• Grumpy Cat, whose sourpuss expression entertained millions on the Internet, national television commercials and even a movie, has died at age 7. Her owners posted on social media that she experienced complications from a urinary tract infection. "She passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, May 14, at home in the arms of her mommy, Tabatha," they wrote. "Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world -- even when times were tough," her owners said, adding they were "unimaginably heartbroken over the loss." "Some days are grumpier than others," they tweeted. Owner Tabatha Bundesen of Morristown, Ariz., founded Grumpy Cat Ltd. and created a website with an online shop featuring items such as T-shirts and mugs with the cat's picture. The cat's real name was Tardar Sauce and the owners were never sure what her breed was. Her website said her grumpy look was likely because she had a form of feline dwarfism. They said she was cuddly and loved to be held and rubbed. She rose to fame after her photos were posted on Reddit in 2012. When it was suggested the photo was a fake, her owners posted a few videos to prove otherwise. Since then, Grumpy Cat made appearances on Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, even American Idol and The Bachelorette. She had done television commercials and took photos with fans at South by Southwest. Grumpy Cat eventually garnered more than 8 million followers on Facebook, 2.5 million on Instagram and more than 1.5 million on Twitter. See video of Grumpy Cat at arkansasonline.com/518grumpy.
• A benefit gala honoring Linda Perry will include a performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick and appearances from Oscar-nominated actress Juliette Lewis and Perry's wife, Sara Gilbert. "Linda Perry & Friends: A Night at the Grammy Museum" will take place June 29 in Los Angeles at The Novo at L.A. Live. "Music education should not be a luxury and with the help of these visionaries and this community, we hope to play a small part of sparking creativity and inspiring future songwriters, producers, and musicians," Perry said in a statement. Perry, 54, is one of the most successful songwriters and producers in the music industry. She broke onto the scene in the early 1990s with the rock band 4 Non Blondes and went on to craft hits for Christina Aguilera, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys and others. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. Proceeds from the gala will assist the Grammy Museum Foundation.
A Section on 05/18/2019