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Nova Lorraine: A Rising Star and a Name to Look Out For!

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Is Carly Rose Sonenclar the next big thing?

Just rising to the teen mark, 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar is one songstress with a set of incredible vocal cords and a mini heart of gold. Landing a breakout role in Broadway's Les Miserables at a young age -- she committed to a métier focused on music and the performing arts. With such a sweet, soulful voice, Carly has skyrocketed into instant stardom from X Factor and expresses in a recent Raine Magazine interview, how it was to work with our famed pop princess, Britney Spears.

Since her debut on Simon Cowell's hit show, Carly has since amassed over 100 million views on YouTube. Her talent is undeniable and Carly is sure to be the next big star in music in coming years. Carly's X Factor experience has also helped hone her strong sense of style and affinity for fashion. "I have always admired celebrities like Selena Gomez; they figure out their style and create a clothing line based on their image. I have always thought that was cool. I've really gotten to love fashion and want my style to be unique and relatable."

As Carly prepares for the next chapter in her career, she continues another passion of hers, giving back. Carly recently announced her upcoming summer concert on August 10th, 2013 at the Best Buy Theater in New York City. The concert will benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation, in which Carly is an ambassador. The charity is dedicated to helping more than 60 million seriously ill children and their families around the globe through entertainment, education and family activities.

The sky is the limit for Carly, so look out for America's newest singing sensation!

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Photos by Manny Roman. Wardrobe by Marteal and Estrada.

Researcher: Tina Chen

Carly's full interview is featured in Vol. 15 on www.rainemagazine.com/magazine


Guess What Snoop Dogg's Doing For 4/20? (Hint: You're Invited!)

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It's tough to keep up with Snoop Dogg. From the rap career to the reality television show to the reggae conversion to the name change, it's hard to know where he's going next. But one thing is for sure: he'll be at San Francisco's Fillmore auditorium on 4/20.

A famously weed-friendly artist playing an iconic venue in one of America's most weed-friendly cities on the most weed-friendly day of the year sounds like a marriage made in stony heaven--like discovering you can put mac and cheese inside of a grilled cheese sandwich.

The show comes only a few days before the release of "Reincarnated," Snoop's Diplo-produced debut album as Snoop Lion. That record promises to give the world its first full-length taste of his transformation into a reggae artist following a life-altering trip to Jamaica that saw him converting to Rastafarianism.

Even so, as SF Weekly notes, the show's poster promises "Snoop performing his classic smash hits," meaning fans hoping to hear classics like "Who Am I (What's My Name)" or "Gin And Juice" won't necessarily go home disappointed.

4/20, a day during which people celebrate marijuana, holds a special relevance for the Bay Area. The concept of "420" was reportedly conceived by a group of high school students in San Rafael (just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco) in the early 1970s who would gather to smoke pot after school at 4:20 p.m. The term was then popularized around the world after it was adopted by subculture surrounding the Grateful Dead.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 12, at 10 a.m. and will likely sell out pretty much immediately. So, whatever you do, make sure not to drop these tickets, no matter how hot they are.

This concert isn't the only thing Snoop will be doing on 4/20; he'll also be hosting Reddit's r/trees community of marijuana enthusiasts' "The Munichies" awards.

All in all, it looks like Snoop is lined up to have a very busy 4/20, which pretty much the opposite of what most stoners likely have planned.

Bonnie Fuller: Tiger Woods Deserves a Second Chance at Love With Lindsey Vonn

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There's no question that Tiger Woods was the ultimate cheating jerk when he was married to Elin, but he's worked diligently to change his life and behavior. He's earned a second chance at love.

Tiger Woods couldn't have fallen off his platinum hero's pedestal harder when his epic cheating was discovered by wife Elin Nordegren on Nov. 27, 2009.

Tiger Woods' Messy Divorce After Numerous Affairs

Who could ever forget the night Elin, 33, discovered a mistress' phone number on Tiger's cell? When he fled from their home after the ensuing argument , he crashed into a fire hydrant, and was injured -- Elin then attempted to rescue him by smashing the window of the back of the car with a golf club!

That was the beginning of the end of Tiger's crystal-clean reputation. Within days, 14 of Tiger's extramarital affairs were revealed, with new sexy mistresses and their racy photos seemingly appearing in press conferences every day.

It was a stunning fall for the world's No. 1 golfer, who seemingly had been Mr. Perfect on and off the golf course. Up until then, his marriage to stunning former Swedish model, Elin Nordregen, had appeared blissful and the two were parents to adorable, Sam, then 2, and Charlie, then 1.

