From The Vault is back this week with yet another stellar Super Bowl moment.

Today, we journey back 30 years to the day Whitney Houston belted ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at the 1991 game and unleashed what would become for many singers the blueprint for how the US National Anthem should be tackled.

With the US and Iraq at war for the months preceding the festivities, the prospect of hearing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ resonate through a packed stadium was always going to be emotional for many an American. And Houston more than delivered on that note with a heartfelt, intense, and vibrant rendition of the famed anthem.

In just over two minutes, she managed to inspire optimism and togetherness thanks to her inimitable vocal prowess, striking stage presence, and that luminous smile.

Often imitated yet never duplicated, her version of this song is considered the absolute gold standard, with almost every vocalist since building their incarnation of the track around hers… to varying results.

Few will remember that the Buffalo Bills were up against the New York Giants on that fateful day. Yet, three decades on, the whole world is still raving about this game-changing performance. As such, we’d be inclined to say that the true winner was Whitney.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Your thoughts?

This week brought with the release of ‘Malcolm & Marie’ on Netflix.

Anchored by John David Washington and Zendaya, the ambitious film was conceived and executed during lockdown.

Directed by Sam Levinson, the drama centers on the peaks and troughs of couple – Malcolm Elliott and Marie Jones.

Head below, where That Grape Juice unpacks why the flick is an essential watch.

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The Morgan Wallen backlash rages on.

His fans may be opening their hearts and wallets in shows of support for the embattled Country star (as we reported here), but the industry at large is moving in the opposite direction.

As we previously posted , the 27-year-old saw backing snatched from his own record label as well as radio and television stations following the surfacing of a video that showed him drunkenly referring to his friend as the ‘n-word.’

And if distancing themselves from Wallen wasn’t enough, now his management team have joined the chorus of entities severing ties – one of many moves his sister suggests is just another nod to how cancel culture has negatively impacted the world.

More inside:

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It looks like it’s curtains for DaniLeigh and Dababy.

Full story below…

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Cardi B may be ‘Up’ and stuck at the top of the charts, but she isn’t averse to showing love to the stars rising through the ranks.

Case in point, Brit-bred blazer Bree Runway. 

Full story below…

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Rita Ora is playing no games with the release of her new EP ‘BANG.’

Set for February 12, the four-song collaboration with Ima is led by single ‘Big’ featuring David Guetta and Gunna. 

Billed as a “mix of modern Pop, 80s, and 90s club culture and floor-filling house”, the project will also benefit from an accompanying mini-movie.

Full story below…

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Years on from their historic stint in The White House, Barack and Michelle Obama continue to operate on Higher Ground. 

It’s apt then that the power couple has named their production company as such.

That Grape Juice reported that The Obamas had inked a lucrative deal with Netflix and now they’ve lifted the lid on the six projects they have incoming.

Dive below for details…

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Despite just releasing her latest single, ‘Up,’ Cardi B could have some more new music on the way.

The music superstar sat down with Apple Music‘s Zane Lowe in a new interview where she talked about her plans for a second album and revealed how many songs she has recorded for the project.

Her words below…

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With excitement at a feverish pitch for the ‘The Equalizer,’ the CBS series incarnation of the 80’s show and 2014 movie of the same name.

Starring EMMY and GRAMMY-winning superstar Queen Latifah, the show – co-created by executive producers Latifah, Richard Lindheim, and Michael Sloan – is set for kick off February 7 (after the Super Bowl).

Ahead of its premiere, see an extended trailer inside:

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This week brought with it the 35th anniversary of Janet Jackson‘s breakthrough album, ‘Control.’

Released February 4, 1986, the history-making project – best known for its singles ‘Pleasure Principle,’ ‘When I Think of You,’ ‘Let’s Wait Awhile,’ ‘Nasty,’ ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately,’ and title track – is lodged in record books for becoming the first LP by a female artist to log six Hot 100 top 40 singles over the span of its popularity.

The launching pad from which Jackson would be propelled into Pop superstardom as one of the genre’s preeminent female acts, it would go on to garner critical and commercial acclaim by selling over 10 million copies worldwide and collecting a slew of international awards along the way (including Billboard Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, American Music Awards, and a GRAMMY).

And if this week’s commemorative celebration of the opus is any indication, it’s far from finished receiving its flowers.

Details inside:

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CW’s scored a critical and ratings touchdown with sports drama, ‘All American.’

Now, fans who can’t get enough of the series – based on the life and times of football star Spencer Paysinger – will be pleased to know it’s set to return to the field for a 4th play.

Details inside:

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June’s Diary took vocal flight with the US National Anthem at the NBA game between the LA Clippers and the Boston Celtics.

The group – who first rose to prominence on Kelly Rowland‘s BET series ‘Chasing Destiny’ – showed and proved why their collective prowess is inimitable.

Watch Ashly, Krystal, Shyann, Gabby, and Brienna wow with the ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ below…

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