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A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 6 January 2021

Being Judy Garland won Zellweger an Oscar. Is a Grammy next?

NEW YORK (AP) — Renée in the living room. Oh, be-
Zellweger is known for act- lieve me. I was download-
ing but you could eas- ing every moment in my
ily write a thesis about her memory — just to savor it
love for music. and to smile on it."
The entertainer won her Getting Zellweger to go on
second Academy Award and on about music is light
for portraying Judy Gar- work. The Texan has been
land in last year's "Judy," going for concerts for years
for which Zellweger did and she even had tickets
her own singing in front of for a show that was recent-
live audiences. She was ly canceled because of
praised for her perfor- the coronavirus pandemic.
mance in 2002's "Chicago." "I sneak off by myself all
And she's an avid concert- the time. I love to go up
goer and live-music appre- to the Santa Barbara Bowl
ciator who jumped up and whenever I get a chance.
down in her gown when I'll fly to Texas and I'll sneak
Eminem surprised the audi- around Austin to see peo-
ence at last year's Oscars ple play. I'll go up to Dallas,"
and despite being an A-list she said. "One of the things
star, sneaks out to concerts I think I've missed the most is
just to get her music fix. Renee Zellweger, winner of the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for getting to congregate and
She's also a proud card- "Judy", poses in the press room at the Oscars on Feb. 9, 2020, in Los Angeles. listen to music in that way.
carrying member of the Associated Press There's nothing quite like it."
Beyhive. Convincing Zellweger she's
"She raises the bar when it soundtrack, which features concerts she's attended ing Connick Jr. live, de- a real singer is a tougher
comes to work ethic. I ad- Zellweger covering songs and songs she's played for scribing the crooner as "an job. When she's asked
mire with her that if she's like "Over the Rainbow" years. Nominees include authentic person and per- when she knew she could
going to do it, she's knock- and "The Trolley Song," is Burt Bacharach, James former." sing, she replied: "I still don't
ing it into the stratosphere nominated for best tradi- Taylor, Harry Connick Jr. "What you see is what know."
or she's not going to do it," tional pop vocal album — and Rufus Wainwright, who you get," Zellweger said. "I still don't think of myself
said Zellweger, who gushed an award Tony Bennett has performs "Have Yourself a "Stomping his foot up there as a singer. I think of myself
over Beyoncé's ground- won a dozen times. Merry Little Christmas" with onstage at the Hollywood as someone who's trying to
breaking performance at "I don't guess that's some- Zellweger on the "Judy" al- Bowl and you feel like sing. Or who works to. I still
the 2005 Oscars. "She was thing I thought about to bum. you're in the living room don't know what I sound
the north star on that one ... be honest," Zellweger "It was scary to ask Rufus, with him or something." like when I'm just being my-
She's the one carrying that said in a phone interview 'Hey, what are you doing? "Speaking of the living self," she explained. "So,
gift we're all so blessed to about hearing the words Want to come sing a duet room," she continued, "a yeah, I don't know."
experience in one way or "Grammy-nominated" be- with me?,'" she recalled. "I friend of mine had won She trained heavily to get
another." fore her name. "That's not know people say that all this lottery thing or bid on her voice strong enough
So it should be no surprise something I walked around the time, but it's the truth: something. It was a private to perform in "Judy," which
— unless you're Zellwe- imagining. It sure was a I really have been singing concert with Burt ... and chronicles the last years of
ger — that she's earned thrilling surprise." with Rufus for 20 years-plus Carole Bayer Sager and Garland's life shortly before
her first Grammy nomina- She is competing in a cate- in my car." they played in the living her death in 1969 at age
tion this year. The "Judy" gory with musicians whose Zellweger remembers see- room. And he played 'Alfie' 47. q

Trebek urges support for COVID-19 victims in 1 of last shows

By DAVID BAUDER cancer but had pre-taped "He was in enormous pain,"
AP Media Writer several weeks of shows Richards said. "He was, you
NEW YORK (AP) — In a mes- that have continued to air. know, 10 days away from
sage taped for what turned Monday's show began the passing away. And you
out to be his final week final week of programs that will not sense that in any of
as "Jeopardy!" host, Alex he left behind. these episodes."
Trebek urged the game His last week of shows were A successor hasn't been
show's viewers to honor the originally scheduled to air named. Longtime "Jeop-
season of giving by helping on Christmas week; two ardy!' champion Ken Jen-
victims of the coronavirus categories of clues on Mon- nings will be the first of a
epidemic. day were "December 21" planned series of guest
Trebek's plea aired in the and "Christmas on Broad- hosts on episodes that be-
opening moments of the way." But to give Trebek's gin appearing next week.
show that aired on Mon- final week wider exposure, Asked whether Trebek
day. "Jeopardy!" put them off had given any suggestions
"We're trying to build a gen- until this week. about a successor, Rich-
tler, kinder society and if we The show's executive pro- ards told NBC that "he men-
all pitch in just a little bit, ducer, Mike Richards, told tioned a couple of names
we're going to get there," NBC's "Today" show on but he wanted to stay out
This image released by Jeopardy! shows Alex Trebek, host of he said. Monday that Trebek was of that ... No one is going to
the game show "Jeopardy!" Trebek died November 8 "an absolute warrior" in his replace him, and he knew
Associated Press
at age 80 of pancreatic last taping sessions. that."q