Well, that all blew up pronto! The marriage imploded, Tiger admitted to sex addiction, and Elin walked away with a $110 million divorce settlement.

Tiger Woods Reveals New Relationship

So, does all of this mean that Tiger can never date and fall in love again? Does he deserve to be shunned forever?

He's worked hard and methodically to rebuild his golf game, which was as shattered as his marriage.

Now, he's sitting with the No. 1 golf world ranking, beginning the 77th Masters Tournament and guess who's been spotted in the audience, watching and supporting him?!

Yes, that would be Olympic skier, Lindsey Vonn, 28, Tiger's new girlfriend.

She and Tiger both announced on their Facebook pages on March 18 that they were officially a happy couple.

"Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating," Tiger wrote.

"Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few months and it has made me very happy," Lindsey added on her page.

The pair decided to go public rather than trying to hide their relationship, and that's smart. The last thing Tiger needs is to be perceived to be sneaking around with another woman. If he wants to be seen as a changed and redeemed man, he must be on the up and up about his new romance.

Should Tiger Woods Be Shunned By Society Forever?

Of course, the question is: Has Tiger had enough counseling to get to the bottom of the problems that led him to pursue multiple women and sex relentlessly, all while being married to Elin?

Does he understand why he disrespected Elin, his marriage and his children, and treated so many women just like sex objects?

I have to assume that in the past four years, he's done some very serious soul-searching and therapy and has vowed to change his behavior.

He's also worked hard to have a friendly and respectful relationship with ex-wife Elin, and a loving and involved relationship with his two children.

He certainly did the right thing financially for Elin, handing over half of his enormous fortune without an ugly divorce battle or custody fight. And that was commendable.

Tiger Woods & Lindsey Vonn Shouldn't Be Judged

There are many men who cheat on their wives and destroy their families, and then refuse to take care of them financially.

Tiger, wisely, did not do that.

Now, it's four years later, and he is presumably a far more self-aware, mature and humbler man and father.

So let's all not all rush to judgement on his new romance. Lindsey is old enough to make her own informed decisions about who she choses to love. She is well aware of Tiger's sexual past -- I'm sure they've had long discussions about it and both treaded carefully before embarking on their romantic relationship.

I don't think we need to be passing judgement on their romance.

Tiger is only 37. He has a long life to live. He shouldn't be condemned by public opinion to have an empty loveless life for the rest of his days -- especially when he has publicly admitted his terrible marital mistakes. Additionally, he has publicly apologized to his fans and his family, plus privately done his penance with his ex-wife and kids.

So, let's wish our best to Tiger and Lindsey. Hopefully, he has learned how to enjoy love and presumably monogamy in a healthy, positive way.

For more celebrity news, go to HollywoodLife.com.

Get Ready To See A Lot Of This Guy

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From the files of Big Business Has Discovered Dance Music: Fox is racing to get a Diplo movie off the ground.

Some catch-up for those who are unfamiliar: Diplo heads up Mad Decent, an independent record label that releases an astounding amount of music, mostly for free. The imprint focuses mostly on dance (trap, house, dancehall, etc.) and hip-hop. He is also a legendary pop and hip-hop producer (he's behind Snoop and No Doubt's latest records) and globe-trotting DJ in his own right, both under his own name and as part of Major Lazer, which has an album that's due out April 16.

Without being too laudatory, he's probably one of music's biggest influencers when it comes to internet-friendly listeners. (Remember "Harlem Shake," the Billboard No. 1 that came out of nowhere? It's made by Baauer, one of Diplo's signees.)

Deadline.com reports that the film will be written by Adam Weinstock and Andy Jones and see a handful of teens doing their best to make it into an EDM festival that Diplo is hosting. If that sounds curious, it's because it is. Not as curious, however, as this description, again courtesy of Deadline: "EDM, which I gather is a cousin to rave music, is a huge industry where the DJs are the big stars."

A number of other big names are jumping on the EDM gravy train, most notable Robert Sillerman, whose SFX Entertainment is on its way to spending $1 billion in the industry over the course of the year. All of this is basically just to say that dance music is about to be as corporate as every other genre of music.

Controversy Erupts Over Tonight's 'Glee' Episode

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In the April 11th installment of "Glee," titled "Shooting Star," Fox's episode description states that "an unthinkable event occurs at McKinley High."

Many are reporting that the episode features a school shooting and fans have been warned that it's "an emotional roller coaster." So much so, in fact, that a Newtown, Connecticut victims advocacy group is suggesting fans avoid it altogether.

The organization released this warning via email:

According to someone who blogs for an Internet site that is a TV spoiler site, the TV show, "Glee" that airs tonight on Fox is going to depict a school shooting from the vantage point of the students hiding in the dark. He said it is extremely harrowing and it even freaked him out and he's not from here.

