Jon Batiste
Podcast: Jon Batiste on Oscar-Nominated Song “It Never Went Away,” ‘American Symphony’ Oscar Snub and Grammys
Jon Batiste, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, which was recorded in front of an audience of film students at Chapman University, is a singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and actor. At just 37, he has already won five Grammys — including, in 2022, album of the year, for […]
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Grammys: Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Jon Batiste Shut Out Despite Multiple Nominations
While six-time Grammy nominees Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus won multiple awards and, in the case of Swift, made history, at the 2024 Grammys, fellow six-time nominees and past Grammy winners Olivia Rodrigo and Jon Batiste each went home empty-handed despite their half-dozen nominations apiece. Batiste even won album of the year in […]
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Source: Fantasia Barrino, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste to Perform During Grammys In Memoriam Segment (Exclusive)
Music icons who died in the last year — from Tina Turner to Tony Bennett — will be honored at Sunday’s 2024 Grammys with performances by Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Fantasia Barrino and Jon Batiste. A source close to the situation tells The Hollywood Reporter that Barrino, on the heels of her success in The […]
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Oscars: Billie Eilish, Diane Warren, Jon Batiste Earn Original Song Nominations
In one of the tightest races for best original song at the 2024 Oscars, Billie Eilish, Jon Batiste, Diane Warren, “I’m Just Ken” and surprise contender “Wahzhazhe” from Killers of the Flower Moon have emerged as the nominees for the prestigious songwriting prize. That means a number of top-notch acts who made the shortlist, including […]
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‘American Symphony’ Director Matthew Heineman, Subject Jon Batiste Say There Were Many “Question Marks” While Making the Film
When director Matthew Heineman and musician Jon Batiste began their second collaboration after The First Wave — a harrowing documentary in which Heineman embedded himself in a New York hospital during the early days of the COVID pandemic, and for which Batiste provided the score — the project was much less fraught than its predecessor. […]
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From Michael J. Fox to an Iconic Sex Researcher: THR Documentary Roundtable on Trust and Truth Telling
Six directors of standout 2023 documentary features gathered at The Hollywood Reporter’s Los Angeles offices in mid-November for THR’s annual Documentary Roundtable. Among them were two revered veterans with Oscars to their name: Davis Guggenheim (2006’s An Inconvenient Truth), who helmed Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, a film about the life and struggles of the […]
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Michelle Obama Makes Surprise Appearance at ‘American Symphony’ Premiere in New Orleans
Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance Thursday night at the New Orleans premiere of American Symphony, Matthew Heineman’s Netflix documentary feature about musician Jon Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad, on which she and Barack Obama are credited as executive producers. Heineman, Batiste and Jaouad were also in attendance. “I am thrilled to be here […]
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The Hit Squad: Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa on the THR Songwriter Roundtable
“I honestly was concerned that it was over for me,” Billie Eilish confesses at a table with Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Jon Batiste, Cynthia Erivo and Julia Michaels, who came together to discuss their songwriting prowess and process. “We’d been trying and it wasn’t doing what it usually would do in me. I was honestly […]
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Women Own 2024 Grammy Nominations: SZA Leads With Nine; Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo Score Six Each
It’s the year of women at the Grammy Awards: female acts make up seven of the eight nominees in the top three categories — with SZA leading the pack with nine overall nominations while Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and boygenius earned six nods a piece. Album of the year nominees include […]
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Jon Batiste Doc ‘American Symphony’ Acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground; Oscar Run Set for This Season (Exclusive)
This year’s best documentary feature Oscar race, which heretofore seemed unusually wide open, now has a frontrunner. American Symphony, Oscar nominee Matthew Heineman’s moving portrait of the musician Jon Batiste as he experiences his greatest professional success (he dominated the 2022 Grammys) at the same time his wife faces her greatest personal challenge (Suleika Jaouad […]
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‘American Symphony’ Review: Matthew Heineman’s Doc Is a Moving, Music-Filled Love Story
The documentarian's latest follows musician Jon Batiste and his life partner, Suleika Jaouad, through a year of professional highs and personal lows.
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Jon Batiste to Sing for French President Emmanuel Macron at Joe Biden’s First State Dinner
Musician Jon Batiste is on tap to perform at President Joe Biden’s first White House state dinner on Thursday that will highlight long-standing ties between the United States and France and honor President Emmanuel Macron. “An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together,” said Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, whose […]
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