Ariana and Cynthia's surprise duet, Jordyn and Karl-Anthony's wedding, Ronaldo's retirement

Ariana Grande brings out Cynthia Erivo for surprise ‘For Good’ duet

Ariana Grande surprised fans at the second London stop of her Eternal Sunshine Tour by welcoming Cynthia Erivo to the stage for a special duet.

The 33-year-old singer is currently performing at The O2 for the UK leg of her tour, and the second night featured an unexpected reunion with her Wicked co-star. 

Grande and Erivo, who portray Glinda and Elphaba in the hit musical film series, joined forces onstage before performing “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again.”

The surprise appearance gave fans another memorable moment during Grande’s final stretch of the tour. During the opening London show, the singer became emotional while reflecting on the support she has received from her audience.

“London, I love you so much,” Grande told the crowd. She also acknowledged that the city would mark the final stop of her tour, adding that she planned to “savour every last second” of her remaining shows because London is “one of my favourite places in the world.”

Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns tie the knot

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods have officially taken their relationship to the next level, exchanging vows in a lavish Malibu wedding surrounded by family, friends and an impressive lineup of celebrities.

The New York Knicks star and Woods, who have been together for more than five years, celebrated their marriage over the weekend in California. Towns’ NBA circle was well represented, with teammates Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart among the guests, alongside celebrity attendees including Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller.

Other stars reportedly spotted at the celebration included Michael B. Jordan as well as Justin and Hailey Bieber, adding to the event’s star power.

Guests also left with custom wedding memorabilia. According to reports, attendees received hoodies emblazoned with “Married in 5,” a playful nod to Towns’ No. 5 jersey and his recent NBA championship run with New York. Fanatics gift bags and In-N-Out cups were also reportedly part of the wedding favors.

The ceremony marks a new chapter for the couple, who began dating more than five years ago. Towns proposed to Woods on Christmas Day last year in New York City, setting the stage for their long-awaited walk down the aisle.

Robert Downey Jr. picks Doctor Doom over Tony Stark

The actor, who spent more than a decade defining Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, opened up about his new role during D23 in Anaheim, California, on August 14. Downey will return to the MCU as Victor von Doom in “Avengers: Doomsday,” marking a major shift from the hero who helped launch the franchise.

Asked whether he would rather play Iron Man or Doom, Downey surprisingly picked the villain, explaining that the new experience has given him a different perspective on the ensemble cast.

“It was really weird being the guy — everyone else is hanging out, they’re the good heroes, and I’m [in] this mask and this hood,” he said.

Downey also highlighted how playing Doom allowed him to appreciate his fellow actors from a different position, adding, “I will say Doom, for now, because I got to really observe what I’ve been missing the whole time, just everybody else.”

The actor’s comments arrive as Marvel unveiled a new look at “Doomsday” at D23, following footage previously shown exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con. The film is scheduled to arrive in 2026.

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals plans to retire from football

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that his extraordinary football career may be approaching its final chapter, suggesting he could retire as soon as next year.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain, currently playing for Al Nassr, addressed his future in a Vogue interview published Sunday, revealing that he expects the current season could be his last.

“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.

Although his Al Nassr contract extends through June 2027, Ronaldo has previously indicated that he only planned to continue playing for another year or two. He also confirmed before the 2026 World Cup that the tournament would be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Now, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner says he has already started preparing for life away from the pitch. “I have my future all mapped out,” he said, explaining that he wants to spend more time traveling, playing padel and enjoying life with his family.

Ronaldo’s potential retirement would mark the end of a 25-year professional journey that included spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr. His time at Real Madrid produced 450 goals in 438 appearances, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer.

ICYMI:

• Kevin of THE BOYZ has announced his upcoming solo single album, “FREECHILD,” marking his latest musical release outside of the group. The project is set to be released on September 2, giving fans a new solo offering from the K-pop idol.

• ‘SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY’ has officially crossed the $2 billion mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the highest-grossing Spider-Man film ever and surpassing ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.’ The blockbuster has also emerged as the highest-grossing comic book movie of the decade, further cementing its massive commercial success.

— Bea Bertuldo

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