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Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a></em></p> <p>In the history of American popular music, there have been few luminaries as enduring and innovative as Tony Bennett.</p> <p>With a career that spanned almost 80 years, Bennett’s smooth tones, unique phrasing and visionary musical collaborations left an indelible mark on vocal jazz and the recording industry as a whole.</p> <p>That his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-bennett-dies-c3b3a7e2360449fb936a38794c7c3266">death at the age of 96</a> on July 21, 2023, was mourned by artists as varied as <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1682395658395824133">Keith Urban</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OzzyOsbourne/status/1682411338340126720">Ozzy Osbourne</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryConnickJR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1682411086656557056%7Ctwgr%5E04a78435a793b5246d7bc19e09529f2b2f0bcfab%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2023%2Fmusic%2Fnews%2Ftony-bennett-elton-john-reaction-tribute-1235676405%2F">Harry Connick Jr.</a> should come as no surprise. Yes, Bennett was a jazz crooner. But if his voice was always a constant – even late into his 80s, way past an age when most other singers have seen their vocal abilities diminish – then his embrace of the contemporary was every bit a facet of Bennett’s appeal.</p> <h2>Vocal innovator</h2> <p>Bennett’s journey is a testament to the power of daring innovation.</p> <p>From the early days of his career in the 1950s to his final recordings in the early 2020s, he fearlessly explored new musical territories, revolutionizing vocal jazz and captivating audiences across generations.</p> <p>His vocal style and phrasing were distinctive and set him apart from other artists of his time. He utilized a delayed or “laid-back” approach to falling on the note, a technique known as “<a href="https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/rubato/">rubato</a>.” This created a sense of anticipation in his phrasing, adding an element of surprise to his performances. Through Bennett’s skilled use of rubato, he was able to play with the tempo and rhythm of a song, bending and stretching musical phrases to evoke a range of emotions. This subtle manipulation of timing gave his songs a natural and conversational quality, making listeners feel as though he was intimately sharing his stories with them.</p> <p>Armed with this silky, playful voice, Bennett found fame fairly early on in his career, delivering jazz standards alongside the likes of Mel Tormé and Nat King Cole. By the mid-1960s, he was being touted by Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business.”</p> <p>But his musical style fell out of fashion in the 1970s – a lean period during which Bennett <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/07/21/tony-bennett-son-life-career-drugs/">almost succumbed to a drug overdose</a>. Then, in the 1990s, Bennett found a new audience and set off a series of collaborations with contemporary musical stars that would become the standard for his later career.</p> <p>No genre of artistry was deemed off-limits for Bennett. “<a href="https://www.tonybennett.com/music-detail.php?id=11">Duets: An American Classic</a>,” released to coincide with his 80th birthday in 2006, saw collaborations with country stars such as k.d. lang and the Dixie Chicks – now known as the Chicks – and soul legend Stevie Wonder, alongside kindred jazz spirits such as Diana Krall. “Duets II,” a 2011 follow-up, saw further explorations with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson and Amy Winehouse, in what would become the <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/amy-winehouse-final-recording-session/">British singer’s last recording</a>.</p> <p>But his cross-generational, cross-genre and cross-cultural appeal is perhaps best exemplified by his <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/arts/music/tony-bennett-lady-gaga.html">collaborations with Lady Gaga</a>, first on the 2014 Grammy-winning album “Cheek to Cheek.” The recording brought together two artists from different generations, genres and backgrounds, uniting them in a harmonious celebration of jazz classics. The collaboration not only showcased each one’s vocal prowess, but also sent a powerful message about the unifying nature of music.</p> <p>Lady Gaga, a pop artist with avant-garde leanings, might have seemed an unlikely partner for Bennett, the quintessential jazz crooner. Yet their musical chemistry and mutual admiration resulted in an album that mesmerized audiences worldwide. “Cheek to Cheek” effortlessly transcended musical boundaries, while the duo’s magnetic stage presence and undeniable talent enchanted listeners.</p> <p>The successful fusion of jazz and pop encouraged artists to experiment beyond traditional boundaries, leading to more cross-genre projects across the industry – proving that such projects could go beyond one-off novelties, and be profitable at that.</p> <h2>Timeless artistry</h2> <p>Bennett’s embrace of contemporary artists did not mean that he abandoned his own musical self. By blending traditional jazz with contemporary elements, he managed to captivate audiences across generations, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners.</p> <p>One key aspect of Bennett’s success was his ability to embody the sentiment of old America, reminiscent of artists like Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, while infusing contemporary nuances that resonated with the human condition of a more modern era. His approach to music captured both the essence and struggle of America, giving his songs a timeless and universal appeal. Moreover, his voice conveyed familiarity and comfort, akin to listening to a beloved uncle.</p> <p>Bennett’s albums stood out not only for his soulful voice and impeccable delivery but also for the way he drew others from varied musical backgrounds into his world of jazz sensibilities. As a producer, he recognized the importance of nurturing creativity and bringing out the best in artists.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Bennett’s approach to evolving his own sound while preserving its essence sets him apart as an artist. Fearless in his pursuit of innovation, he delved into contemporary musical elements and collaborated with producers to infuse new sonic dimensions into his later albums. The result drew listeners into an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kNpdLZwetU">intimate and immersive, concert-like acoustic journey</a>.</p> <h2>Depth of emotion</h2> <p>The greats in music have an ability to speak to the human experience. And either in collaboration with others or on his own, Bennett was able to achieve this time and time again.</p> <p>His albums were successful not only due to their technical brilliance and musicality but also because Bennett’s voice conveyed a depth of emotion that transcended barriers of time and culture, touching the hearts of listeners from various backgrounds. There was a universality in his music that made him a beloved and revered artist across the globe.</p> <p>Bennett’s life spanned decades of societal upheavals in the United States. But in his music, listeners could always find beauty in challenging times. And as the 20th- and 21st-century American music industry went through its own revolutions, Bennett’s artistic evolution mirrored the changes, cementing his place as a music icon who defies the boundaries of time and trends.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210244/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2UxxnhUE5YLchYgutxKEbJ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, Program Director of Music Business &amp; Entrepreneurship, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tony-bennett-the-timeless-visionary-who-with-a-nod-to-americas-musical-heritage-embraced-the-future-210244">original article</a>.</em></p>

