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Ray J is reportedly being treated at a Las Vegas hospital for a severe case of pneumonia.
Ray J, 44, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, January 6, with pneumonia and heart pains, TMZ reported on Wednesday, January 7, citing a “source close to the R&B singer.”
According to the outlet, Ray J previously suffered from the illness — which affects the lungs and can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, according to the Mayo Clinic — in 2021 and “thought he could die.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Ray J’s team for comment.
Ray J Accused of Owing 6-Figure Debt Before Arrest, Incident With Ex Princess
A few weeks prior to his hospitalization, Ray J shared an unusual update via Instagram, revealing that he’s part of a new show called Celebrity Hitchhiker.
“I’m hitchhiking right now to try to get a place to stay tonight,” he wrote in his December 13 message. “Hopefully I can meet a new family, and it can take me in and teach me about their rules and their goals and life, and then send me on my way to the next destination.”
Ray J had filmed the video in Tampa, Florida, and said that he wanted to make it to Los Angeles in time for Christmas. At the time, he was by himself.
“I need some food and I need shelter,” he told his followers. “Just a lot of s*** that’s happened. And I just wanna get back home and see my kids. It’s a hitchhiking show, but it’s real though at the same time, and I wanna make it really authentic. I just do it for real on my phone. I mean, I have a camera in there too, but it’s just me.”
Ray J’s Ups and Downs Through the Years: Arrests, Music, Sex Tapes and More
The singer, whose real name is William Ray Norwood, Jr., was arrested on Thanksgiving Day of last year for making threats to his estranged wife, Princess Love. He did an Instagram Live that day, saying that he had “the worst Thanksgiving in the f***ing world.”
In his Live, he appeared to pull a gun on Love, 41, and at least one of their children.
“Y’all wanna drive drunk? Y’all wanna drive drunk? Drive drunk. Drive drunk, Princess,” he said, to which Love replied, “Ray, you just pointed a gun— .”
She then called him “a woman abuser.”
Brandy and Ray J’s Mom Sonja Backs Up Son in Kim Kardashian Court Fight
Ray J was released from jail on the day of his arrest, TMZ reported at the time. (Us reached out to his representatives for comment. He has since claimed that he nearly got into a fight with a fellow inmate while behind bars.)
Ray J and Love filmed the early years of their marriage for the VH1 reality series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. They tied the knot in 2016 and have filed for divorce multiple times. They share daughter Melody Love, 7, and son Epik Ray, 6.
Days prior to the incident involving Love, American Express sued Ray J and his company Tronix Network in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing him of owing a massive credit card debt — $139,849.85, to be exact. He allegedly stopped making payments in May 2025. Ray J has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
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Keith Urban undoubtedly had a difficult year, but he went out on a high note on New Year’s Eve.
The country singer, 58, performed upbeat renditions of his song “Straight Line” and New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” during New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash on Wednesday, December 31. Urban sported a black shirt and dark jeans while he crooned lyrics from “Straight Line” such as, “I ain’t buyin’ this life’s gotta be such a mother / ‘Cause we kinda got it all when we got each other / You and me used to be like a year-round summer / Let’s go back / Oh, hit the gas.”
The live New Year’s Eve special — which aired on CBS and Paramount+ — was hosted by comedian Bert Kreischer and country music star Hardy and featured additional performances by Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Brooks and Dunn, Dwight Yoakam and more.
Urban’s New Year’s Eve outing comes three months after his split from estranged wife Nicole Kidman made headlines in September. One day after the news broke, she filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their separation. The pair were married for nearly 20 years and share daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith, 15.
All the Clues Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Were Heading Toward a Split
“They had been quietly separated for a while now but needed time to figure out if they were going to actually divorce,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in October. “She had faith they could work it out.”
According to the insider, Urban was the one who pulled the plug on his marriage to Kidman, 58.
“This wasn’t Nicole’s decision, and she is devastated,” the source continued. “Her trust was lost, and it was too far gone. Nicole had been trying to get them to work on their marriage and did not want this to get out to the public. She didn’t tell many friends what was really going on with them and was holding this in for months.”
While Urban and Kidman once appeared to be the ideal A-list couple, they were actually spending “a lot of time apart due to work commitments” and living “separate lives” behind the scenes.
“Nicole and Keith were not on the same page,” the insider told Us. “Rumors around town have been circling that they were living apart, were focused on their own projects and that Keith had moved on. They are moving in two different directions, and their worlds are not overlapping as much as they once did. The distance between them had grown more obvious recently.”
Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s Divorce: Custody, Reason for Split
Later in October, a source revealed that Kidman was in a “good headspace” amid her divorce from Urban, but “the hardest part” of the situation was “navigating the dynamic with their daughters.”
“The last thing Nicole wanted was a broken family,” the insider told Us, adding that Kidman “raised her daughters to be strong and is leading by example for them.”
As a new single mom, Kidman planned to “focus on creating new traditions with her daughters and keeping their home life as steady and loving as possible.”
Urban, for his part, “has moved on and has been open with Nicole about where he stands,” a source told Us in October, noting that their divorce was a “long time coming.”
Per the insider, “The two had grown apart quietly over time, and by the end, the decision to separate was more about acceptance than surprise.”
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The iconic Cape Town Minstrel Carnival returns to the Mother City on 5 January 2026.
Now known as the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade, this annual event is the longest existing carnival in the city and is an integral part of the city’s cultural heritage. Historically this celebration took place on 2 January aka Tweede Nuwe Jaar and the minstrels were to referred to as the Kaapse Klopse – this celebration the Mother City’s biggest event to usher in the New Year.
What To Expect at the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival
Thousands of minstrels in glittery uniforms from a variety of troupes with face paint, hats and parasols march through the city’s roads, playing their signature “ghoema” music on banjos, trumpets and drums. The troupes are spaced out so that each performance happens separately, allowing onlookers to hear each troupe. There is also a structure to each troupe, with non-instrument playing members called “voorlopertjies” leading the way with extravagant dance moves while the band provides the backing soundtrack.
Among this year’s troupe lineup you will see Original D6 Hanover Minstrels, Mitchells Plain Young Tycoons, Phantoms Community Development, Ashwin Willemse Orient Community Development, Young Wild Comanches, Manenberg Superstars, Carnival Boys Youth Development (also known as Crystal Palace), Wild Apache, Baruch Entertainers, CPT Hawkers, Fabulous Seawind Entertainers, and many more.
Experience The Magic
The parade is set to attract a crowd of 80,000 to 100,000 spectators, eager to experience over 16 minstrel troupes and 20,000 performers.
The parade will begin at the corner of Somerset Rd and Dixon St. The route
will follow along Somerset Rd all the way to the DHL Stadium.
Road Closures
To accommodate the parade and ensure public safety, several roads will be closed from 6am on Monday, 5 January to Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
Affected streets include:
| Street/Road | Restriction | Between | Closure Time | Opening Time | |
| Main Rd | Full Closure (residential access lane between Upper Portswood Rd & Highfield Rd) | York Rd | Buitengracht Street | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Prestwich Street | Full Closure | Alfred St Granger | Chiappini Street | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Somerset Road | East Bound closure | Bay Blvd Granger | Granger Bay Blvd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Fritz Sonnenberg | Full Closure | Bay Blvd Granger | Rd Portswood | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Somerset Road | Full Closure | Bay Blvd | Buitengracht St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Ebenezer Road | Full Closure (Hotel Access only) | Prestwich St Javis | RD Somerset | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| De Smit Street | Full Closure | St Napier St Javis | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Moreland Terrace | Full Closure | St Schiebe St | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Napier Street | Full Closure | Dixon St | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Alfred Street | Full Closure | Prestwich St | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Dixon Street | Full Closure | Strand St | Javis St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Chiappini Street | Full Closure | Prestwich St | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Chiappini Street | Full Closure | Napier St Liddle | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Alfred Street | Full Closure (Hotel Access only) | St Beach Rd | Schiebe St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Prestwich Street | Full Closure | Portswood Rd | St Alfred | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Cobern St | Full Closure | Granger Bay Blvd | Somerset Rd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Granger Bay Blvd | East Bound Carriage Closure | Helen Suzman | Helen Suzman | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Fort Wynyard St | Full Closure | Blvd | Granger Bay Blvd | 12h00 | 23h59 |
| Fritz Sonnenberg | Full Closure | Beach Rd | |||
| Vlei Road | Full Closure | Fritz Sonnenberg Rd | 12h00 | 23h59 |
Local access and permit holders:
| Street/Road | Restriction | Between | Closure Time | Opening Time | |
| Main Road | Permit Holders Only | Granger Bay Blvd | Three Anchor Bay Blvd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Granger Bay Blvd | Permit Holders Only | Helen Suzman Blvd | York Rd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Ebenezer Road | Permit Holders Only | Port RD | Prestwich St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Bennett Street | Permit Holders Only | Port RD | Prestwich St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Hudson Street | Permit Holders Only | Waterkant Street | Somerset RD | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Hudson Street | Local Access Only | Hudson St | Strand St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Vos Street | Local Access Only | Vos St | Strand St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Rose Street | Local Access Only | Rose St | Strand St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Waterkant | Local Access Only | Buitengracht St | Waterkant St | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Cavalcade Road | Local Access Only | York Rd | Upper Portswood Rd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
| Thornhill Road | Local Access Only | Cavalcade Rd | Upper Portswood Rd | 06h00 | 23h59 |
Entry
The HollywoodBets Cape Town Street Parade is free for the public. Follow Cape Town Street Parade on Facebook, Instagram, and X, for the latest updates on the start route and other information.
