Kelly Clarkson looked slim in a butter yellow leather dress with leopard print pumps her talk show on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old country singer had a slim waist and showed off sculpted arms after his loss 40 pounds.

The star was chatting to Millie Bobby Brown about her latest film Damsel.

The Stranger Things actress looked attractive as she showed off her white bra in a pink suit as she talked about how she’s 20 but feels 30, why she loves her ass and which pop star she’s a big fan of.

‘Today on Kelly! We’re putting @milliebobbybrown’s #Swiftie knowledge to the test and catching up with our friend @karamo PLUS a performance from @ajrbrothers!’ Kelly wrote in her Instagram caption.

“It’s definitely sad to say goodbye,” Brown says of filming the final season of Stranger Things, admitting she’s enjoying every last moment on set.

She also said she was a big fan of Taylor Swift. “I always know exactly where she is!” Millie said. She added that she only flew to Ohio to see the Eras Tour.

Brown then talked about her farm animals.

‘My donkey Bernard is like my best friend!’ Millie said adding that she loves being on a ranch.

And she said she’s grateful to have had so much success at 20, and that these days she feels more like she’s 30.

And in the latest Kellyoke, Clarkson and My Band Y’all perform a cover of Carrying Your Love with Me by George Strait.

Kelly’s career is doing better than ever.

Her latest album Chemistry is a hit and was nominated for a Grammy.

And her talk show earned six wins at the Daytime Emmy Awards, including outstanding daytime talk show and host for Clarkson.

Then there’s the Vegas residency, which has added more shows throughout the winter.

Earlier this year, Kelly revealed what she did to drastically lose weight this summer amid fan speculation that she was on Ozempic.

The pop star said inside her People magazine cover story that she has made two big changes to her lifestyle.

Firstly, the Since U Been Gone singer revealed that she decided to walk everywhere in her new home in New York City, which helped her get the exercise she needed.

Before Manhattan, she lived in Los Angeles, where she drove her car everywhere and limited her daily steps.

Secondly, The Voice star revealed that she decided to listen to her doctor and followed the advice to reduce carbs and put herself on a high-protein diet.

She told the publication that she enjoys strolling around her neighborhood and that taking the steps is great for her waistline.

Clarkson is also bringing along her children River Rose, nine, and son Remington Alexander, seven – father is her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

‘We take the dogs for a walk in the park a few times. We’re going to have ice cream because my daughter is going to exhaust me. We’re going to make slime and go to the museum,” she said.

‘Walking in the city is quite a workout. And I’m really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold dip because everyone was wearing me out,” Kelly added.

And what she puts on her plate is different.

‘I eat a healthy mix. I lost weight because I listened to my doctor – not for a few years,” the talk show host explained.

‘And 90 percent of the time I’m very good at it, because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I’m a Texas girl, so I love meat – sorry, vegetarians in the world!’

She looked much thinner in early fall when she returned to her talk show. The set was now in NYC and not LA. At the time, she said the weight change was due to “healthier choices.”

A SLIM thicc fashionista has revealed she’s found the perfect co-ord set on ASOS – and you can wear it all year round.

Carla Kent, 27, describes herself as “your petite curvy bestie” and regularly delights her 131,000 Instagram followers (@carlakentx) with her groceries.

1

The Glasgow-based make-up artist is happy to help other shoppers find outfits that flatter their figure.

She previously reminded her fellow curvaceous fashionistas that “curvy girls can wear hot pants too.”

And she’s proven it again after buying a £18 pair in a leopard animal print from ASOS.

She paired it with the matching mesh cardigan, priced at £22.

The combination set is available online in sizes XS-L, suitable for sizes 4-18.

Modeling it in a photo, Carla said: “My favorite fit ever.

“Size down for the top, which is a small, and the shorts are a medium.”

Her post quickly earned compliments on social media, with fashion fans loving her look.

“Okay, I need it,” one gushed.

A second wrote: “You are a sweetheart.”

