GOOD THINGS

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Nashville’s Thad Cockrell Performs on ‘Tonight Show’

Who knew a broken light switch could change your life?! But that’s exactly what happened to Nashville singer-songwriter Thad Cockrell—well, sort of. On a trip to the hardware store, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon heard a catchy song playing over the speakers that he couldn’t ignore. The song was “Swingin’” by Cockrell, who’s been making music for over two decades. Cockrell had all but given up on making music until Fallon called. It’s the kind of rock’n’roll fairy tale you have to see to believe. Cockrell still feels like he’s living in a dream. In a message to fans, he said: “I just want to you let you know, don't give up. Just keep going."

DOD PHOTO BY NAVY PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS CARLOS M. VAZQUEZ II

3 Million Prints (and Climbing) of ‘The Hill We Climb’

Amanda Gorman made history earlier this year as the youngest known inaugural poet in U.S. history, but her poem “The Hill We Climb” amazed the crowd (and the world) with wisdom far beyond her 22 years. Now, demand for her work inspired publishers to publish 1 million copies of each of her three books. Two will include her inaugural poem—The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country (Viking Books for Young Readers) and The Hill We Climb and Other Poems (Penguin Random House). The third, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, is a picture book releasing later this year.

For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.

—AMANDA GORMAN

PHOTO BY INDIAN NOMAD

Jude Law Goes Criminal to Play Captain Hook

Blue-eyed Brit Jude Law is slated to play the infamous seafarer Captain Hook in Disney’s live-action Peter Pan remake, Peter & Wendy. Comedian Jim Gaffigan is also attached to the film, signing on to play Captain Hook’s ever loyal sidekick, Smee. Newcomer Ever Anderson (the daughter of Milla Jovovich) and Disney Junior star Alexander Molony were cast as Wendy Darling and Peter Pan, respectively. While details on the film’s plot haven’t yet been released, hijinks and shenanigans are sure to abound.

PHOTO BY GLENN FRANCIS

Singer-Songwriter Halsey Announces Pregnancy

Earlier this year, pop star Halsey announced her pregnancy with a baby bump photo on Instagram. The singer has been open about her fertility struggles, having suffered a miscarriage a few years ago right before going onstage to perform for thousands of fans. Halsey is one of the many women diagnosed with endometriosis (which can also impact fertility), making her pregnancy announcement even more of a celebration. In an interview with the Guardian last year, Halsey said becoming a mother would be “a miracle.”

PHOTO BY DAVID SHANKBONE

Chrissy Teigen Opens Up about Sobriety

Model, TV star, cookbook author, and overall entrepreneur Chrissy Teigen opened up recently about her journey with sobriety. She replied to a fan’s comment on her Instagram back in December saying she was four weeks sober. On New Year’s Day, she spoke in her Instagram Stories about having decided to stop drinking a month earlier. She and husband John Legend traveled to D.C. for President Joe Biden’s inauguration with their family, and Teigen tweeted: “Just incredible to be here. Sober. I know that’s weird but it’s like...a different world for me. Everything is new and better.”

Kristen Stewart to Star in New Princess Diana Biopic

Princess Di is arguably one of the most famous figures in history, and there have been many incarnations of her life and likeness on screen. Now, Twilight star Kristen Stewart is set to portray the royal in a new biopic, Spencer. The story takes place in December 1991, when Diana is deciding what to do about her deteriorating marriage to Prince Charles. “Spencer is a dive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life,” Stewart said. “It is a harrowing effort for her to return to herself, as Diana strives to hold onto what the name Spencer means to her.”

PHOTO BY GEORGES BIARD

We Are — Jon Batiste

2020 was a year of division and cracks in society, so the message behind Jon Batiste’s new album, We Are, feels even more important than ever. The jazz musician brought his (appropriately enough) soulful spirit to Disney-Pixar’s Soul (released on Disney+ last December), writing some of the music and even having his hands animated as the main character playing piano. Batiste’s energy infuses his music with the kind of passion and spirit we all need. “This song is a vibe cleanse, Batiste said of the first single, I Need You, "After 2020, this is like a warm hug. Let's bring the vibes back!”

If I Disappear — Eliza Jane Brazier

True crime is everywhere you look now, from miniseries and documentaries to serial TV shows and podcasts. If I Disappear centers on the latter from the last. Main character Sera Fleece is obsessed with a true crime podcast, and when the host, Rachel Bard, stops releasing new episodes, Sera decides it’s up to her to try and find out what happened to Rachel. This thriller is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat, wondering where Sera’s journey will take her—and how far true crime afficionados are willing to go.