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The post Cape Town Minstrels Carnival 2026 – Everything You Need To Know! appeared first on Cape Town Tourism.
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Cape Town welcomes 2026 on a high note – January is peak summer, and the city comes alive with an unbeatable mix of concerts, festivals, sport, culture and outdoor experiences. From iconic events like the Cape Town Minstrels Street Parade and the King’s Plate to international music tours, open-air theatre and cricket at Newlands.
Cats, the Musical
2-11 January 2026 
Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Pieter Toerien and GWB Entertainment in association with Cape Town Opera by arrangement with The Really Useful Group presents CATS. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world-famous musical Cats brings iconic songs, choreography and theatrical magic to the Artscape stage. Tickets from R180 on Webtickets.
WAV Festival by AfroNation
2 January 2026 Green Point Track, Cape Town
A festival R&B lovers cannot miss! Amapiano’s Kelvin Momo brings his deep, emotional sound to the festival, while Shekinah’s golden voice is set to light up the stage. The lineup also includes Mariah the Scientist, Wale, Langa Mavuso, and Kujenga. Cape Town, get ready for a high-energy stadium showcase featuring the best in R&B. Find ticket information here.
Milk & Cookies Festival
3 January 2026 Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town
This multi-genre festival celebrates music, food, and community. From amapiano to R&B, house to hip-hop, Milk and Cookies blends global sounds with local culture for one unforgettable celebration. Vibrant stages, curated food vendors, immersive art installations, and the kind of energy that turns a crowd into a community – it’s a gathering where culture, connection, and creativity meet. For tickets go to Howler’s website and for more information visit the official page here.
BLANCHE – a luxury daytime event
4 January 2026 The Terrace Rooftop, Salt River
Step into the New Year with Blanche; an All-white outdoor celebration, curated by AfroFuture and PVO. This signature experience blends live music, an unmatched atmosphere, and the most vibrant crowd. Presented by Martell, set against Cape Town’s stunning backdrop. Click here for ticket information.
Freshlyground Reunion Concert
4, 11, 18 January 2026 Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Freshlyground reunites for a special open-air concert at Kirstenbosch, delivering feel-good hits in one of Cape Town’s most popular outdoor venues. Find more information and ticket information.
Cape Town Minstrels Street Parade
5 January 2026 Somerset Road & Fan Walk, Green Point
The iconic Cape Town Minstrel Carnival returns to the Mother City on 5 January 2026. The annual event fills the streets with colour, music and tradition, continuing into DHL Stadium for the Kaapse Klopse Choral Competition. Tap here for the latest event information.
St Tropez presents: Uncle Waffles – The ultimate day time escape
5 January 2026 Cabo Beach Club, Cape Town
Turn on the glitz and glamour at this epic Cabo Beach experience. Headlined by global sensation Uncle Waffles, expect nothing less than an unforgettable day of pulsating beats, high-energy performances, and pure sophistication. The event promises world-class local DJs spinning infectious sounds that keep the energy flowing from noon until sunset. Get your tickets now.
MI Cape Town vs Joburg Super Kings
6 January 2026 Newlands Cricket Grounds
Catch SA20 cricket action as MI Cape Town face the Joburg Super Kings at the historic Newlands Cricket Ground. For ticket info, email info@ticketpro.co.za or visit the website here.
Cape Town Jazzathon
9-11 January 2026 Amphitheatre, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Celebrating its 29th anniversary this year, the Cape Town Jazzathon is South Africa’s longest-running music festival. Often referred to as “The People’s Festival,” the event will feature performances daily, from 12.30pm to 8pm. Enjoy a rich variety of styles including Afro Jazz, Cape Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, Neo Soul, and Straight Ahead packed into three days of non-stop entertainment… and its free!!! Learn more.
