Esai Morales to Co-Host 2025 National Memorial Day Concert, Replacing Joe Mantegna
Esai Morales • Photo Credit: Filip Shobot
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2025 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Event production company Capital Concerts has announced that actor Esai Morales will co-host the 36th annual National Memorial Day Concert alongside Gary Sinise. Morales steps in for longtime host Joe Mantegna for this year’s event, which will air live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
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The concert will be broadcast nationally from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS and streamed for global audiences via the American Forces Network, YouTube, and www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert. It will also be available on demand from May 25 through June 8, 2025.
The program will feature appearances by actors Robert Patrick, Blair Underwood, Gretchen Mol, and Mary McCormack. Musical performances will include Loren Allred, Scotty Hasting, Yolanda Adams, Angel Blue, and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly.
The National Memorial Day Concert is an annual televised tribute that honors the service and sacrifice of U.S. military personnel and their families. It is produced by Capital Concerts in partnership with PBS.
For more information, visit www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/home.
Source: Capital Concerts
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson Delivers Commencement Address to LMU Class of 2025
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson served as the keynote speaker at Loyola Marymount University’s undergraduate commencement celebration on May 17, 2025 • Photo Credit: Loyola Marymount University
LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2025 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Musician, filmmaker, and author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson delivered the undergraduate commencement address at Loyola Marymount University’s 2025 ceremony. Thompson delivered remarks centered on navigating uncertainty and personal growth through four core principles: gratitude, breathing through fear, movement, and self-affirmation.
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Speaking at LMU’s Westchester campus, Thompson told graduates, “This isn't just for people with framed credentials. This is for anyone who's felt small in a big moment — or too big in a world that wanted you to feel smaller.”
Thompson discussed how daily practices have shaped his resilience. “Without gratitude, we become entitled ... But gratitude is what keeps you human, reminding us that even with our hustle and willpower, something bigger is at work,” he said.
Addressing stress and anxiety, he stated, “Your lungs can't distinguish between a panic attack and a standing ovation — so only your breath decides which story you're living.”
On emotional processing, he added, “What we don't process, we still carry — first in our hearts, then it's in our bodies. What we don't express will find a way to express through us anyway.”
He concluded with a message on self-talk: “Transformation begins with how you talk to yourself — by flipping that question … 'Am I good enough?' into 'I am good enough.'”
Thompson is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, a six-time GRAMMY winner, and the musical director for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” His documentary Summer of Soul won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Documentary, and his latest film Sly Lives! premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
More than 2,880 students are participating in LMU’s commencement ceremonies. The university’s graduate and law school commencement will take place on May 18, with physicist and author Brian Greene scheduled to speak.
For more information, visit www.lmu.edu.
Source: Loyola Marymount University
Jim Thompson Hosts Beverly Hills Event with the Cast of ‘White Lotus’ Season 3
Walton Goggins, Tayme Thapthimthong, Frank Cancelloni, Dom Hetrakul, Natasha Rothwell, and Jon Gries attend the Jim Thompson soirée celebrating the brand and "The White Lotus" at Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate. Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber
LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2025 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Lifestyle brand Jim Thompson hosted an event on April 24 at the Dawnridge Estate in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate Thai culture and design. The gathering coincided with the brand's feature in Season 3 of the television series "The White Lotus."
Be Inthavong, Mike White, and Frank Cancelloni attend the Jim Thompson soirée celebrating the brand and "The White Lotus" at Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate. Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber
The event showcased Jim Thompson's Thai heritage and introduced guests to its contemporary resort wear and home furnishings line. Attendees included "The White Lotus" creator Mike White and cast members Walton Goggins, Natasha Rothwell, Jon Gries, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Dom Hetrakul. Mr. Tor Saralamba, Consul-General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles, was also present.
"Our presence in The White Lotus Season 3 marks an exciting moment for the brand, introducing our ready-to-wear, accessories and fabrics to a new generation of global tastemakers. This is a key milestone for our vision to become the first global lifestyle brand from Asia," said Frank Cancelloni, CEO of Jim Thompson.
Natasha Rothwell attends the Jim Thompson soirée celebrating the brand and "The White Lotus" at Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate. Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber
Founded in 1951 by James H.W. Thompson, the company is recognized for preserving and revitalizing Thailand’s silk industry. In addition to Thai silk, Jim Thompson has expanded into home furnishings and ready-to-wear fashion. The brand’s involvement in The White Lotus included custom ensembles for the main cast and set designs featuring Jim Thompson Home Furnishings.
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For more information, visit www.jimthompson.com.
Dom Hetrakul, Frank Cancelloni, and Tayme Thapthimthong attend the Jim Thompson soirée celebrating the brand and "The White Lotus" at Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate. Photo Credit: Mark Humphrey
Walton Goggins and Jon Gries attend the Jim Thompson soirée celebrating the brand and "The White Lotus" at Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate. Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber
Source: Jim Thompson
Marriott Bonvoy Announces Exclusive Member Access to Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER TOUR
Photo Credit: Marriott International, Inc.
BETHESDA, Md., April 2, 2025 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Hospitality company Marriott International has announced a new partnership through its travel program, Marriott Bonvoy, offering exclusive access to Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER TOUR.
As the official hotel partner, Marriott Bonvoy will provide fans with curated experiences including concert tickets, hotel stays, and promotional giveaways tied to the tour; including sweepstakes entries, on-property events, and VIP packages available through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform.
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The initiative features the “Bring Your Beyhive” sweepstakes, which will award five winners and five of their friends travel accommodations and concert access in select cities including New York, London, Paris, Houston, and Atlanta. Additionally, fixed-price packages and auction experiences will be available in markets such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Marriott Bonvoy will also introduce limited-time “1-Point Drops,” allowing members to redeem one loyalty point for two concert tickets and a welcome gift. The first drop opens April 7, 2025, for the April 28 Los Angeles performance.
In conjunction with the tour, select Marriott hotel properties will host themed events, including DJ sets and pre- and post-show gatherings.
Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at Marriott International, stated: “The COWBOY CARTER TOUR is more than a concert—it's a cultural moment, and we're thrilled to give our members and Beyoncé's fans exclusive access to be part of it. This partnership goes beyond providing a place to stay—we have designed fun ways for Marriott Bonvoy's Beyoncé fans to immerse in shared experiences with friends and loved ones, and to enjoy more of the COWBOY CARTER TOUR—beyond the show.”
For more information, visit www.marriottbonvoy.com/cowboycartertour.