Music

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"I MARRIED my best friend!": Aussie superstar's secret wedding

<p>Tones and I singer Toni Watson has announced her marriage to footballer fiancé Jimmy Bedford and has shared an inside look into her secret Bali wedding.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the star took to Instagram to share a series of photos from her big day with the caption: “Well we weren’t planning on spreading the news until after the single dropped but I MARRIED my best friend!”</p> <p>In one photo, Watson and Bedford were seen exchanging their vows under a gazebo in a romantic outdoor ceremony.</p> <p>In another photo, the couple can be seen smiling from ear to ear with a stunning view of the ocean in the background. Watson donned a long white silk dress and held a beautiful white bouquet to match.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFHjXoBBXG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFHjXoBBXG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by TONES AND I (@tonesandi)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Watson’s bridesmaids can be seen wearing flattering orange dresses and holding up their glasses to cheer for the newlyweds.</p> <p>The <em>Dance Monkey</em> singer also shared a few photos from her reception, and she appeared to have had an outfit change to something that matched her usual style.</p> <p>Many of her friends and other stars have commented their well wishes to the couple.</p> <p>“How goods this, congrats you two 👌,” wrote Australian Cricketer David Warner.</p> <p>“CONGRATULATIONS ANGELS ❤️,” wrote Sophie Monk.</p> <p>“Such a fun weekend, what a special moment ❤️❤️” commented a friend.</p> <p>“I’m so so so happy for you guys!!” commented another.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Toni Collette and husband David Galafassi split

<p dir="ltr">Toni Collette has confirmed that she has split from her husband of almost 20 years after he was photographed kissing another woman at a Sydney beach.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Aussie actress, 50, took to Instagram to confirm that she and husband David Galafassi, 44, have broken up after photos emerged of him making out with another woman.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11510663/Toni-Collette-splits-husband-Dave-Galafassi-pictures-kissing-woman-Sydney-beach.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a> published photos of Galafassi passionately kissing a young woman at Manly beach.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other photos show the musician hugging and kissing the young bikini-clad woman, with one witness telling the publication that they were “all over each other”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair reportedly arrived at the beach about 7.30 am and jumped in the water for about 15 minutes before heading out for a coffee.</p> <p dir="ltr">Daily Mail reached out to Collette’s management and within hours she had released the statement confirming the break-up.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After a substantial period of separation, it is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing," her statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl3-GTgBYtF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl3-GTgBYtF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by TONI COLLETTE (@toni_collette_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Big thanks.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Collette and Galafassi share two children together, aged 14 and 11, and split their time between Australia and the United States.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair first met back in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi’s band Gelbison's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">They ran into each other again a few days later and Collette said “he was the first person I saw when I walked in the door”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He kissed me on the cheek and I just kind of melted. I planned to stay for ten minutes… I was there for 12 hours. It was a good day,” she said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>EDITOR'S NOTE:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Since this article has been published, Toni Collette has changed her statement to explain that she and David Galafassi have been separated for a "substantial period of time".</p> <p dir="ltr">This has now been <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/relationships/toni-collette-forced-to-edit-statement-announcing-divorce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changed and reflected</a> in the article.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

