels,”
she declared, waving her
arms as she faced host
Jesse Palmer. “I never in
a million years imagined I
would be back here.”
The 61-year-old school
administrator stood in
the same spot roughly a
year ago as she met retired
widower Gerry Turner, the
star of “The Golden Bachelor,” the recent twist on
the veteran dating franchise. She competed with
21 other older women then
to vie to become Turner’s
next wife.
Although Vassos and
Turner had an initial spark,
she abruptly exited the
show in the third week to
care for her daughter, who
was suffering from postpartum depression.
Now she’s getting a
second chance. The Maryland-based Vassos is back,
but this time she is the
center of attention as “The
Golden Bachelorette,”
which airs Wednesdays.
Her squad of 24 suitors
range in age from 57 to 69
and include a retired U.S.
Navy captain, a retired U.N.
agency director, a rancher
and an emergency room
doctor.
Producers are hoping
to strike ratings gold again
with the sequel to the series
that was one of the biggest
shows of the 2023 fall
season while giving “The
Bachelor” franchise a jolt of
fresh energy.
But despite a heavy
promotional push, “The
Golden Bachelorette” is
Joan Vassos stars in ABC’s“The Golden Bachelorette.” RAMONA ROSALES/DISNEY
facing a more questionable
reception. Just last week,
“The Bachelorette” was
grappling with a racially
charged uproar after the
series’ live finale, with
many calling out the cruel
treatment of its first Asian
lead, Jenn Tran.
As for “The Golden
Bachelor,” Turner got
divorced after three
months of marriage and
erased much of the glow
from that series, which
could make some viewers wary of Vassos’ turn in
the spotlight. Her journey has already been
heart-wrenching. Since
losing her husband of 32
years to cancer in 2021,
Vassos has managed her
grief with the support of
family and friends. But
that did not ease her fear
of living the rest of her life
without love.
“I felt like I was living on
an island,” she said. “I felt
so alone, I thought people
would set me up with guys,
but that didn’t happen. It’s
hard out there. The world
is made up of couples. But
we all deserve love.”
After online dating
proved to be too challenging, Vassos took the biggest
leap of faith by going on
“The Golden Bachelor.”
“I feel so lucky I was
chosen to do this,” she said.
“I’ve learned a lot about
myself and how finding
love in this world works.”
If Vassos had any anxiety about becoming the
new face of the popular
franchise, it didn’t show
during her first night of
filming. She seemed jazzed
to meet her new potential
boyfriends.
“My late husband John
would love this,” she said.
“He was a big fan of reality
TV. I’m sure he’s watching
us now, saying ‘That’s my
wife down there!’”
Minutes later, a limousine carrying the first group
of suitors drove up. Some of
the men, who had just met
each other for the first time,
gasped as they spotted
Vassos looking like a movie
star in her glittery gown.
They talked over each
other: “Oh my God, there
she is!” “She doesn’t even
look real.” “Hey, Jordan,
don’t run off with her.”
Vassos appeared
delighted as the men
stepped out one by one,
each determined to make
a colorful first impression.
One man serenaded her
with Frank Sinatra’s “My
Way” as he approached.
Another yelled “cue the
music” and boogied over
to her. A third with a cane
struggled to make the walk
across the driveway. “Can
I help you?” Vassos asked.
He waved her off, but then
fell forward. As she walked
over concerned, he started
doing push-ups before
leaping up with a smile.
As “The Golden Bachelorette,” Vassos said she
wants to continue Turner’s message of inspiration,
stressed during his season:
that older people still have
plenty of energy, sexual
drive and physical vitality.
“I don’t want this to be
about me. I want this to be
about a message of hope,”
Vassos said. “I love hearing stories from people
who watched ‘The Golden
Bachelor’ and said it gave
them a new sense of hope.
At our age, people expect
us to take a back seat and
become support for a new
generation, children and
grandkids. I felt guilty
because I want something
more than that.”
And even though the
focus on older people
having fun and making out
attracted fans outside the
core Bachelor Nation fan
base, the memory of the
shocking epilogue to “The
Golden Bachelor” may
still be fresh in the minds
of viewers who might be
reluctant to return to the
sequel.
Turner accomplished
his goal of finding a wife,
proposing to financial
services representative
Theresa Nist at the end of
the season. They rushed to
get married in a live televised ceremony, dubbed
“The Golden Wedding,” but
their union was short-lived,
ending in divorce after
three months, disappointing millions of viewers
invested in their love story.
In explaining the split,
Turner said the two could
not agree on where they
would live together. He
resides in Indiana; Nist,
who lives in New Jersey,
was reluctant to leave her
family and job.
Asked about viewers
being wary of investing
in Vasso’s journey after
Turner and Nist’s breakup,
“The Bachelor” executive
producers and showrun-
ners Bennett Graebner and
Claire Freeland responded
in an email: “We’re always
disappointed when one of
our couples doesn’t work
out. However, the Bachelor franchise is no different than life outside the
confines of the TV screen:
sometimes marriages last
forever, sometimes they
don’t.”
But they heaped praise
on Vassos, expressing
confidence in casting her as
“The Golden Bachelorette.”
“We were fortunate that so
many of the women from
Gerry’s inaugural season
were worthy of being
the first Golden Bachelorette,” they wrote. “We
could have made a fantastic season with any one of
them. However, we kept
coming back to Joan ... she
deserved a second chance.”
Vassos said fans should
not be turned off by what
happened with Turner and
Nist.
“I do know that their love
was very real,” she said.
“You did see the disappointment in how it ended.
I just feel in my heart we
should give them understanding and grace. That
wasn’t easy for them to
split.”
She added that she is
going into her journey
with different expectations. “I don’t expect a
person to move for me, and
I wouldn’t want to leave my
family and move far away,”
Vassos said. “I just want to
leave this journey with a
significant other, someone I
may or may not be engaged
to. But we can pursue our
relationship outside the
Bachelor bubble.”
In preparing for her
close-up, Vassos said she
went back and researched
several seasons of “The
Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”
“I wanted to see what
was effective and what
wasn’t. I got advice from
Gerry and other Bachelorettes. This was going to be
the most important journey
of my life, so I wanted to be
really prepared.”