Meanwhile, a third added: “Omg you look amazing! I need it.”

Influencer Carla was back on our TV screens this year when reality show The Agency: Unfiltered returned for a second season on BBC Scotland.

The new series followed again Aquarius CreativeScotland’s largest influencer agency, founders Kirsten Cameron and Amy Moore, and their clients.

In just one year, series one and two of the show have now reached a total of over 1 million streams.

Kirsten said: “We are very humbled by the response to the series. I think its success lies in its ability to share the authentic side of the influencing world. It reveals the reality behind the messages.”

Amy added: “We’re so pleased that the second series has had such an incredible response so far – it means so much to us that audiences are coming out to see it in such huge numbers and resonate with them so much.

“We never expected the series to be such a success, so it’s truly amazing to see both series reach over 1 million streams.”

The first and second seasons of The Agency: Unfiltered can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

PLAYSTATION fans are trying to get their hands on a PS5 bargain as the console drops below £400.

The latest model has been slowly dropping in price since its launch late last year.

1

It comes as Sony recently cut its sales forecast for the PS5, saying it now expects to sell four million fewer consoles in the key twelve-month period to the end of March.

Sony senior vice president Naomi Matsuoka recently said the PS5 will “enter the final stages of its life cycle” as it approaches its fourth anniversary, according to Bloomberg.

And there are also rumors of a PS5 Pro on the horizon.

But for now, there are some sales on the current PS5 Slim edition.

In case you didn't know, the console is 24 percent lighter and 30 percent smaller than the original PS5 released at Christmas 2020.

Bargain hunters have discovered an “amazing” deal via eBay that brings the device to £390.46.

This is for the PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition 1TB.

It's being sold by ShopTo for £419.85, but with the discount code TSBSAVE7 brings the final total down even further.

“I waited for the disc version to get under £400 so finally pulled the trigger,” one customer wrote.

“Finally caved, thanks!” another added.

Some users have complained that the discount code doesn't work for them, so be sure to check.

Missed? More offers from Amazon and Argos

While not quite as cheap, Amazon and Argos also have some PS5 slim deals at the moment.

At Amazon you can get the PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition 1TB for £409.

And at Argos it costs £419.99.

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have changed since then.

Always do your own research before making a purchase.

Has denim ever not been in style? From wide bottom jeans, skinny jeans, mom jeans and more, we've all lived through our fair share of denim eras – we're currently in one era! The difference now is that everything is allowed; you're in fashion no matter what style you choose to rock.

But as I'm sure you know, some jeans are more flattering than others depending on your body type – and it can be tricky to know what to look for. For some people, a high fit suits their figure best, while for others a low fit is miles ahead. And the jeans should not only flatter your unique frame, but also be comfortable.

If you're looking for a flattering new pair that's stretchy, stylish, and easy on the wallet, you'll definitely want to give these jeans a try. They actually are designed to make your legs slimmer! A blend of cotton, polyester and spandex makes them feel like one cloud hug while gently squeezing your gams. Read on for the scoop!

Grab the Lee Classic Relaxed Fit Monroe Straight Leg Jeans for $19 (originally $43) at Amazon! Please note that prices are correct at the date of publication but are subject to change.

These jeans offer a relaxed fit and sit just above your waist, shaping your hips and drawing in the stomach. The straight leg style gives them a wear-with-anything versatility, allowing you to do just that: wear them with anything. The five pockets make it easy to store all your essentials when a day out requires nothing more than a phone, credit card and lip gloss. These jeans are timeless and functional, so you can be sure they will never go out of style!

Plus, black pants are praised for the ease with which they can be dressed up or down, and these are no exception. For a night out, wear these jeans with a tucked-in tank top, jacket, heeled leather strap boots and a chunky belt — slightly edgy, totally chic. In addition to a night out, you probably also wear them when you pick up the kids from school or when you go to lunch with friends. Those days call for these jeans with a cute blouse, white sneakers and your favorite handbag. For a retro, casual look, we love the idea of ​​trousers with a vintage T-shirt and distressed sneakers.