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Toni Collette forced to edit statement announcing divorce

<p dir="ltr">Toni Collette has edited her statement announcing her divorce from husband David Galafassi after explosive images of him kissing another woman surfaced.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Aussie actress, 50, took to Instagram to confirm that she and husband Galafassi, 44, have broken up after photos emerged of him making out with another woman.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, just a few days later, Collette was forced to edit her statement to explain that she and Galafassi had been separated for a “substantial period”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her new statement reads: “After a substantial period of separation, it is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl3-GTgBYtF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl3-GTgBYtF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by TONI COLLETTE (@toni_collette_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“We’re thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Big thanks.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Collette’s shock statement came less than 24 hours after the paparazzi images were published in the Daily Mail.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair share two children together, aged 14 and 11, and split their time between Australia and the United States.</p> <p dir="ltr">They first met back in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi’s band Gelbison's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">They ran into each other again a few days later and Collette said “he was the first person I saw when I walked in the door”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He kissed me on the cheek and I just kind of melted. I planned to stay for ten minutes… I was there for 12 hours. It was a good day,” she said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

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Tony Bennett's emotional final show with Lady Gaga

<p>Tony Bennett has taken to the stage of Radio City Music Hall in his emotional finale New York performances.</p> <p>Joined with special guest Lady Gaga, the 95-year-old celebrated his birthday by leaving his heart on the stage for his devoted audience.</p> <p>The show took place in August, six months after Tony and his family revealed he is suffering from Alzheimer's.</p> <p>Now, the rest of the world has a chance to experience the TV special, <em><span>One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, </span></em>which aired in the US on Sunday night.</p> <p>Tony Bennett sang all of his signature songs, including <em>I Left My Heart in San Francisco</em>, <em>Fly Me to the Moon</em> and <em>Steppin' Out With My Baby</em>, before signing a number of duets with Lady Gaga.</p> <p>Some of Tony's family members have admitted that since his diagnosis, he often doesn't know where he is or what is happening around him.</p> <p>But, on the stage in New York City, the legendary performer was in his element and didn't miss a beat.</p> <p>Lady Gaga belted out her own rendition of <em>New York, New York</em> before Tony took to the stage, as she teared up to introduce him.</p> <p><span>"He's my friend. He's my musical companion. And he's the greatest singer in the whole world. And I'm counting on you, New York, to make him smile. So you better cheer. You better yell. You better laugh. You better cry. You better give your soul," she said.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CW15vNishM8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CW15vNishM8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by CBS (@cbstv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>Walking on stage, Tony was greeted with a standing ovation before singing a single note. </span></p> <p><span>Throughout the evening, the audience stood and applauded the </span>legendary performer, as they sang along to all of his classic hits.</p> <p>Although Tony feels at home on the stage, his wife Susan told <em>60 Minutes</em> they were unsure if the show was going to go ahead due to his health.</p> <p>But Susan said that once she saw him onstage that night, she knew everything would be just fine.</p> <p><span>"He became himself. He just turned on. It was like a light switch," she told </span><em><span>60 Minutes</span></em><span> in a segment that aired last month.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2EbJyMPeU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2EbJyMPeU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>According to Bennett's neurologist Dr Gayatri Devi, this is because music and performing are so ingrained in Tony's mind. </span></p> <p><span>"People respond differently based on their strengths. In Tony's case, it's his musical memory his ability to be a performer. Those are an innate and hardwired part of his brain," Devi said on <em>60 Minutes</em>. </span></p> <p><span>"So even though he doesn't know what the day might be, or where his apartment is, he still can sing the whole repertoire of the American Songbook and move people."</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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Tony Bennett sets a new Guinness World Record