L’Ormarins King’s Plate
10 January 2026 Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse
The Running of the 165th King’s Plate – the L’Ormarins King’s Plate is one of South Africa’s most prestigious horse racing events, combining elite racing, high fashion and a vibrant atmosphere. The King’s Plate is a totally blue and white affair where guests can enjoy some of the country’s best racing, wine, food, antique car displays and renowned after party in the peak of Cape Town’s summer. Tickets start from R600. For more information visit here.
Maynardville Open-Air Festival
From 13 January 2026 Maynardville Park, Wynberg
Cape Town’s premier open-air theatre experience returns, featuring live performances in a magical forest setting. Opening on 13 January, the Shades of Blue Chamber Concert will feature music from composers influenced by the rhythms and harmonies of jazz. Next up is Jazz in the Park (14 to 15 Jan), a new two-day celebration featuring local jazz legends from Cape Town’s rich jazz tradition. From 16 to 17 January, another crowd-favourite Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra returns with a stirring classical programme. See the full festival programme.
Calum Scott – The Avenoir Tour
14 January 2026 Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
International singer-songwriter Calum Scott performs live at Kirstenbosch as part of his global Avenoir Tour. Gates open at 6pm. Concert starts 7pm. For more information, go to Big Concert’s website.
Sheer City Festival
17-18 January 2026 Harrington Street Precinct
Sheer City is launching its inaugural two-day inner-city festival bringing together Cape Town’s most influential underground nightlife crews with international acts like Horse Meat Disco, Tama Sumo & Lakuti, Make A Dance, Freudenthal, and more. It’s a multi-venue, walkable block party across Harrington Street and the City Bowl fringe, a celebration of Cape Town’s creative pulse, queer culture, music, fashion, performance, and community. Expect six venues, over twenty artists, a full weekend immersion in the city’s next cultural moment.
Sheer Drop at Texas – 2pm to 10pm
Sheer Delight at The Electric – 5pm to 2am
Sheer Disco at Harringtons – 6pm to 4am
Sheer D.O.G at Zer021 Social – 8pm to 4am
Sheer Assembly at District – 8pm to 4am
Sheer Dive at Surfa Rosa – 9pm to 4am
Tickets available from Airdosh
Sundaze at Durbanville Hills
25 January 2026 Durbanville Hills Winery
Long, lazy afternoons, cool beats and Cape Town’s most iconic views. Summer at Durbanville Hills is super chilled, and with it, the popular cellar’s much-loved Sundaze Summer Series. DJ Stefanos will be spinning tracks from 2pm to 6pm while you enjoy crisp wines, cocktails, craft beer, wine slushies, and a mouth-watering selection of eats from the Olive Grove Bistro. Set against panoramic vistas of Table Bay and Table Mountain, Sundaze is the perfect way to vibe with friends and family. Tickets cost R100pp and available via Webtickets.
Shxtsngigs: Daddy’s Home – South Africa Tour
27 January 2026 Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town
The viral podcast duo James and Fuhad bring their Daddy’s Home live show to Cape Town, blending comedy, culture and crowd interaction. Whether you’re a die-hard Cult Baby or just discovering the podcast that’s racked up millions of streams and laughs worldwide, this live experience is your chance to see the boys like never before – live, loud, and uncut. Tickets from R440 via Ticketmaster.
DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
27 January 2026 DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Get ready for a major rugby showdown as the DHL Stormers face the Vodacom Blue Bulls in one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures. Cape Town is set to bring the gees – get your tickets today on the Stormer’s website.
World Sports Betting Cape Town Met
31 January 2026 Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse
Prepare for the grand return of the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, where the thrill of elite horse racing converges with a multisensory celebration unlike any other. The 2026 theme Symphony of Style combines fashion, music, and immersive moments. Book your tickets via Computicket.
The post What’s On In Cape Town In January 2026 appeared first on Cape Town Tourism.
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The Hallmark Channel is far and away the best place to find the corniest, cheesiest holiday movies.
And during the Christmas season, that’s just what many people are looking for. They want to light a Yankee candle, brew some peppermint tea and sink into a world where beautiful people get just what they want for Christmas.
Watch With Us loves a good Hallmark Christmas movie, so we decided to do a civil service and rank the very best ones you can watch right now on Hallmark+.
Did your favorites make the cut? Read on to find out!
Every Holiday Movie on TV This 2025 Season: Hallmark, Netflix and Lifetime
Humble seamstress Emily (Lacey Chabert) devotes herself to her family’s Philadelphia business, but she finds her world turned upside-down when she discovers that her European boyfriend, Leopold (Stephen Hagan), is a royal prince and heir to the throne of a small sovereign country. Leopold takes Emily back to his home to met his family for Christmas with intent to marry her. However, Leopold’s mother has other plans for him.