Exactly what these jeans are suitable for every body typeThey also fit any leg length, with a short inseam of 29 inches, a regular length of 31 inches and a long inseam of 33 inches. Although black is extra trendy at the moment, you can get these jeans in olive, beige, light blue and dark blue variants. There really is a pair for everyone! Right now you can get this dreamy denim option for more than half off: run, don't walk!

Grab the Lee Classic Relaxed Fit Monroe Straight Leg Jeans for $19 (originally $43) at Amazon! Please note that prices are correct at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Not what you're looking for? Store other black jeans on Amazon and don't forget to check out Amazon's Daily Deals here!

By Rebekah Absalom

Published: 03:14 EST, February 14, 2024 | Updated: 05:25 EST, February 14, 2024

Best American Roots Song

Allison Russell – The Returner

Billy Strings Featuring Willie Nelson – California Sober

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Cast Iron Skillet – WINNER

The War and Treaty – Blank Page

 

Best American Roots Performance 

Allison Russell – Eve Was Black – WINNER

Blind Boys of Alabama – Heaven Help Us All

Jon Batiste – Butterfly

Madison Cunningham – Inventing the Wheel

Rhiannon Giddens – You Louisiana Man

 

 Best Americana Performance

Allison Russell – The Returner

Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity – WINNER

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma

Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night

 

Best Americana Album

Allison Russell – The Returner

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes – WINNER

Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions

Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One

 

Best Bluegrass Album

Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad

Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ of the Game

Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold – WINNER

Sam Bush – Radio John: Songs of John Hartford

Willie Nelson – Bluegrass

 

Best Traditional Blues Album

Bobby Rush – All My Love for You – WINNER

Eric Bibb – Ridin’

John Primer – Teardrops for Magic Slim Live at Rosa’s Lounge

Mr. Sipp – The Soul Side of Sipp

Tracy Nelson – Life Don’t Miss Nobody

 

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Bettye LaVette – LaVette!

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Live in London

Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony – WINNER

Ruthie Foster – Healing Time

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues

 

Best Folk Album

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) – WINNER

The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee

Paul Simon – Psalms

Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

 

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band – New Beginnings – WINNER (TIE)

Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers – Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra – Live: Orpheum Theater Nola – WINNER (TIE)

New Breed Bass Band – Made in New Orleans

New Orleans Nightcrawlers – Too Much to Hold

The Rumble Feature Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. – Live at the Maple Leaf

 

Best Reggae Album

Buju Banton – Born for Greatness

Beenie Man – Simma

Burning Spear – No Destroyer

Collie Buddz – Cali Roots Riddim 2023

Julian Marley & Antaeus – Colors of Royal – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Performance

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto – WINNER

Burna Boy – Alone

Davido – Feel

Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets

Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores

Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre

 

Best African Music Performance

Asake & Olamide – Amapiano

Ayra Starr – Rush

Burna Boy – City Boys

Davido Featuring Musa Keys – Unavailable

Tyla – Water – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Album

Bokanté – History

Burna Boy – I Told Them…

Davido – Timeless

Shakti – This Moment – WINNER

Susana Baca- Epifanías

 

Best Children’s Music Album

Andrew & Polly – Ahhhhh!

DJ Willy Wow! – Hip Hope for Kids!

Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon – Ancestars

Uncle Jumbo – Taste the Sky

123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs – WINNER

 

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

Meryl Streep – Big Tree

Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times – WINNER

Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Senator Bernie Sanders – It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism

William Shatner – Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder

 

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

Aja Monet – When the Poems Do What They Do

J. Ivy – The Light Inside – WINNER

Kevin Powell – Grocery Shopping With My Mother

Prentice Powell and Shawn William – For Your Consideration ’24

Queen Sheba – A-You’re Not Wrong B-They’re Not Either: The Fukc-It Pill Revisited

 

Best Comedy Album

Chris Rock – Selective Outrage

Dave Chappelle – What’s in a Name? -WINNER

Sarah Silverman – Someone You Love

Trevor Noah – I Wish You Would

Wanda Sykes – I’m An Entertainer

 

Best Musical Theater Album

Kimberly Akimbo

Parade

Shucked

Some Like It Hot – WINNER

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora

Various Artists – Barbie The Album – WINNER

Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By

Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

John Williams – The Fabelmans

John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer – WINNER

Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – Barbie

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök

Jess Serro, Tripod & Austin Wintory – Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Peter Murray, J Scott Rakozy & Chuck E. Myers “Sea” – Hogwarts Legacy

Sarah Schachner – Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare II

Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – WINNER

 

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] – WINNER

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]

Rihanna – Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By)

Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken [From “Barbie the Album”]

 

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – I Remember Mingus

Just 6 – Angels We Have Heard on High

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues – WINNER

Wednesday Addams – Paint It Black

 

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra

Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Metropole Orkest – Com Que Voz (Live)

Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – April in Paris

Säje Featuring Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – WINNER

Samara Joy – Lush Life

 

Best Recording Package

The Arcs – Eletrophonic Chronic

Brad Breeck – Gravity Falls

Caroline Rose – The Art of Forgetting

Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork – WINNER

Ensemble Cadenza 21’ – Cadenza 21’

Leaf Yeh – Migration

 

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Bo Burnham – Inside: Deluxe Box Set

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel

Ngọt – Gieo

Various Artists – For the Birds: The Birdsong Project – WINNER

 

Best Album Notes

Howdy Glenn – I Can Almost See Houston

Iftin Band – Mogadishu’s Finest: The Al Uruba Sessions

John Coltrane – Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy (Live)

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Best Historical Album

Bob Dylan – Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Various Artists – The Moaninest Moan of Them All: The Jazz Saxophone of Loren McMurray, 1920-1922

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Justin Tranter

Shane McAnally

Theron Thomas – WINNER

 

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bokanté – History

Boygenius – The Record

Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You

Feist – Multitudes

Victoria Monét – Jaguar II – WINNER

 

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Daniel Nigro

Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

Hit-Boy

Jack Antonoff – WINNER

Metro Boomin

 

Best Remixed Recording

Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix) – WINNER

Gorillaz Featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)

Lane 8 – Reviver (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)

Mariah Carey – Workin’ Hard (Terry Hunter Remix)

Turnstile & BadBadNotGood Featuring Blood Orange – Alien Love Call

 

Best Immersive Audio Album

Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys – WINNER

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök (Original Soundtrack)

George Strait – Blue Clear Sky

Madison Beer – Silence Between Songs

Ryan Ylyate – Act 3 (Immersive Edition)

 

Best Instrumental Composition

 Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Motion

John Williams – Helena’s Theme – WINNER

Lakecia Benjamin Feuringat Angela Davis – Amerikkan Skin

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

Quartet San Francisco Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Cutey and the Dragon

 

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Castillo & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Fandango

Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Schulhoff: Five Pieces

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, George Lernis & A Far Cry – Sanlikol: A Gentleman of Istanbul – Symphony for Strings, Percussion, Piano, Oud, Ney & Tenor

Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary American Composers – WINNER

Shara Nova & A Far Cry – The Blue Hour

 

Producer of the Year, Classical

Brian Pidgeon

David Frost

Dmitriy Lipay

Elaine Martone – WINNER

Morten Lindberg

 

Best Orchestral Performance

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy

Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante – WINNER

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces

The Philadelphia Orchestra – Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony

San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

 

Best Opera Recording

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Blanchard: Champion – WINNER

Boston Modern Orchestra Project & Odyssey Opera Chorus – Corigliano: The Lord of Cries

The Dime Museum; Isaura String Quartet – Little: Black Lodge

 