<p>Grammy Award-winning singer Tony Bennett has set a new <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/10/legendary-tony-bennett-officially-the-oldest-person-to-release-an-album-of-new-ma-678310" target="_blank">Guinness World Record</a>.</p> <p>The music legend has released a collaboration with Lady Gaga titled <em>Love for Sale</em>, making Bennett the oldest person to release an album of new material.</p> <p>When the project was released on October 1st, Tony Bennett was <span>95 years and 60 days old.</span></p> <p><span>Despite their 60-year age gap, Lady Gaga said she </span><span>finds inspiration performing alongside the senior crooner.</span></p> <p><span>"I see a young boy every time I sing with him, and it just makes the experience of singing so freeing." </span></p> <p><span>"To have it be about two souls singing together ... and then at the same time, I also take in all his wisdom. The wisdom of all his years."</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsr56LPOFf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsr56LPOFf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>The new album celebrates the legendary music of Cole Porter, </span>bringing Bennett and Gaga together for another collaboration.</p> <p><span>In 2011, they recorded the song <em>The Lady is a Tramp</em>, and three years later they released a collaborative album entitled </span><em><span>Cheek to Cheek</span></em><span>.</span></p> <p><span>Tony Bennett's latest world record is not the first time the singer has appeared in the Guinness books. </span></p> <p><span>Throughout his 70-year </span>career, he holds four other records:</p> <ul> <li><span>Oldest person to reach No.1 on the US album chart with a newly recorded album for </span><em><span>Cheek to Cheek</span></em><span>.</span></li> <li><span>Longest time between UK top 20 albums: 39 years.</span></li> <li><span>Oldest person to enter the UK top 20 album chart with </span><em><span>Duets: An American Classic</span></em><span> when he was 80.</span></li> <li><span>Longest time between the release of an original recording and a re-recording of the same single by the same artist.</span></li> </ul> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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“He doesn’t know he has it”: Susan Benedetto on Tony Bennett’s diagnosis

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Susan Benedetto, Tony Bennett’s wife, has revealed that the musical icon “doesn’t know” he has Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 95-year-old singer appeared on the US </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">60 Minutes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with Benedetto and interviewer Anderson Cooper, as the show followed his final on-stage appearance with Lady Gaga in August.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He recognises me, thank goodness, his children, you know we are blessed in a lot of ways,” Benedetto </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/tony-bennett-alzheimers-disease-not-aware-wife-susan-benedetto-60-minutes-interview/8379c29a-a893-43ed-9fe9-13d4a8ec908f" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told Cooper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “He’s very sweet.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Referring to his Alzheimer’s, Benedetto said, “He doesn’t know he has it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bennett’s family revealed in February that he had been living with the disease.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.0304449648712px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844677/despite-his-alzheimers-tony-bennett-prepares-to-perform-with-lady-gaga-1-37-screenshot.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d41867ee644a4ca2b31bbbe1f6f317bd" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: 60 Minutes / YouTube</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Benedetto previously said Bennett was unable to understand what the disease is.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He would ask me, ‘What is Alzheimer’s?’ I would explain, but he wouldn’t get it,” she told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AARP Magazine</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> earlier this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He’d tell me, ‘Susan, I feel fine’. That’s all he could process - that physically he felt great. So, nothing changed in his life. Anything that did change, he wasn’t aware of.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bennett was first diagnosed in 2017, after he became concerned with his memory a year earlier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We came home one night and he said, ‘Susan,’ he said, ‘I’m having a hard time remembering the names of the musicians [who he works with]’,” Benedetto said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And so it was unusual and I said, ‘Well do you wanna go see a doctor about it?’ and he said, ‘I do’.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Tune in to <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@60Minutes</a> tonight at 7pm ET/PT on CBS for my conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/andersoncooper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andersoncooper</a> about Love For Sale and my dear friend <a href="https://twitter.com/itstonybennett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@itstonybennett</a>. ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/UQDfYbThDy">pic.twitter.com/UQDfYbThDy</a></p> — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/1444770602024267779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Cooper asked Lady Gaga if she thought Bennett’s last performance was “a sad story”, she shared her thoughts on working with the icon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s not a sad story,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s emotional. It’s hard to watch somebody change. I think what’s been beautiful about this, and what’s been challenging, is to see how it affects him in some ways, but to see how it doesn’t affect his talent.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think he really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change and you can still be magnificent.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gaga and Bennett performed at two sold-out concerts in celebration of his 95th birthday and their second and final album together, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Love for Sale</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Tony, this is the last album we will have created together, but the celebration of jazz, and us as musical companions, will live on with me forever. We offer the public “Love For Sale” for free love, to make them smile, because that’s what we’re here for. ❤️ Love, LG <a href="https://t.co/VP6QifdrHA">pic.twitter.com/VP6QifdrHA</a></p> — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/1438714751165480961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked about the recording process, Gaga told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/10/04/lady-gaga-talks-tony-bennett-alzheimers-love-for-sale/5979884001/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">USA Today</span></a></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">it was “hard” to talk about, but “it’s important during times like this to be authentic and share the pain of the realities of what it’s like to have a loved one have Alzheimer’s or dementia”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I really extend my heart to people going through a similar situation.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">See an excerpt of Bennett, Benedetto and Gaga’s appearance on <em>60 Minutes</em> here.</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNrvXw9juNs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @itstonybennett / Instagram</span></em></p>