I would suggest if you do watch this TV show to either not watch it tonight or watch with caution.

Although the episode is sure to spark controversy, series creator Ryan Murphy is happy with the result. Murphy took to twitter last week to express his excitement.

TVLine's Michael Slezak also called the episode "harrowing," and said that "the hour is bound to upset some folks, and likely to infuriate others." But, he added, "You can’t say it’s not filled with powerful images and performances that stick with you after the credits stop rolling."

Will you tune in for "Glee's" "Shooting Star" episode tonight?

"Glee" airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

Lance Armstrong Is On The Move

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Real estate headlines everywhere are reading "Lance Armstrong Sells Estate," after the Austin American-Statesman reported this morning that the cyclist is selling his 7,850-square foot Spanish colonial-style Austin, Texas home.

Royalty Clearinghouse founder Al Koehler has purchased the property, but did not pay "anything close" to the listing price of $10 million. Armstrong's rep said the athlete will continue to live in the capital city, according to the newspaper.

Back in his heyday, Armstrong welcomed Architectural Digest into this same house after it had undergone a major renovation. It was at that time that we got a sneak peek at his media room where he prominently displayed his jerseys from the Tour de France. And in November 2012 we saw that room again -- in Armstrong's infamous tweet.

But we all know how that ended.

Click through our slidshows to see photos of other celebrity homes. And be sure to head over to the Austin American-Statesman for more information.

Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.

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'The Simpsons' Meets 'Breaking Bad'

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"The Simpsons" is paying tribute to "Breaking Bad" with a new couch opening sequence.

The tribute to AMC's drama "Breaking Bad" features Marge Simpson baking blue cupcakes and ends with "Breaking Bad" stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston watching "The Simpsons" from the comfort of their couch.

Once again, Homer must save his marriage when Marge gets fed up with his behavior. Meanwhile, after watching "A Streetcar Named Desire," Milhouse takes on a Marlon Brando-inspired bad-boy persona to attract Lisa in the all-new episode

The opening sequence will air at the start of "The Simpsons" on Sunday, April 14 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. In the episode, titled "What Animated Women Want," -- which features the voices of Wanda Sykes and George Takei -- Homer's behavior leads to marriage troubles with Marge and "A Streetcar Named Desire" inspires Milhouse to adopt a bad boy persona to attract Lisa.

Reebok Drops Rick Ross Amid Date Rape Rap Controversy

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NEW YORK — Reebok has ended its relationship with Rick Ross following heavy criticism of lyrics by the rapper considered by some to be pro-rape.

The sneaker brand said in a statement Thursday that "Reebok holds our partners to a high standard and we expect them to live up to the values of our brand. Unfortunately, Rick Ross has failed to do so."

Ross formally apologized for his lyrics on Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O." in a tweet last week. It came the same day a women's group, UltraViolet, protested outside of one Reebok's stores in Manhattan.

In Rocko's song, Ross raps about giving a woman the drug MDMA, known as Molly, and having his way with her.

"Put Molly all up in her champagne, she ain't even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it," he says.

The song was released in January, but just recently began getting widespread notice. Women's groups and rape victims have issued petitions.

In his apologetic tweet, Ross said his lyrics were misinterpreted. He said he doesn't condone rape and apologized for lyrics that were "interpreted as rape." A week prior, he said in a radio interview that "there was a misunderstanding with the lyric" and that he didn't use the term "rape."

Ross has appeared in a commercial for the Reebok Classic sneakers. The company says it does not believe that the Grammy-nominated rapper "condones sexual assault," but the company is not happy with how he has handled the situation.

"We are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse," the statement read. "At this time, it is in everyone's best interest for Reebok to end its partnership with Mr. Ross."

A message sent to Ross' representative was not immediately returned.

Rocko said in an interview with radio station Hot 97 on Wednesday that he his removing Ross' rap from his song. He said the backlash has "put him a position where I have to change" the song.

UltraViolet said in a statement Thursday that the group is "thrilled to hear that Reebok is joining the fight against rape culture and dropping Rick Ross."

"This sends a strong message that rapping about drugging and raping an unconscious woman is not only morally wrong, but has real consequences," the statement read.

Four of Ross' five albums have reached gold status, including last year's "God Forgives, I Don't," which earned a Grammy nomination for best rap album. His hits include "The Boss" and "Aston Martin Music," and he's collaborated with acts like Kanye West, Drake, John Legend and Nicki Minaj.


They Got Married Really Fast

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For some celebrity couples, it's never too soon to say, "I do."

Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger got engaged after just two months of dating, and they're not the only A-listers to rush to the altar after a short courtship. While many of these quickie celeb marriages have failed, some (surprisingly) haven't. Hey, when you know, you know, right?

We found six couples who married as soon as one month after they began dating, and believe it or not, they're all still going strong. Click through the slideshow below to find out which still-married Hollywood couples had shockingly brief courtships.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Weddings on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Randi Zuckerberg: On Kickstarter Etiquette and Crowd-Funding Fatigue

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I remember when I first discovered Kickstarter.

Now anybody can be a patron of the arts? How cool is that!

I remember growing up, considering a career in the arts, and being told that without a record label, I could never put out an album. Without waiting in cattle call audition lines, I could never perform on Broadway. Without writing a multi-million dollar check, I could never be considered a "patron" of anything.

Then, along came Kickstarter, and everything changed. It democratized the arts and enabled anybody to post a creative project and find funders. What an amazing idea! Why shouldn't a movie have a thousand "producers" listed in the credits? Why shouldn't a band be able to fund an album directly via fans? Through Kickstarter, we saw the Pebble watch raise a record $10.2 million. We saw the Veronica Mars movie raise $2 million in less than 10 hours! I supported my good friend, Jimmy, in producing "It Gets Better: The Musical" -- a theater production that likely would not have happened in a pre crowd-funding world. A Kickstarter-funded film won an Academy Award this year. Heck, Philadelphia got a pizza museum and Chattanooga even got their very own font!

But the novelty and appeal have long since worn off.

Lately, I've heard many people complain that they feel inundated by Kickstarter requests. Rather than a platform to support creative visionaries, it's become just another way to hit people up for money. It's quickly gone from a celebration of the arts to a commentary on modern society where (1) it's become totally acceptable to ask people for money all the time, because we are protected behind a computer screen, and (2) absolutely everyone thinks they have something to say or showcase that warrants public attention.

I really love supporting my friends. I like sharing their Facebook posts, contributing to their charity marathons, buying their books, linking to them from my blog -- you name it. As someone who once dreamed of singing on Broadway (and not so secretly still dreams it), I get so much enjoyment from supporting the arts and feel horrible knowing that if someone doesn't raise the full amount of their Kickstarter pledge, then all the money gets forfeited. But I also acknowledge that there's a really fine line between supporting artistic projects and socially acceptable pan-handling.

I'm just feeling a bit burnt out. Am I soon going to have to start the next Kickstarter of my own just to fund my own Kickstarter giving?

If you're creating a crowd-funding campaign, here are a few etiquette tips to keep in mind before asking others to support you:

1) If you promise something, and people give you money, you need to deliver on your promise. You only get one chance with most people. That means that you shouldn't have multiple Kickstarter projects going simultaneously. Offer a wide array of funding levels (not just $5 and $500) to enable anyone to back you without feeling weird about it. Provide creative incentives that you can realistically deliver on to show people you appreciate their support at any level.

2) Make sure your promotional video is really awesome. Keep it short (under a minute is ideal), and make it as creative and shareable as possible. People need to like you, believe in you, and feel excited about your project. Seeing you speak will reassure backers that you are trustworthy and committed. Most importantly, people are going to want to understand exactly what you plan to do with their money. So be honest with them.

3) It's bad etiquette to keep hitting up your friends and family repeatedly for money. Make sure you have at least a little bit of a fan base before you go out and start Kickstarting. If your only support base right now is friends and family, you might want to wait a bit longer.

And if you're on the giving side of a Kickstarter campaign, here are a few recommendations:

1) If you decide to support a project, there's no pre-determined etiquette around how much you have to give. Remember that any amount is okay, even $5. Sometimes the symbolic value of giving means more to a friend than the actual amount itself. If it's someone who has supported one of your asks or charity walk-a-thons in the past, though, you might consider matching the level they gave you.

2) Consider impact. Even though many Kickstarter projects fail and are definitely a gamble to back, remember that your support of a $4,000 photography project likely means so much more to the artist and has the potential for a much bigger impact than the same contribution to a museum that has a multi-million dollar budget.

3) No matter what, only give money that you can afford to lose. Because you're not "investing" in a project when you back it on Kickstarter (meaning you're not a shareholder), you'll never see financial returns from your money. So set a budget for yourself that is reasonable, where you can have fun supporting budding artistic projects without feeling so stressed out about financials that you're tempted to sue over $70, like this guy.


To be the first to see more content like this, click here to subscribe to my newsletter, Dot Complicated.

Jackee 'Meets World'!