With some The Princess Diaries sprinkled in, A Royal Christmas hits all the notes you want from a royalty-themed Christmas Hallmark movie: everyone learns a lesson, everyone looks beautiful, love prevails and, of course, the beautiful gowns. Plus, Chabert and Jane Seymour shine in the film.
Estranged identical twin sisters Kate and Christ Lockhart (both played by Candace Cameron Brue) are stuck planning their respective holiday parties when they decide to switch things up. In order to see if one twin has things better than the other — and unbeknownst to their families — the twins swap lives, and the lessons they learn from the experience may just make for the best Christmas they’ve ever had.
Switched for Christmas makes for an adorable Christmas tale of family, friendship and learning to understand and appreciate your loved ones — and what would a Hallmark movie be without a little romance as well? It doesn’t hurt that the movie has a good sense of humor too, and with Cameron Brue playing an impressive dual role.
In a gambit to give his parents a good Christmas, speech writer Jaime (Tyler Hynes) makes a deal with his ex-girlfriend Emily (Bethany Joy Lenz) to come home with him for the holidays and pretend that they’re still together. However, it doesn’t take much before the act starts to unravel — especially when they realize their dormant feelings for one another are coming back.
This is a great Christmas Hallmark movie to watch for some silly antics, as Jaime and Emily do their best to maintain their week-long ruse in front of Jaime’s family, but it ends on a heartfelt note when the two exes realize they still love each other. Lenz and Hynes have wonderful, believable chemistry, and the film sports the perfect warm and festive holiday atmosphere.
Bachelor Zachary Stone (Brandon Routh) is only committed to one thing, and that’s being single. But when a stray cat winds up on his doorstep, he starts to realize that a little company in his day-to-day life might not be so bad. However, things take an unexpectedly romantic turn when he meets Marilee (Kimberly Sustad), a veterinary student who helps teach him how to take care of his new feline friend. Can the two make it work despite their differences?
The Nine Lives of Christmas is a fun rom-com with the perfect amount of schmaltz, made all the more enjoyable by Routh and his dynamic with Sustad. The movie is an ideal, easy Christmas watch, with some critics even feeling that the script and characters were better written than the book it was based on.
Hardworking single mom Jennifer (Brooke Burns) has become a bit of a Scrooge around Christmas, and her young son barely believes in Santa Claus. However, when her Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) brings over a man named Morgan (Warren Christie) whom he met on his flight, Jen and Morgan hit it off, but Morgan doesn’t like Jen’s attitude towards the holiday. For them to make it work, Morgan has to teach Jen how to get into the Christmas spirit.
While The Most Wonderful Time of the Year features a fairly familiar premise, it’s executed in a refreshing way through its smart scriptwriting, genuinely funny moments and the inclusion of Happy Days legend Henry Winkler. With fun, mismatched chemistry between Burns and Christie and a brisk script, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a Christmas movie highlight.
The premise of the 1987 Tom Selleck movie Three Men and a Baby gets a Christmas twist in Three Wise Men and a Baby, when three brothers named Stephen (Paul Campbell), Taylor (Hynes) and Luke (Andrew W. Walker) find themselves stuck caring for a baby over the holidays. After an abandoned infant is left at the doorstep of Luke’s work, the brothers, who have grown apart over the years, must now work together in an unexpected situation.
Well-written, genuinely funny and featuring a terrific cast, Three Wise Men and a Baby is a Hallmark holiday favorite for a reason. The characters are believable and have well-developed relationships with one another, and the movie balances the perfect mix of humor and heartfelt moments.
Screenwriter Lucy Hardgrove (Joy Lenz) has been hired to write the script for a remake of a beloved Christmas classic filmed at the historic Biltmore house. However, when Lucy’s script isn’t up to studio standards, she’s sent to the house for inspiration — where she finds herself traveling back in time to 1947 when His Merry Wife! was filmed. As she uses it as a chance to learn more about the film, she gets cozy with one of the stars, but her presence in the past threatens the film’s future.
Hallmark’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ Lineup Includes More Than 20 New Movies
Many consider A Biltmore Christmas to be the ultimate Hallmark holiday classic, but also a fantastic Christmas movie in its own right. The plot frees itself from many tired Christmas tropes while still hitting the right beats and heartfelt moments. The music, sets, costuming and performances all come together to make A Biltmore Christmas can’t-miss during the holidays.
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