Celebrities

Chicago Cubs' broadcaster Harry Caray sings "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch at Chicago's Wrigley Field in 1989.

Why did Harry Caray always say ‘Holy Cow?’ It could be linked to a 1930s flying bovine. No bull!

In 1930, a 15-year-old Harry Caray was living in St. Louis when the city hosted an aircraft exhibition honoring aviator Charles Lindbergh. “The ‘first ever’ cow to fly in an airplane was introduced at the exhibition,” said Grant DePorter, Harry Caray restaurants manager. “She became the most famous cow in the world at the time and is still listed among the most famous bovines along with Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and ‘Elsie the cow.’”

By Michael Sneed

Celebrities

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll

Yamaguchi became the first Asian American to win an individual figure skating gold medal, at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

By Terry Tang | Associated Press

1_CST_JUDG_Liz Lauren.jpgJason Alexander makes his Chicago stage debut in the world premiere comedy Judgment Day at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Performances begin April 23, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Theater

Jason Alexander's latest role plumbs the meaning of life and beyond in 'Judgment Day'

Alexander plays a sleazy lawyer who gets a lifechanging wakeup call in the world premiere comedy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

By Courtney Kueppers | WBEZ

Taylor Swift performs Friday at Soldier Field.

Entertainment and Culture

Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater

In moments, her 11th album feels like a bloodletting: A cathartic purge after a major heartbreak delivered through an ascendant vocal run, an elegiac verse, or mobile, synthesized productions that underscore the powers of Swift’s storytelling.

By Maria Sherman | AP

Rapper Nelly and singer-songwriter Ashanti arrive at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in March.

Music

Ashanti, Nelly expecting first child together

The two artists have rekindled the romance that’s been on and off since 2003.

By USA TODAY

TAYLORMURAL-041724-5.jpeg. Painters work on a Taylor Swift QR code mural in Chicago on Tuesday.

Entertainment and Culture

Taylor Swift Chicago QR code mural drawing crowds in anticipation of 'Tortured Poets' release

When people scan the code with their phone cameras, it took them to a 13 second YouTube short attached to Swift’s page.

By Stefano Esposito

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a gathering in Manchester, N.H., last year.

Columnists

No dice for No Labels? How Chris Christie almost made third-party presidential run — but didn't

In an exclusive interview, Dan K. Webb, who was in charge of creating the vetting process for the No Labels third-party run, tells Michael Sneed “the ticket came this/close to reality weeks ago.”

By Michael Sneed

Crime

Hotel near O'Hare played brief role in O.J. case: 'He was tired. He wanted to go to bed'

O.J. Simpson stayed briefly at the O’Hare Plaza Hotel — now a Holiday Inn — the day after the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found in Los Angeles. Law enforcement officials combed his room and scoured a nearby lot to look for bloody evidence.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Entertainment and Culture

Ito, Kato and the getaway Bronco: How O.J. Simpson's murder case spawned a circus

Frenzy over the star’s alleged crimes turned many side players — from Faye Resnick to Johnnie Cochran — into dubious celebrities.

By Richard Roeper

Omar Chaparro (left) stars with Mercedes Hernández and Max Arciniega in "The Wingwalker."

Movies and TV

Omar Chaparro steps out of comfort zone for Chicago Latino Film Festival opener

‘These types of characters force you to go deeper,’ says the comedian, who stars in ‘The Wingwalker’ as a deported man desperate to get home to his ailing daughter.

By Gisela Orozco | Special to the Sun-Times

Chef and caterer Julius Russell holding a glass of red wine

Obituaries

Julius Russell, personal chef and caterer to Ye, Dwyane Wade, dies at 53

The Chicagoan quit a career in sales to pursue his dream of being a chef.

By Mitch Dudek

Former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka (left) speaks at a news conference in Pittsburgh in 2015; Former President Donald Trump (right) speaks at a rally on Tuesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Columnists

When Mike Ditka said no to Donald Trump — and Hope Hicks feared she’d hear, ‘You’re fired!’

It was a stunner this week when news hit that former White House aide Hope Hicks may testify as a prosecution witness in former President Donald Trump’s latest trial. It prompted a flashback to a 2016 Sneed column involving a phone call between Trump and Ditka that Hicks thought would cost her her job.

By Michael Sneed

Kirsten Corley and Chance the Rapper attend The 2021 Met Gala in New York City.

Celebrities

Chance the Rapper, Kirsten Corley divorcing after 5 years of marriage

“We came to this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together,” Chance wrote in a statement.

By USA TODAY

Chris Kennedy (left) participates in a debate in Chicago in 2018; Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) attends a campaign event in Oakland, California, on March 26, 2024.

Columnists

Sibling rivalry: Kennedys back Biden over one of their own — with plans to 'make up afterwards'

In an exclusive Sneed interview, Chicago businessman Chris Kennedy talked about not supporting the independent White House bid of his brother Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the family’s Oval Office chat with Joe Biden.

By Michael Sneed

Louis Gossett Jr. attends a Legacy of Changing Lives Gala on March 13, 2018, in Los Angeles. Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” has died at the age of 87.

Movies and TV

Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar winner who starred in 'Officer and a Gentleman,' 'Roots,' dies at 87

In 1983, Gossett became the third Black Oscar nominee in the supporting actor category. He won for his performance as the intimidating Marine drill instructor in “An Officer and a Gentleman” opposite Richard Gere and Debra Winger.

By Beth Harris | Associated Press

Movies and TV

Carol Burnett recalls 'awful' experience performing before Elvis on 'Ed Sullivan Show'

The Emmy winner’s TV career has spanned more than 60 years, and her latest role is opposite Kristen Wiig in the Apple TV+ series “Palm Royale.”

By USA TODAY

Jussie Smollett

Illinois Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal from former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett

In December, an appeals court upheld the actor’s conviction and sentence for lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a hate crime in a staged attack.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Celebrities

Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ properties searched by federal authorities amid sex-trafficking probe

There have been several sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs in recent months, including one from R&B singer Cassie that was settled last year.

By Associated Press

Celebrities

Comedian Kevin Hart to receive Mark Twain Prize for American humor

Now in its 25th year, the Mark Twain Prize annually honors performers who have made a lasting impact on humor and culture.

By Ashraf Khalil | Associated Press

The spotted lanternfly has swarmed up and down the East Coast. It’s likely only a matter of time before the invasive creature arrives in Illinois, insect experts say.

Columnists

Colorful spotted lanternfly just one more thing to make us see red

Now that spring has officially sprung, come concerns the dreaded spotted lanternfly, a colorful leafhopper from China, is expected to add to our troubles. The invasive pests damage fruit, ornamental and woody trees by draining them of their health, causing stress and depriving them of their vitality.

By Michael Sneed