NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Lionel Richie to launch Las Vegas residency

NEW YORK

Lionel Richie is ready to go all night long in Las Vegas.

The singer announced Wednesday that he will launch a residency called “Lionel Richie – All the Hits” on April 27 at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Richie will play 20 shows in April, May, September and October. Tickets, which go on sale Friday, range from $59 to $199, not including service charges.

In addition to the residency, 66-year-old Richie will be honored by The Recording Academy next year as its MusiCares person of the year at a Feb. 13 gala.

Whitaker joins ‘Roots’ remake cast

LOS ANGELES

Forest Whitaker and Anika Noni Rose are joining the cast of A&E Networks’ “Roots” miniseries remake.

Others in the cast will include Anna Paquin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and newcomer Malachi Kirby as the central figure Kunta Kinte, A&E said Wednesday.

The network previously had announced that Laurence Fishburne will play writer Alex Haley, whose novel about his African-American ancestry was the basis of the original 1977 miniseries.

No air date has been announced for the “Roots” remake, which will debut on the History, A&E and Lifetime channels.

Associated Press