He’s got a body made for far more than a podcast, but thankfully there’s instagram to round out the views of John Arthur Hill, our Dazzler of the Day. Hill has made the rounds of several musicals over the years, recorded more than a few songs, and currently has his own SiriusXM show ‘The News with John Hill’. He also co-hosts ‘Andy Cohen Live‘ and has been seen behind the bar (and behind the scenes in a more professional capacity) at ‘Watch What Happens Live’. Check out his link tree here for all that’s on his horizon, including some legendary live performances coming up.
If you’re familiar to these parts, you know I thrill at being introduced to people who dazzle in all sorts of ways, and if they have a bio that speaks to such wonder, all the better. Case in point is our Dazzler of the Day, Cody Belew, who has a wonderful description of his accomplishments. See that below and witness more of his magic at his website here.
Singer/songwriter CODY BELEW has a love of the South that is in his blood. Reflecting on his upbringing in rural Beebe, Arkansas, what sticks with him most is the one-room church where he learned to sing when he was just a toddler. It’s these soulful roots that are reflected in his music which combines authentic storytelling with powerful vocals that take you to the heart of his experience. Blending raw emotion with Southern stomp, Cody’s material moves far beyond his contemporaries with a unique point of view on faith and love that he approaches with fearless honesty. Cody made his way to Nashville to pursue a music career, where he made ends meet working with fashion, furniture restoration, and music. It wasn’t long before his talents were recognized, earning him an appearance on NBC’s THE VOICE. After finishing the show as a Top 8 finalist, Cody was asked to open for Delta Rae, Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, and more, and started writing with GRAMMY Award-winning Deana Carter and Mike Reid, ACM Award winner Tia Sellers, and ascending recording artists like Hailey Whitters, Rick Brantley, and Waylon Payne.
Assembling a mix of candid originals and well-loved classics by artists who inspired him, Cody released his self-titled debut EP in early 2022. The lead single, “Rodeo,” premiered in Times Square and quickly found regular rotation on CMT. His take on the Dolly Parton classic “Here You Come Again” was a welcome reinvention, with Robert Oermann from Music Row Magazine saying “he completely reinterprets this 1977 Dolly hit, transforming it from a bouncy ditty into a cry of romantic anguish. His only accompaniment is a pianist, but his dramatic performance is so gripping that it needs nothing else.” Last year also had him reimagining the Brooks & Dunn classic “Neon Moon” with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Dave Aude. The disco-tinged cover, which recently hit the one million streams mark on Spotify, continues to top a variety of popular playlists.
Belew kicked off 2023 as a member of CMT’s coveted “Listen Up” program, which counts Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, and Maren Morris among its alums. A long-time Nashville resident, Cody recently completed a yearlong, sold-out residency at the city’s famed Lipstick Lounge and is playing a slew of upcoming shows for a fan base he’s built with his impassioned vocals, deft songwriting, and undeniable stage presence. Belew is currently working on his full-length debut, in which he’ll traverse between his deep-seated love of Southern music and his obligation to activism.
Whenever I think that I’ve grown too old for music to touch me in the magical, primal, soul-wrenching way it did in my teen years, I’ll happen upon something like the new Cigarettes After Sex song, ‘Tejano Blue’ and suddenly the world feels fresh and exhilarating and gorgeously terrifying in the best way. Many a ‘Cigarettes After Sex’ song has had a similar effect, from the very first time I heard ‘Apocalypse‘ to the latest peek at their upcoming ‘X’s’ album. Drummer Jacob Tomsky is largely the reason I became aware of them, as I was a huge fan of his ‘Heads in Beds’ book; when I discovered he played for the band, I gave them a listen and music was once again that thing that gave me inspiration and hope in a world, and an age bracket, where those things were largely gone.
Way back then, the band wasn’t as big as it is now (they are set to play the TD Garden and Madison Square Garden on their forthcoming X’s Tour) and Jacob was kind enough to invite a swooning fanboy like myself to meet him backstage before one of those early Boston shows. Suzie joined me and we fanned out like we were teenagers again – the best thing music can bring out in anyone.
Headed by Greg Gonzalez, Cigarettes After Sex often sounds like it could be the love-child of Angelo Badalamenti and the ‘Laid’ album by James – two of my very favorite things in the whole world. And while this sort of exquisite, dreamy music doesn’t seem to rely on the drum work to make its statement, it requires the sort of consistent precision and controlled innate rhythm to potently cast its hypnotic spell. Credit Tomsky with the latter, and you have one of the many reasons he is our Dazzler of the Day.
