John Lennon Owned Guitar Sold for Near $3 Million, Gabby Douglas Ends Olympics Bid Due to Injury, Celebrity Pairings for Variety's Actors on Actors Announced

2024-05-31 3

John Lennon acoustic guitar auctioned off for a record breaking $2.9 million. The Framus 12-string Hootenanny was used by Lennon in recording the Beatles' album Help! and was featured in their film of the same name. Lennon had gifted the guitar to songwriting partner Gordon Waller, who then passed it onto his manager, who later stored it in his attic. The instrument had been presumed lost for 50 years before it was found in the attic by new homeowners during move in. The bid of $2.9 million breaks the Beatles' record for most expensive guitar purchased at auction, and the fifth highest ever sold. Gabby Douglas withdraws from U.S. Gymnastics Championships ending Paris Olympics bid due to ankle injury. The three-time Olympic champion announced her return to competitive gymnastics back in February with her sights set on representing the U.S. in this year's summer Olympics. Had she competed, 28-year-old Douglas would have been the oldest American gymnast to compete at the Olympics in over seven decades. Along with her withdrawal, she revealed that she plans to continue training for the 2028 Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles. Variety reveals celebrity pairings for 20th season of Actors on Actors Produced by Variety Media and PBS SoCal, Actors on Actors pairs up some of Hollywood's biggest stars to engage in one-on-one conversations about their work. The 20th season will feature 12 different pairs including Quinta Brunson and Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig, Kim Kardashian with Chloë Sevigny, Naomi Watts and Jonathan Bailey, and Jodie Foster with Robert Downey Jr. The 4 episode 20th season will premiere on June 13 from 8 to 10 p.m on PBS SoCal, and will later be available for streaming on pbssocal.org and the PBS App. In today's birthday news: actor Stephen Tobolowsky turns 73, actor Colm Meaney 71, country singer Wynonna Judd 60, musician Tom Morello 60, filmmaker Antoine Fuqua 59, actress/singer Idina Menzel 53, singer CeeLo Green 49, and actress Jenny Mollen 45.