Best Choral Performance

The Clarion Choir – Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

The Crossing – Carols After a Plague

Miró Quartet; Conspirare – The House of Belonging

San Francisco Symphony Chorus – Ligeti: Lux Aeterna

Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir – Saariaho: Reconnaissance – WINNER

 

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Anthony McGill & Pacifica Quartet – American Stories

Catalyst Quartet – Uncovered, Vol. 3: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still & George Walker

Roomful of Teeth – Rough Magic – WINNER

Third Coast Percussion – Between Breaths

Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax & Leonidas Kavakos – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6, ‘Pastorale’ and Op. 1, No. 3

 

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Andy Akiho – Akiho: Cylinders

Curtis Stewart – Of Love

Louisville Orchestra – The American Project – WINNER

Robert Black – Adams, John Luther: Darkness and Scattered Light

Seth Parker Woods – Difficult Grace

 

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Reginald Mobley, soloist; Baptiste Trotignon, pianist – Because

Julia Bullock, soloist; Christian Reif, conductor (Philharmonia Orchestra) – Walking in the Dark – WINNER

Karim Sulayman, soloist; Sean Shibe, accompanist – Broken Branches

Laura Strickling, soloist; Daniel Schlosberg, pianist – 40@40

Lawrence Brownlee, soloist; Kevin J. Miller, pianist – Rising

 

Best Classical Compendium

Aaron Diehl & The Knights – Zodiac Suite

Andy Akiho, Omaha Symphony & Ankush Kumar Bahl – Sculptures

Chick Corea & Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna – Sardinia

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers & Gustavo Castillo – Fandango

Peter Herresthal, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan, Arctic Philharmonic & Tim Weiss – Missy Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Various Artists – Passion for Bach and Coltrane – WINNER

Wild Up & Christopher Rountree – Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You’re so Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?

 

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Andy Akiho, Ankush Kumar Bahl & Omaha Symphony – Akiho: In That Space, at That Time

Awadagin Pratt, A Far Cry & Roomful of Teeth – Montgomery: Rounds – WINNER

Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante

Peter Herresthal, James Gaffigan & Bergen Philharmonic – Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Roomful of Teeth – Brittelle: Psychedelics

 

Best American Roots Song

Allison Russell – The Returner

Billy Strings Featuring Willie Nelson – California Sober

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Cast Iron Skillet – WINNER

The War and Treaty – Blank Page

 

Best American Roots Performance 

Allison Russell – Eve Was Black – WINNER

Blind Boys of Alabama – Heaven Help Us All

Jon Batiste – Butterfly

Madison Cunningham – Inventing the Wheel

Rhiannon Giddens – You Louisiana Man

 

 Best Americana Performance

Allison Russell – The Returner

Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity – WINNER

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma

Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night

 

Best Americana Album

Allison Russell – The Returner

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes – WINNER

Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions

Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One

 

Best Bluegrass Album

Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad

Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ of the Game

Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold – WINNER

Sam Bush – Radio John: Songs of John Hartford

Willie Nelson – Bluegrass

 

Best Traditional Blues Album

Bobby Rush – All My Love for You – WINNER

Eric Bibb – Ridin’

John Primer – Teardrops for Magic Slim Live at Rosa’s Lounge

Mr. Sipp – The Soul Side of Sipp

Tracy Nelson – Life Don’t Miss Nobody

 

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Bettye LaVette – LaVette!

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Live in London

Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony – WINNER

Ruthie Foster – Healing Time

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues

 

Best Folk Album

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) – WINNER

The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee

Paul Simon – Psalms

Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

 

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band – New Beginnings – WINNER (TIE)

Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers – Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra – Live: Orpheum Theater Nola – WINNER (TIE)

New Breed Bass Band – Made in New Orleans

New Orleans Nightcrawlers – Too Much to Hold

The Rumble Feature Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. – Live at the Maple Leaf

 