A year or so ago, my niece Emi, by then already a teenager herself, marveled at the fact that I knew about the new favorite band she was listening to: Cigarettes After Sex. Happy to pass the torch of musical fandom to someone who shares a special and, pardon the hubris, spectacular taste in music, I shared my history of loving the band, and how one day I got to meet them before one of their early shows – and how they were just as cool as you’d want them to be. She’s going to see them in New York on their MSG date, while I’m looking into seeing them in Boston again. The world is growing up, the world is growing darker, and the world is growing older, but through it all the good music will keep us going. Thanks to Jacob Tomsky for reminding me of that.
An outfit as exquisite as this one would typically guarantee a crowning as Dazzler of the Day, but Ronan Farrow comes with the talent and substance to back it all up and match the beauty on the outside with a keen analytical mind. Farrow is an investigative journalist who has notably covered the case that rightfully toppled Harvey Weinstein, winning a Pulitzer Prize in the process, and his book ‘Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators’ detailed how it all happened.
Getting back to that outfit, as featured on a recent episode of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race‘: I need to know where he got it and when, and then I need to figure out how to get one in lavender. (Generally I’m a 40S in jackets for any kind benefactors out there.)
Faithful friend and partner-in-fabulousness to RuPaul, Michelle Visage is a dazzling star in her own right, thrilling with her cutting quips and dagger-like assessments and advice on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’. She originally burst on the pop-star scene as a member of Seduction, which garnered several hits as the 80’s turned into the 90’s – proof that Visage has earned her place at the judge’s table because she’s already gone through it. She is crowned Dazzler of the Day for the guts and determination it takes to last this long in the business they call show.
Fellow Madonna fans hold a special place in my heart, and when they are dazzling in their own right, that makes them all the more captivating. Case in point is our Dazzler of the Day, Jeremy Gloff, whose take on the Madonna Celebration Tour encapsulates what so many of her lifelong fans felt when seeing the show. This alone would merit a crowning as Dazzler – Gloff also has the multi-talented Renaissance-man act down pat, having paved his way as a singer, songwriter, performance artist and advice columnist. A long list of albums (from 1993’s True Stories’ to 2016’s ‘Those Who Survived’) testify to his legacy, including his electro-homage to the 80’s ~ ‘1987’. Most heartwarming is his recent look-back over his love affair with Madonna – a love-affair that Madonna fans should find resonant and affirming. Check it out below, then say hello to him on Instagram or FaceBook or YouTube.
It’s taken me two days to process and recover from the Madonna concert.
I have a heart that’s prone to melancholy and nostalgia and I found myself sad the morning of the show because it was so close to happening then being over. I felt like it might be one of the best nights of my life…and it was. The evening approached with equal anticipation and dread. To be in my Gloft in Tampa at a Madonna concert with so many of my best friends and loved ones is my happiest of happy places… (I rent out a private loft for concerts that fits 50 loved ones and it’s been dubbed “The Gloft”.)
During the beginning of the concert there was someone dressed on stage as Madonna’s younger self…Madonna said how much she wanted to give her younger self a hug and how that version of her kept her going all these years. And as Madonna played – so so many versions of my younger self unexpectedly reemerged that are all trapped in her songs. I found myself in a state of euphoria but also having to process and deal with these unexpected boxes and vaults being opened song after song. I found myself bursting with joy while at the same time unearthing some scars I’d long buried…
I bought a shitty $15 crown off Amazon and wore it to the show – but to me it felt like a million dollars. In the last few years I’ve found myself getting quieter, more submissive, more “professional”, more happy in solitude. That crappy junk crown unlocked a version of Jeremy I hadn’t felt or known for a very long time. But to truly hold onto him is like hugging the air. As the last song ended I sadly felt him leaving too…
To have Moira Messana stop by the loft and say hi and to graciously meet my friends – hers is a face I saw on a movie theatre screen in a small town over and over in 1991. I knew every word to her scene. When I left that movie theatre I was in a town full of violence and homophobia. It wasn’t a safe world for me at 16 years of age. Moira’s vulnerability and sincerity in ‘Truth Or Dare‘ made her a massive icon to everyone who shared that moment with me. Her lines in the movie became part of our everyday lives and with love.
