The daily gossip: Barbados declares Rihanna national hero, Aaron Carter and fiancée split a week after son's birth, and more

1. Barbados declares Rihanna national hero

We have some breaking news out of Barbados: Queen Elizabeth II is out, and Rihanna is in. Barbados officially became a republic on Tuesday, booting Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, and in a ceremony, Prime Minister Mia Mottley went ahead and declared Rihanna a national hero. The "Diamonds" singer was born in Saint Michael, and she grew up in Bridgetown. "May you continue to shine like a diamond and continue to bring honor to your nation by your words, by your actions, and to do credit wherever you shall go," Mottley said during a ceremony that Rihanna attended. She became just the 11th person to ever be declared a national hero of Barbados, and the second woman. Plus, The Hollywood Reporter notes this means she can now start officially using the title "Right Honorable," which we're going to assume is being added to her Spotify page as we speak. Is this the first step toward Prime Minister Rihanna? Long may she reign.

The Hollywood Reporter Entertainment Weekly

2. Aaron Carter and fiancée break up a week after son's birth

It's been quite a week in the world of Aaron Carter. Carter revealed in a series of tweets that he and his fiancée, Melanie Martin, have split up after just welcoming their first child together last Monday. The "I Want Candy" singer said this was because of "a very big lie," claiming he found out his estranged sister had been "talking to my fiancé behind my back," which "ruined everything." Angel Carter received a restraining order against her brother Aaron in 2019, while his brother Nick Carter alleged Aaron confessed "he harbors thoughts and intentions of killing my pregnant wife and unborn child." On Twitter, Aaron Carter alleged "Melanie has been lying to me the whole time communicating with my twin sister and the family members who tried to put me in prison and who tried to get a conservatorship on me in court," also claiming Martin "told me she's moving to Vegas and I'll never see my kid again."

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TMZ People

3. Adele announces Las Vegas residency

Adele is ready to say hello to Las Vegas. After dropping her latest album 30, Adele on Tuesday announced a Las Vegas residency at the Caesars Palace Hotel. "Weekends With Adele" will consist of two shows every weekend beginning Jan. 21 and lasting through mid-April (with the exception of Feb. 18 and 19, when Van Morrison is performing). "30" has been a major hit, becoming the year's top-selling album and drawing great reviews. Adele's Vegas residency was previously rumored, though she denied she signed up for one in a Rolling Stone interview published less than three weeks ago, claiming "there's f---ing nothing available." She also told Rolling Stone she wasn't planning a major tour like she did for her album 25. "It's too unpredictable, with all the rules and stuff," she said. "I don't want anyone coming to my show scared. And I don't want to get COVID, either."

Variety Vulture

4. Bradley Cooper was held at knifepoint on the subway in 2019

The star of Nightmare Alley had his own nightmare on the New York City subway a few years ago. Bradley Cooper revealed on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast that in October 2019, he was on the New York City subway and "got held up at knifepoint" while on his way to pick up his daughter. The Oscar-nominated actor recalled seeing someone walk up to him and initially assuming they wanted to take a photo, only to look down and see a knife. "[I] jumped over the turnstile, hid around the white tiled foyer entrance to the subway, took my phone out," Cooper said. "He jumped over, running away, and I took a photo of him, and then I chased him up the stairs." Cooper reflected that he had become "way, way too comfortable in this city," adding, "My guard was down."

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5. Could Rita Moreno win a 2nd Oscar for starring in 'West Side Story'?

Something's coming: another Oscar nod for Rita Moreno. At least, that's what some critics predicted after Steven Spielberg's West Side Story premiered on Monday night. Early reactions to the film on social media were rapturous, with Moreno in particular earning praise for her performance. She famously played Anita in the original 1961 West Side Story, and she returns for the new one as a different character, Valentina. In fact, some critics said 89-year-old Moreno was so good, she could earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and maybe even a win. That would be particularly notable because Moreno already won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the original West Side Story. Moreno's 1962 win made history, as she became the first Hispanic woman to win an Academy Award. Her acceptance speech was just 11 words long: "I can't believe it! Good Lord. I leave you with that."

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