Best Reggae Album

Buju Banton – Born for Greatness

Beenie Man – Simma

Burning Spear – No Destroyer

Collie Buddz – Cali Roots Riddim 2023

Julian Marley & Antaeus – Colors of Royal – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Performance

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto – WINNER

Burna Boy – Alone

Davido – Feel

Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets

Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores

Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre

 

Best African Music Performance

Asake & Olamide – Amapiano

Ayra Starr – Rush

Burna Boy – City Boys

Davido Featuring Musa Keys – Unavailable

Tyla – Water – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Album

Bokanté – History

Burna Boy – I Told Them…

Davido – Timeless

Shakti – This Moment – WINNER

Susana Baca- Epifanías

 

Best Children’s Music Album

Andrew & Polly – Ahhhhh!

DJ Willy Wow! – Hip Hope for Kids!

Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon – Ancestars

Uncle Jumbo – Taste the Sky

123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs – WINNER

 

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

Meryl Streep – Big Tree

Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times – WINNER

Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Senator Bernie Sanders – It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism

William Shatner – Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder

 

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

Aja Monet – When the Poems Do What They Do

J. Ivy – The Light Inside – WINNER

Kevin Powell – Grocery Shopping With My Mother

Prentice Powell and Shawn William – For Your Consideration ’24

Queen Sheba – A-You’re Not Wrong B-They’re Not Either: The Fukc-It Pill Revisited

 

Best Comedy Album

Chris Rock – Selective Outrage

Dave Chappelle – What’s in a Name? -WINNER

Sarah Silverman – Someone You Love

Trevor Noah – I Wish You Would

Wanda Sykes – I’m An Entertainer

 

Best Musical Theater Album

Kimberly Akimbo

Parade

Shucked

Some Like It Hot – WINNER

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora

Various Artists – Barbie The Album – WINNER

Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By

Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

John Williams – The Fabelmans

John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer – WINNER

Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – Barbie

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök

Jess Serro, Tripod & Austin Wintory – Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Peter Murray, J Scott Rakozy & Chuck E. Myers “Sea” – Hogwarts Legacy

Sarah Schachner – Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare II

Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – WINNER

 

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] – WINNER

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]

Rihanna – Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By)

Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken [From “Barbie the Album”]

 

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – I Remember Mingus

Just 6 – Angels We Have Heard on High

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues – WINNER

Wednesday Addams – Paint It Black

 

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra

Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Metropole Orkest – Com Que Voz (Live)

Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – April in Paris

Säje Featuring Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – WINNER

Samara Joy – Lush Life

 

Best Recording Package

The Arcs – Eletrophonic Chronic

Brad Breeck – Gravity Falls

Caroline Rose – The Art of Forgetting

Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork – WINNER

Ensemble Cadenza 21’ – Cadenza 21’

Leaf Yeh – Migration

 

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Bo Burnham – Inside: Deluxe Box Set

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel

Ngọt – Gieo

Various Artists – For the Birds: The Birdsong Project – WINNER

 

Best Album Notes

Howdy Glenn – I Can Almost See Houston

Iftin Band – Mogadishu’s Finest: The Al Uruba Sessions

John Coltrane – Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy (Live)

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Best Historical Album

Bob Dylan – Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Various Artists – The Moaninest Moan of Them All: The Jazz Saxophone of Loren McMurray, 1920-1922

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Justin Tranter

Shane McAnally

Theron Thomas – WINNER

 

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bokanté – History

Boygenius – The Record

Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You

Feist – Multitudes

Victoria Monét – Jaguar II – WINNER

 

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Daniel Nigro

Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

Hit-Boy

Jack Antonoff – WINNER

Metro Boomin

 

Best Remixed Recording

Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix) – WINNER

Gorillaz Featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)

Lane 8 – Reviver (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)

Mariah Carey – Workin’ Hard (Terry Hunter Remix)

Turnstile & BadBadNotGood Featuring Blood Orange – Alien Love Call

 

Best Immersive Audio Album

Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys – WINNER

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök (Original Soundtrack)