Decades later she became a friend. I love Moira and her family – she’s such a remarkable, strong woman. Since we became friends we never really talk about Madonna when we hang out. But two nights ago Moira completely became THAT Moira and it was glorious and an explosion of unparalleled joy. My friends were shocked by the surprise. How does the best night ever keep leveling up???? Like Moira said in 1991…”I just wanna see Madonna!”
I haven’t felt as in sync with Madonna in the last few years. I didn’t relate as much to what she was doing for the first time in 40 years. In some ways I was lost without her…but then in other ways I found a new different way without her. To have the Madonna I love so much back and serving as an icon during this show was both exhilarating and unexpectedly confusing.
Because I still want to be Jeremy in 3rd grade 1984 hearing the word “virgin” for the first time, or the Jeremy in high school wearing a gold tooth like Madonna did in “Erotica“, or club kid Jeremy going to raves in the early 90s in Buffalo with pigtails and an Easter basket full of cereal to pass out to other ravers, or 2008 Jeremy releasing an electro album called ‘1987’ and thinking this would be the album to break through, or 2014 Jeremy sitting on the patio of Cappy’s with Lou hearing the leaked demos of “Rebel Heart” and feeling young for maybe the last time. They all disintegrate but they all remain.
Stupid me and my shadows – because although I was surrounded by so much love in my loft my heart was clouded by the friends sitting one section over who don’t talk to me anymore – and once upon a time they were my Madonna friends. I always extend olive branches but generally people don’t grab them and it adds a dark blue directly below my bright yellow. I hate losing friends. I sure wish the universe would extend me second chances but maybe the universe is protecting me too. They were keeping space in my mind the entire time – I wished they were there alongside me and not in the past tense. Nothing really matters – love is all we need.
So it was one of the best nights of my life and two of the saddest days after. I want to be in that moment forever – where I’m wearing a crown feeling free – surrounded by loved ones – and Madonna is reigning supreme again.
During these last few years me and a panel of people discussed each of her albums track by track on my podcast Phonogenics 101. And some of those people were in my Gloft – they flew into Tampa and I got to meet them for the first time in person and share this moment together. Things don’t get any more soul deep than this.
So here we are in April 2024. I love Madonna being front and center again with a tour that appeals to a wider audience. But with that comes all the more general fans complaining about the late start and the lack of A/C. Honey, we’ve been dealing with that for years and years with pleasure. Come join the party…it’s a celebration.
I hope Madonna knows how much she is loved. And I hope my friends know how much I love them. I had it all again for one night – two nights ago. But take a bow…the night is over.
Thank you Madonna for 40 years of safety and love.
Our Broadway run continues as this Dazzler of the Day just opened as the title character in the long-awaited revival of ‘The Who’s Tommy’. Having missed it on its first go-round in the mid-90’s, I’ll be seeing it next month on our return to Broadway trip. Ali Louis Bourzgui has been winning raves as Tommy, and comes with a resume chock-full of notable performances – see the exquisite excerpt from his website below for a better introduction:
I’m a SWANA (Moroccan American) actor, singer, musician and creator based in NYC. You can catch me as Tommy in Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend’s revival of The Who’s Tommy on Broadway (Jeff Award for Performer in a Leading Role for the Goodman Theatre run.) Recent work includes Paul in the Company 1st National Tour, Haled on The Band’s Visit National Tour and playing Young Mazin/Yousif in The Goodman’s World Premiere play, Layalina. You can also hear my voice on the Monkeypaw/Gimlet horror podcast Quiet Part Loud produced by Jordan Peele. Originally from Pittsfield, MA, I’ve always loved nature and every branch of art. When not performing you can usually find me hiking, gardening, geeking out over jazz, playing guitar and writing music. I graduated from the Ithaca College B.F.A. Musical Theatreprogram and have worked regionally at venues such as The Goodman Theatre, Barrington Stage Co., Theaterworks Hartford, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, The Theater Barn, & Ghostlit Rep Theatre Co. I’m also a proud ISF scholar, working actively to increase Arab American/Muslim representation in media in order to improve public opinion and policy. The only thing I love more than what I do is peanut butter…I really love peanut butter.