Mind

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Tony Bennett reveals fight against Alzheimer’s disease

<p><span>Tony Bennett has revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but refuses to give up the fight.</span><br /><br /><span>"Life is a gift — even with Alzheimer's. Thank you to [his wife] Susan and my family for their support, and AARP the Magazine for telling my story," he wrote on social media.</span><br /><br /><span>The 94-year-old was diagnosed with the disease in 2016, but has proven even the lingering disease did not stop him as he released his chart-topping duets album with Lady Gaga, <em>Cheek to Cheek i</em></span><span>n 2015.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Life is a gift - even with Alzheimer’s. Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and <a href="https://twitter.com/AARP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AARP</a> The Magazine for telling my story.<br /><br />Read more here:<a href="https://t.co/R05A4jc5BF">https://t.co/R05A4jc5BF</a>⁰<br /><br />📸 Kelsey Bennett <a href="https://t.co/ApxBCpGv0y">pic.twitter.com/ApxBCpGv0y</a></p> — Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) <a href="https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/1356232201810157568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><br /><span>The star’s son, Danny Bennett, released a heartfelt statement: "Managing my father for the last 40 years has been a privilege and an amazing journey. He never ceases to inspire me with his passion and dedication to all that life has to offer. The last four years has been no exception.</span><br /><br /><span>“He continues to sing and stay fit on a daily basis. I speak for the whole family in thanking his wonderful wife Susan for all the support and love she has given to him. Our wish is that by openly sharing his challenges with Alzheimer's That we will give hope to all that face this condition and will help end the stigma surrounding this disease.</span><br /><br /><span>“Above all else, we want to be able to help raise awareness, advocate for advancing new therapies and one day soon, finding a cure."</span><br /><br /><span>Alzheimer's can result in progressive memory loss that deprives its sufferers of speech, understanding, treasured memories or recognition of loved ones.</span><br /><br /><span>While it is understood Bennett has not developed many of the worst characteristics of the disease which can include episodes of rage or depression, he does have a tendency to forget where he is.</span><br /><br /><span>"One of the cruellest aspects of dementia is the stigma that surrounds it," Sarah Lock, AARP senior vice president for brain health, said.</span></p> <p><span>"Feelings of hopelessness can cause people to resist getting diagnosed or refuse treatment. Although there's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there's a lot that people can do to delay symptoms and improve quality of life."</span></p>

Music

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Tony Abbott’s major boarding pass blunder