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Jackee Harry has joined the "Girl Meets World" cast. Disney confirmed to The Huffington Post that the "Sister, Sister" and "227" veteran filmed a role in the pilot. No other details about her role have been revealed.

"Girl Meets World" checks back in with Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) from the ABC series "Boy Meets World." The couple now has teen children of their own. In addition to Savage and Fishel, "Boy Meets World" veteran William Daniels will also appear in the pilot. The teen cast includes Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter and Teo Halm.

Disney has yet to order the pilot to series.

Harry won an Emmy for her work on "227." Her other TV credits include "Everybody Hates Chris," "Let's Stay Together" and the new series "The First Family," which reunites Harry with her "227" co-star Florence Henderson.

Below, relive the hilarious "Nurse Jackie" spoof starring Harry as "Nurse Jackee."


Who Went Home On 'Idol'?

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The "Idol" results are in ... and Lazaro is going home.

The fan (but not judges') favorite wound up with Amber Holcomb were in the Bottom 2. After the "Idol" results were announced, Lazaro sang "Feelin' Good" for the judges' save, but Keith, Nicki, Randy and Mariah were not in agreement about keeping him around.

"OK, sounds good," Lazaro said to the judges when he found out he was going home. "It's cool, guys."

Amber, who got rave reviews on Monday night, was in tears as Lazaro sang for the final time. Unlike Amber, however, Lazaro landing in the Bottom 2 came as no surprise, especially considering Randy called one of his performances the worst he's seen.

Candice Glover and Kree Harrison were in the Top 2 and Angie Miller and Janelle Arthur were in the middle. With Amber, they round out the Top 5 moving on next week.

During the "Idol" results show, Scotty McCreery performed his new song "Gotta See You Tonight" and the original "Idol" champion herself, Kelly Clarkson (clad in plenty of neon paint), also took the stage to debut her song "People Like Us." Clarkson said if she had auditioned in front of Mariah Carey she "would have vomited on stage."

Do you agree with tonight's "Idol" results? Who do you think will win? Sound off in the comments!

"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

Lookin' Good, Halle!

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Halle Berry's baby bump tops our best-dressed list this week for good reason. "The Call" star could teach us all an important lesson in maternity dressing: Ruching is your friend and highlight your décolletage.

Also in the glamorous department were the singers who hit the red carpet for the 2013 ACM Awards. (We're lookin' at you, Taylor Swift!)

And finally, we are seeing some reprieve from the ubiquitous black dresses that have ruled supreme this winter. Stars stepped out in red and yellow this week reminding us that it is spring!

Check out this week's best-dressed celebrities and keep clicking to see previous weeks' contenders. Then check out our roundup of the week's worst-dressed for a lesson in what not to wear.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
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Behind 'Glee's' Most Controversial Episode Yet

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Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 4, Episode 18 of Fox's "Glee," "Shooting Star."

Even before the April 11th installment of "Glee" aired, there was controversy. And Lauren Potter, who plays Becky Jackson, can't say she didn't see it coming.

Nearly halfway into the episode -- which had a Newtown, CT victims advocacy group urging "Glee" fans not to watch at all -- the New Directions heard gunshots in the hallways and locked themselves in the choir room. The space that was last filled with Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" and the zig-ah-zig-ah's of the Spice Girls was dark, silent and filled with tears.

Eventually, the McKinley High students were released and shortly thereafter, the audience learned that Sue Sylvester's favorite Cheerio and the ultimate sassy sidekick, Becky Jackson, was the one who brought the weapon to school.

Just before the gunshots deafened McKinley, Becky told Brittany (Heather Morris), "The world out there is really scary ... Someday, they will make me leave here and I don't know what I'm going to do." "If you really prepare yourself, the world won't seem like such a scary place," Brittany told her. They locked pinkies and exchanged "I love you's," but apparently, it wasn't enough to give Becky the assurance she needed.

"Keep an eye on Becky, will you?" Sue, who took the blame, asked Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison) before leaving McKinley for good. "She's tough, but like all the kids, she gets scared sometimes."

glee school shooting

Potter -- who has been with "Glee" since Season 1, but really started stepping into the spotlight in Season 3 and the current fourth season -- and her mother Robin Sinkhorn took the time to chat with The Huffington Post via phone just before "Glee's" school shooting episode debuted.

Potter found out about "Glee" tackling a school shooting four days before filming began and long before her castmembers knew what was about to happen. "I felt like they trusted me as an actress," Potter said of learning the news. "I was scared at first, but now, I feel comfortable."