Joining her co-star in ‘The Great Gatsby’ on Broadway, Eva Noblezada earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to her latest turn in the new musical. As Daisy Buchanan, Noblezada has the formidable task of channeling the fractured facets of this inward-centered jewel, which has sometimes been one of the more dangerous and difficult traps of the Gatsby story. Daisy can be seen in so many ways, on so many levels, and the greatest portrayals leave room for interpretation, leaving the viewer wondering what her main motivation might be. After her lauded performances in ‘Hadestown’, ‘Miss Saigon’, and ‘Les Miserables’, along with a pair of Tony nominations, Noblezada is getting praise for her take on the complex character around which all of Gatsby revolves. I cannot wait to see her next month.
There’s nothing foolish about this post, as Jeremy Jordan is one of the powerhouse Broadway performers on stage today, and here he earns his crowning as Dazzler of the Day thanks to a career of powerful performances. Many remember him from his star-making turn in ‘Newsies’; my first in-person wonder at his talent came when he originated the main role in ‘Finding Neverland’ at the musical’s Boston try-out (a show that would have possibly fared much better had they not put in a certain someone else for the Broadway shift, but I digress…) Jordan has also been on the big screen in ‘The Last Five Years’, and numerous other theatrical productions such as ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Bonnie & Clyde’. His live performances are the stuff of legend (seek out footage of his key change in Celine Dion’s ‘It’s All Coming Back to Me Now‘ at one gig and marvel at the rightful audacity he has to pull it off and then some). Currently he is starring in ‘The Great Gatsby’ with Eva Noblezada, which my Mom and I will see next month on our Broadway return. If anyone can capture the enigmatic allure of that fantastic fictional creation by setting it to soaring voice, it’s Jeremy Jordan. See more on his official website here.
Marking March Madness with some record-breaking magic, Jared McCain earns his first Dazzler of the Day crowning thanks to a spirited performance this past week as a Blue Devil. Of greater interest, and more potent power, is his confidence in pulling off painted fingernails in the manner of the trailblazer that he is.
With a rising television and entertainment profile, Scott Nevins offers a pretty face backed by a witty take and killer bod that merits this crowning as Dazzler of the Day. Check out his online presence here for further evidence of his brilliance.
A recommendation from Suzie’s household, Son Heung-Min is our Dazzler of the Day, who has wowed football fans the world over for his on-field prowess and leadership for Tottenham Hotspurs. I like that team already. According to Suzie, he’s just pure class, full of sunny attitude, and friendly as fuck. More impressively to me, he was a Calvin Klein ambassador, who will likely be seen here again shortly.
During the first season of ‘Downton Abbey‘ it was Theo James who ignited the most dramatic fall-out following a dalliance with Lady Mary (and unfortunately expiring in her bed). Since then, he’s gone on to make a name for himself, and his body, with head-turning performances in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ and ‘The White Lotus‘. With this, he earns his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day, and these GIFs are more than ample justification for that… and more.
Amelia Dimoldenberg earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to her hilarious web series ‘Chicken Shop Date’, which leaves celebrities feeling as awkward and confused as the rest of us. Her humor has struck such a chord that she helmed the red carpet festivities for the most recent Academy Awards show.
Full-disclosure: ultimately, if you follow my work office chain-of-command, this man is my boss. His name is Basil Seggos and he is the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, a position from which he recently announced he will be stepping down. He easily earns this Dazzler of the Day because his eight-plus years as our Commissioner is, quite literally, a record-breaking run: Seggos has served in this position for longer than anyone else ever has. During that time, he’s had to deal with increasing challenges and complexities as the world grapples with climate change, environmental justice, and the constant intertwining of politics that is part of every state agency. Throughout it all, he’s maintained a focus fixed on the mission of our agency, while keeping an eye and a helpful push toward diversifying our work-force. In the few meetings I’ve had with him, he’s always been open to different ideas and viewpoints. In a recent interview with ‘City & State NY’ he said, “When we hit that point when we’re representative of New York state, we’re gonna be more effective as an agency because people will see themselves in us and want to be part of this agency and ultimately make us better as we do our important work in every community in their state.”
Being a commissioner is a tough balancing act, and there will always be contingents and people who have an issue or critique of how things are handled; Seggos has been open to those criticisms, and even set up open-door office hours where employees were free to discuss whatever they wanted with him. While he’s been coy about what’s next, his love for the state of New York and the mission of environmental conservation will surely play a part in whatever lucky entity ends up utilizing his talents.
