Grapevine: Celebrity and entertainment news
Smokey to get Lifetime Achievement award
Motown legend Smokey Robinson will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards on June 28 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. He’ll perform at the 15th annual show, along with Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar and others. Previous BET Lifetime Achievement honors have gone to Diana Ross and the Isley Brothers. The show will air on BET at 8 p.m. June 28.
Blanket goes by ‘Bigi’ now
Upon entering seventh grade last year, Blanket Jackson decided to informally change his first name to Bigi before starting school, Radar Online reports. According a source, the 13-year-old was getting bullied about his name, so he changed it when he entered Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California, last fall. Bigi was born Prince Michael Jackson II and is the third and youngest child of late pop star Michael Jackson.
Tommy Chong has cancer again
Actor and marijuana activist Tommy Chong is battling rectal cancer, he told Us Weekly Tuesday. He’s using medical marijuana to treat the cancer, as he did in 2012 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Supersuckers’ Eddie Spaghetti has cancer
Eddie Spaghetti, lead singer and bass player for “The Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Band in the World,” the Supersuckers, has been diagnosed with stage three oropharynx cancer. The news was announced by the band via social media this week. The Seattle-based band has canceled its European tour while Mr. Spaghetti has surgery and radiation treatments.
Emagine Theatre to show original ‘Terminator’ films
To gear up for the release of “Terminator Genisys” staring Arnold Schwarzenegger on July 1, Emagine Theater in Novi will show all of the first four “Terminator” films next week, free of charge. See the original 1984 film Monday and 1991’s “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” Tuesday. On Wednesday it’s 2003’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and on June 25 “Terminator Salvation” from 2009. All films start at 7 p.m. and area rated R except for “Salvation,” rated PG-13. Emagine Theatre is at 44425 12 Mile.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Thursday’s birthdays
Paul McCartney, 73
Carol Kane, 63
Blake Shelton, 39