The 22-year-old actress was confident, even as the controversy and negative attention rose. "Some of the stuff that Fox is hearing is, 'Why would Becky be the one to bring the gun to school?' They're dealing with controversy over that and, 'Why would you have this on 'Glee' because it's a glee club?' But I think that's the answer, really. Because it is a high school glee club and it is in the news every day," Sinkhorn said. "The shootings are still fresh in all of our minds. If Becky's going to be fully included on the show -- which they've done such a good job about that and giving her these juicy stories -- then why not Becky?

"Whether she has Down syndrome or not, it doesn't matter ... Why wouldn't it be somebody with Down syndrome because she's a kid. She's a teenager. She makes stupid decisions just like other teenagers do."

Becky's decision to bring a gun to school seemed to be coming from a different place than many real-life shooters in the news recently. "She's acting out of fear," Sinkhorn said. She didn't want to shoot anybody, she was just scared, Potter explained.

The actress said she was surprised to find out just how much Becky was struggling, even though she can somewhat relate to what Becky's going through. Does she have that same fear? "She still does," Sinkhorn said with a laugh. "Thanks, Mom," the good-humored Potter interjected. "Lauren's as bright and eminent as always, but I'll just tell you as her mother, it was very scary -- that next stage," Sinkhorn admitted. "That was the scary time because it's like, 'What now?' ... I don't think Lauren was ever to the point that Becky was in this episode because she had the support system of her family and still does. That's pretty drastic."

glee school shooting

Are they at all worried, however, that Down syndrome will now be associated with school violence? "I hope it just opens up dialogue even more so. Lauren is acting the role of Becky Jackson. The writers and directors put in that role; that's not Lauren Potter," Sinkhorn noted. "The main point I take away from this is, 'Wow. What a great actress that she can do this dramatic role just like any other actor out there.' And it kind of opens the door I think for more roles for people with intellectual disabilities ... This isn't Lauren at all! She'd never do that, but she can act it like you'll believe it. That's the thing. There's always going to be naysayers, no matter what. The point that people should take away is, this is a timely subject and they chose Lauren Potter to act that role, not anybody else in the cast. And it's not because they're saying, 'She has an intellectual disability so she's the only one that would do that' because I think most of the time that happens, it's not somebody with an intellectual disability that does it. But they said, 'You know what? Lauren's been great on the show for four years and she can act this role, so let's give it to her.' That's what I would say to those people. We know we'll get [negative feedback]. You do for everything. We get it when she does little sexy things and says, 'Hey, bitches.' We'll hear stuff. But then we hear other people saying, 'That was perfect.'"

Back in 2009, Potter beat out 13 other young women with Down syndrome for the part of Becky, who is known for her biting and hilarious remarks. "Glee's" school shooting episode certainly showed a new side of the character, whose inner thoughts were once voiced by Helen Mirren. "I met her at the [2013 Golden Globe] awards, which was really funny because I was there with my cousin Mary and I had these high heels on and my feet were hurting so I had to take them off," Potter said. "I realized there was a woman coming right toward me. She came up to me and said, 'I'm Helen Mirren. I'm your voiceover,'" the actress recalled with a laugh. "I was like, 'Oh my God. It's Helen! I just love you. I'm your biggest fan.'"

glee school shooting

Potter is also a fan of Jane Lynch, but not so much her on-screen persona. "I just love Jane Lynch, but in the show, Sue's kind of mean. I don't like her that way," the actress said with a laugh. "But I really love her in real life. She is one of the nicest and most awesome women that I've ever met."

Potter has had a lot of amazing opportunities since becoming such a visible member of the Down syndrome community. She's on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and she's on the Board of Directors for Best Buddies. "I didn't get to meet the president, but I did meet the first dog," Potter said. "Bo is so cute. It was so much fun!" And with Best Buddies -- a nonprofit founded by Anthony Shriver that's focused on friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities -- Potter has met a slew of celebrities. These days, however, she's taking on Tom Brady.

At Hyannis Port on June 1, Potter will participate in the Best Buddies Challenge, a five-star, one-of-a-kind cycling event that ends on the beach in Cape Cod. "I want to recruit 200 riders or runners or walkers to join me and beat Tom Brady's team," Potter said enthusiastically. "It's a competition between him and me. Team Lauren's going to win!"

glee school shooting

Potter candidly admitted that she's "not really" a football fan, adding, "When it comes to football, I eat buffalo wings."

Two hundred recruits shouldn't be too challenging for Potter. "Any place I go to, like restaurants and schools and stuff, people come up to me and say, 'Hey! Are you Lauren Potter? Are you Becky Jackson?' And I go, 'Yeah!'" Potter said with a laugh. "I say, 'Go ahead and take a picture.' I don't mind."