<p><span>Former Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott is not the only one to ever share a screen grab of his boarding pass onto Instagram, however it has been revealed that it took hackers only 45 minutes to get private information about the politician purely due to one simple mistake.</span><br /><br /><span>Australian tech expert Alex Hope said he was able to retrieve Mr Abbott’s phone number and passport details from the Instagram post in March.</span><br /><br /><span>“A big thank you to all the team on QF26 from Tokyo. Hope to see you flying again soon!,” Mr Abbott captioned the photo, which has since been deleted. Pity.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Hope said he took on the challenge to hack the former PM after he was dared by a friend in his group chat that asked: “Can you hack this man?”.</span><br /><br /><span>The “hacker” says finding the information was easy as he simply took the details from the image on Mr Abbott’s Instagram to log into Qantas’ booking page.</span><br /><br /><span>He was able to read the HTML code and find Mr Abbott’s phone number and passport number within minutes.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837940/tony-abbott-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ebd8ba1c75634c80a6a7672b0641ae1c" /><br /><br /><span>In a blog post, the self-described “hacker” noted that he had tried for six months to alert Mr Abbott to what had happened.</span><br /><br /><span>“I had Tony Abbott’s passport number, phone number, and weird Qantas messages about him. I was the only one who knew I had these,” he wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>“Anyone who saw that Instagram post could also have them. I felt like I had to like, tell someone about this. Someone with like, responsibilities. Someone with an email signature,” he added.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Hope said he tracked Mr Abbott’s personal assistant down after many months of trying.</span><br /><br /><span>He then had a quick chat with Mr Abbott one-on-one.</span><br /><br /><span>“Mostly, he wanted to check whether his understanding of how I’d found his passport number was correct (it was). He also wanted to ask me how to learn about ‘the IT’,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“He asked some intelligent questions, like ‘how much information is in a boarding pass, and what do people like me need to know to be safe?’, and ‘why can you get a passport number from a boarding pass, but not from a bus ticket?’.</span><br /><br /><span>“The answer is that boarding passes have your password printed on them, and bus tickets don’t. You can use that password to log in to a website (widely regarded as a bad move), and at that point all bets are off, websites can just do whatever they want.”</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Hope says Qantas fixed the bug that allowed him to retrieve Abbott’s private details was fixed in July thanks to his warnings.</span><br /><br /><span>He says that he hopes this incident will make people think twice about what they post to social media.</span><br /><br /><span>“The point is that if someone famous can unknowingly post their boarding pass, anyone can,” Mr Hope wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>Qantas say they have tightened their protocols.</span><br /><br /><span>They urge passengers to keep their booking details private.</span><br /><br /><span>“Our standard advice to customers is to not post pictures of the boarding pass, or to at least obscure the key personal information if they do, because of the detail it contains,” a spokesperson said.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Abbott has since been issued a new passport number.</span></p>

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Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie and Toni Collette in Oscars contention after SAG awards nod

<p>The Hollywood award seasons continues on and this year will once again acknowledge Australia’s A-listers, with Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and Toni Collette nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards.</p> <p>The SAG Awards are one part of ceremonies that occur before the Oscars, and nominations provide a significant boost to actors' campaigns.</p> <p>Voters snubbed Kidman in the lead actress in a TV drama series category for her TV show<span> </span>Big Little Lies.</p> <p>It came as one of the biggest surprises on Wednesday during the SAG nomination ceremony.</p> <p>However, she received a supporting actress nod for her role in<span> </span>Bombshell,<span> </span>a movie that centred on sexual harassment at US news channel<span> </span>Fox News.</p> <p>Kidman will go head to head with her Bombshell co-star Margot Robbie in the SAG category.</p> <p>The Australian actress is in the running for SAG’s top award along with Robbie and the rest of the<span> </span>Bombshellcast, including Malcolm McDowell.</p> <p>McDowell played Rupert Murdoch in the film.</p> <p>Kidman also received a nomination with her Big Little Lies cast in the TV drama series ensemble category.</p> <p>New Zealand-born actor, Russell Crowe, has received a nod in the outstanding actor in a TV movie/limited series category for The Loudest Voice, which follows closely behind his Golden Globe nomination.</p> <p>The actor, who recently opened up about the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/heartbroken-russell-crowe-shows-bushfire-damage-to-multimillion-dollar-property" target="_blank">damage done to his multimillion-dollar property due to the NSW and QLD bushfires</a>, plays Fox News boss Roger Ailes.</p> <p>Toni Collette received a nomination in the outstanding actress TV movie/limited series category for her role in<span> </span>Unbelievable.</p> <p>Unfortunately, Kidman was snubbed for a supporting actor nod for<span> </span>Bombshell<span> </span>at the Golden Globe nominations but did receive a nod for<span> </span>Big Little Lies.</p> <p>Robbie, Crowe and Collette all received the same Globe nominations  as they did with SAG in the same categories.</p> <p>The SAG Award winners will be announced on January 19 in Los Angeles.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the Australian A-listers. </p>

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