Olivia's All-Female Festival, Ariana Donates to Gazan Families, Madonna's Scrapped Biopic

Olivia Rodrigo Announces All-Women "Daisy Chain Fields" Festival

Olivia Rodrigo is making our teenage dreams come true. The 23-year-old pop superstar has announced her very own music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, boasting an absolutely stacked, all-women lineup of her "heroes and friends." Set to take over Irvine, California on August 29, the star-studded roster features a generational mix of icons and hitmakers, including Stevie Nicks, Chappell Roan, Doechii, K-Pop group Katseye, Rachel Chinouriri, and the legendary Sarah McLachlan. Best of all? Every single artist is performing for free, with 100 percent of the net proceeds being donated directly to charities dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls.

Taking to Instagram to share the news, Rodrigo revealed that the festival has been a dream of hers for years. The event's promotional artwork featured a subtle nod to the US abortion rights campaign with a "Bans off our bodies" pin, a cause Olivia has passionately championed throughout her career. In an interview with Pitchfork, the singer confirmed the festival was directly inspired by Lilith Fair, the historic 90s traveling festival co-founded by McLachlan to combat music industry sexism. Describing the vibe as a "hippie girl, riot grrrl punk type of thing," Rodrigo hopes the festival provides young girls with positive role models while proving that community, music, and joy can be the ultimate drivers for meaningful change.

Ariana Grande’s New Foundation Delivers Emergency Support to Gaza Families

Ariana Grande is using her platform to provide critical relief where it is needed most. The pop icon has extended vital support to children and families devastated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza through an emergency grant from her newly launched charitable organization, the "Brighter Days Ahead" foundation. International humanitarian organization Save the Children UK publicly expressed its immense gratitude to the singer for the contribution, noting that the vital funding will be used to deliver urgent, on-the-ground assistance to families facing severe hardship, displacement, and extreme insecurity.

While the exact financial amount of the donation has not been publicly disclosed, the impactful gesture highlights Grande’s commitment to global advocacy and immediate humanitarian aid through her new philanthropic venture. Representatives for Save the Children emphasized that contributions of this scale are essential for providing basic necessities and psychological support to vulnerable children caught in the conflict.

ICYMI:

• Romeo Beckham is set to make his acting debut in the tennis romance film, ‘FORTY LOVE.’

• Camila Cabello has been in the studio with Aaron Dessner.

Madonna Reveals Why Her Biopic Was Scrapped

Madonna has finally revealed why her highly anticipated movie biopic never made it to the big screen, pointing the finger at a major financial falling out with Universal Pictures. The studio won a massive multi-studio auction in 2021 to produce the film, which the pop icon spent two years co-writing and preparing to direct alongside Emmy-winning actress Julia Garner, who was cast to play her. Speaking to Interview magazine, Madonna explained that the studio simply "couldn’t get their heads around" the massive budget required to capture her extraordinary life. She even offered to slash production costs by filming in Serbia, but claims Universal didn't believe in her commitment to the project.

The pop star admitted she felt insulted by their lack of faith, stating that her whole life has been about survival, not taking holidays. Following the breakdown of the Universal deal, Netflix stepped in with an offer to adapt her life into a series, but that alternative also hit a brick wall over legal red tape. Madonna revealed she couldn't use her own script for the show unless she bought it back from Universal for an "extortionist’s price."

POP FACT: On this day in 1994, The Lion King was released in theaters.

Keir Starmer Resigns as British Prime Minister

Keir Starmer has officially resigned from his position, bringing a definitive end to his tenure as Prime Minister. The announcement follows a period of intense political pressure and shifting dynamics within Westminster, marking a major turning point for the government and the Labour Party. As the dust settles on his departure, political analysts are already speculating on the upcoming leadership contest to determine who will take the reins at Number 10 and navigate the nation's next chapter.

ICYMI:

• A live-action ‘MAGIC SCHOOL BUS’ movie is in development with Elizabeth Banks set to play Ms. Frizzle.

• Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player in history to score a goal in six different World Cups.

— Katie Macbeth

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