Potter said that she isn't overwhelmed by the fan reactions or by the pressure of being a spokesperson for those with Down syndrome. "I love it," she said. "I love speaking out to the whole world."

In addition to preparing to kick Tom Brady's butt right now, Potter's getting ready move out into the Glennwood House, a unique community for young adults with developmental disabilities. Potter's also wrapping up the fourth season of "Glee," but her lips are sealed when it comes to Becky. "I cannot say. I have to say, 'No spoilers,'" she told The Huffington Post. (Ryan Murphy has taught her well.)

Sinkhorn, however, hinted that fans will "see a little more of the background" of the "Glee" shooting episode. "It is a high school glee club and it's light and fun and musical, but, you know what? It's not always light and fun and musical. People are scared and people react differently and because they're teenagers, they don't always do the right thing. If there is a message there to anybody or if kids can learn from that, then that's important too."

"Glee" airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

Taylor Hanson Takes HuffPost's #nofilter Challenge

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These days, our knowledge of celebrities too often originates with paparazzi images and snarky quotes by anonymous "insiders." After a while, it's easy to forget that stars are real people. That's why HuffPost Celebrity decided to launch its all-new #nofilter quick-fire question and answer series. Because how well do you know someone until they've shared their guiltiest pleasures?

In the 16 years since Hanson released their No. 1 hit single "MMMBop," the trio of blond moppets have grown up, gotten married, cut their hair and are back with their tenth (yes, tenth!) album titled "Anthem," due out later this year.

The brothers -- Isaac, 32, Taylor, 30, and Zac, 27 -- took the stage for an intimate show at the iHeartRadio Theater in Tribeca on April 11, playing some new tunes including their first single off the album "Get The Girl Back." Many of their fans have stayed loyal to them since the beginning, but for those who remember the boys as just that -- boys -- their music today will likely come as a surprise.

HuffPost Celebrity caught up with Taylor Hanson, who answered all our burning questions for HuffPost's #nofilter series.

How would you describe the band's current sound to someone who hasn't heard any of your music since your "MMMBop" days?
The sound of our music that we've written and listened to is not wholly different. We grew up listening to soul music and rock and roll. I think the biggest difference from where we were is, one, of course, on the first record we were kids. You heard those high voices, the production was a little bit more slick, but if you listen to those older records, we were always writing rock and roll songs. We were writing pop, melodic songs inspired by classic rock and roll music, and those are still our greatest influences. What you hear now is that we are really executing those influences, and that sound we hear in our heads, fully.

I think if I had to completely describe our music to someone who had no idea about our band, from Adam, I'd just say that [we're] a rock and roll band. We're a band that's a mix of guitars and organic sounds, some rhythm and blues and melody -- you know, songs you can sing to.

Do you ever feel like hitting it big so young could be detrimental to you now, or feel like you constantly have to prove your aren't a teen band anymore?
Well, the interesting thing is that whenever you get introduced to people regardless of being a band, they say first impressions are important and your first impressions are strong. In some cases I think it's made our journey more complicated to have started so young, but at the same time I wouldn't trade our past. We worked really hard and continue to build a career, and connect with fans. It's been 16 years since we made the first record, so we're still ultimately young, and we've had this connection with fans for so long, so to me, you have to just see your history as positive and you can't go backwards.

I will say that the way we've always approached building a career is to focus on the music. To make it about the music and that continues to be the mission. You get people in a room, you get them to hear the music, you share your passion and invite people into what you are doing. You just have to be relentless.

You were huge teen stars, but you never seemed to get in trouble and managed to avoid being in the tabloids. How do you think you were able to do that?

We were just raised that way. You don't do your dirty laundry in public, you know? Everybody has done stupid things, but we did them with our friends, not in front of a camera. We sort of found a way to keep a separation between us and onlookers who were looking to find cracks in the armor. [And he admits that the fact the brothers always lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, rather than Los Angeles, probably helped as well.]

What is your biggest irrational fear?
I don't know if it's irrational, and I would never say this before but I think I'm a little bit agoraphobic when I'm in huge crowds of people. I mean it's claustrophobic probably -- small spaces and large groups of people, anxiety rises for me. I've wouldn't have said that earlier, but I think I know that about myself now.

What is on your nightstand?
Lots of books.

What is the last book you read?
Richard Brautigan's "Trout Fishing in America," which Kat Dennings (who stars in the band's latest music video alongside Nikki Reed and Drake Bell) actually gave me.

What is the strangest thing you've ever received from a fan.
I don't think you want to know the strangest things. I mean we've had people send hair, fingernails -- things of themselves they want to share with us -- undergarments, weird things that we've touched that they've kept and sent back to us. You know, like food items, and it's disgusting because it's rotting, but it was something that we touched, and you're like "this is not right."

But then there are amazing things, incredible things, like paintings or crafts that are really artistic and show their dedication in a way that just puts you in awe.

Do you ever text in a movie theater?
I am a serial rule breaker, so yes, absolutely. I mean do it with the sound off, and it's only when necessary. The reason why I wouldn't be a real danger at a movie in that situation is, all Hansons are serious movie watchers. But if I needed to respond to a text, I would.

Hanson shot to fame in the '90s and dominated the pages of magazines like Bop and Teen Beat, which never failed to include all the vital information every fan needed to know about the boys. Today, there are a number of abandoned Hanson fan sites that rounded up all this need-to-know info about the brothers. Since every hardcore fan could list off each of the brothers' favorite things without hesitation, we checked in with Taylor to see if a few of his favorite things had changed since 1998 -- and if anyone still has access to their Angelfire fan sites, you can update your Hanson facts now.

Tickets are already on sale for Hanson's upcoming tour which kicks off June 17 in New York City, and "Anthem" goes on sale June 18.


Another Day, Another Rick Ross Apology

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NEW YORK — A day after Reebok ended its relationship with Rick Ross, the rapper acknowledged that his lyrics on Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O." were "offensive."

In a statement Friday, Ross said being a musician is "a great responsibility" and that his choice of words in the song "does not reflect my true heart."

In the song, Ross raps about giving a woman the drug MDMA, known as Molly, and having his way with her.

"Put Molly all up in her champagne, she ain't even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it," he raps on the track released in January. It gained traction in recent weeks after women's groups and rape victims issued petitions.

"Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets," his statement said.

On Thursday, Reebok said it had terminated its contract with Ross because the rapper wasn't living "up to the values of our brand." Ross has appeared in a commercial for the Reebok Classic sneakers.

"We are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse," the statement said.

The Miami-based rapper first addressed the song two weeks ago in a radio interview, saying "there was a misunderstanding with the lyric." A week after that, he tweeted an apology. It was the same day the women's group UltraViolet protested outside one of Reebok's stores in Manhattan.

In his official apology, Ross also says men who listen to his music should "know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it's wrong."

Hits by the Grammy-nominated Ross include "The Boss" and "Aston Martin Music."

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Online:

http://www.godforgivesidont.com/(hash)maincover

Jay-Z Applying To Become Baseball Agent

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NEW YORK -- Jay-Z is applying to become a baseball agent.

The Major League Baseball Players Association said Friday the rapper's application to be certified was received a day earlier.

Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports announced last week they were partnering in the agency business, and Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano was the first client. CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen replaced Scott Boras as Cano's listed agent.

Jay-Z, whose given name is Shawn Carter, is in the process of selling his minority share of the Brooklyn Nets. Had he kept his share with the NBA club he might have faced potential problems in becoming certified by the MLBPA.

'I Shot The Wrong Person'

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Ready for a first look at new footage from "Dexter" Season 8?

Here's a new Showtime trailer promoting "Dexter" and the premiere of new drama series "Ray Donovan," which stars Liev Schreiber as a Hollywood fixer. There's only a few brief nuggets, but they're good ones -- we get glimpses of how Dexter and Debra are responding to Season 7′s shocking ending (when Deb pulled the trigger on Capt. María LaGüerta). As you might expect, Deb isn't doing too well -- "I shot the wrong person," she says -- while Dex is utterly remorseless.

Castle Gets Trapped!

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It's been an intense few weeks on "Castle" (a crazy two-parter, an emotional Ryan-centric episode), but Monday's episode is going to be a return to the show's signature light-hearted fare.

'Veep' Meets VP

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"Veep" met the VP on April 12, when Julia Louis-Dreyfus stopped by Joe Biden's West Wing office to compare notes on the trials and tribulations of being the Vice President. Louis-Dreyfus currently stars as Vice President Selina Meyer in the half-hour HBO comedy, which airs its Season 2 premiere on April 14 at 10 p.m. ET.

As part of the White House's "Being Biden" audio series, Louis-Dreyfus shared her memorable experience with Biden, which you can listen to below.

"I came to have lunch with Vice President Joe Biden and I surprised him by sitting at his desk, so he thought he'd just ask my advice on various briefs he had to deal with," the actress recounted. "I was happy to give him my advice, which he paid no attention to whatsoever."

The pair were already fairly chummy, as Louis-Dreyfus revealed that Biden called to congratulate her after Emmy win. Check out the photo of the real and fictional VPs hard at work below.

veep vp joe biden julia louisdreyfus

Are you excited for Season 2 of "Veep"?

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