George Strait – Blue Clear Sky

Madison Beer – Silence Between Songs

Ryan Ylyate – Act 3 (Immersive Edition)

 

Best Instrumental Composition

 Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Motion

John Williams – Helena’s Theme – WINNER

Lakecia Benjamin Feuringat Angela Davis – Amerikkan Skin

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

Quartet San Francisco Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Cutey and the Dragon

 

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Castillo & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Fandango

Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Schulhoff: Five Pieces

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, George Lernis & A Far Cry – Sanlikol: A Gentleman of Istanbul – Symphony for Strings, Percussion, Piano, Oud, Ney & Tenor

Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary American Composers – WINNER

Shara Nova & A Far Cry – The Blue Hour

 

Producer of the Year, Classical

Brian Pidgeon

David Frost

Dmitriy Lipay

Elaine Martone – WINNER

Morten Lindberg

 

Best Orchestral Performance

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy

Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante – WINNER

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces

The Philadelphia Orchestra – Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony

San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

 

Best Opera Recording

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Blanchard: Champion – WINNER

Boston Modern Orchestra Project & Odyssey Opera Chorus – Corigliano: The Lord of Cries

The Dime Museum; Isaura String Quartet – Little: Black Lodge

 

Best Choral Performance

The Clarion Choir – Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

The Crossing – Carols After a Plague

Miró Quartet; Conspirare – The House of Belonging

San Francisco Symphony Chorus – Ligeti: Lux Aeterna

Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir – Saariaho: Reconnaissance – WINNER

 

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Anthony McGill & Pacifica Quartet – American Stories

Catalyst Quartet – Uncovered, Vol. 3: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still & George Walker

Roomful of Teeth – Rough Magic – WINNER

Third Coast Percussion – Between Breaths

Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax & Leonidas Kavakos – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6, ‘Pastorale’ and Op. 1, No. 3

 

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Andy Akiho – Akiho: Cylinders

Curtis Stewart – Of Love

Louisville Orchestra – The American Project – WINNER

Robert Black – Adams, John Luther: Darkness and Scattered Light

Seth Parker Woods – Difficult Grace

 

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Reginald Mobley, soloist; Baptiste Trotignon, pianist – Because

Julia Bullock, soloist; Christian Reif, conductor (Philharmonia Orchestra) – Walking in the Dark – WINNER

Karim Sulayman, soloist; Sean Shibe, accompanist – Broken Branches

Laura Strickling, soloist; Daniel Schlosberg, pianist – 40@40

Lawrence Brownlee, soloist; Kevin J. Miller, pianist – Rising

 

Best Classical Compendium

Aaron Diehl & The Knights – Zodiac Suite

Andy Akiho, Omaha Symphony & Ankush Kumar Bahl – Sculptures

Chick Corea & Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna – Sardinia

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers & Gustavo Castillo – Fandango

Peter Herresthal, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan, Arctic Philharmonic & Tim Weiss – Missy Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Various Artists – Passion for Bach and Coltrane – WINNER

Wild Up & Christopher Rountree – Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You’re so Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?

 

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Andy Akiho, Ankush Kumar Bahl & Omaha Symphony – Akiho: In That Space, at That Time

Awadagin Pratt, A Far Cry & Roomful of Teeth – Montgomery: Rounds – WINNER

Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante

Peter Herresthal, James Gaffigan & Bergen Philharmonic – Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Roomful of Teeth – Brittelle: Psychedelics

 

Toned arms, nipped-in waist and a flat stomach. When I look in the mirror, I still can’t believe the woman looking back is really me.

Finally, at the age of 52, I am confident enough to buy the figure-hugging, brightly coloured clothes I’ve always dreamed of wearing. As someone who was once a size 28 and weighed 22st, this is a big achievement.

But it hasn’t been a quick fix. It has taken more than 20 years for me to slowly but surely lose 12-and-a-half stone — that’s more than my current weight of 9st 6lb. And having dropped to a size 10, I’ve also endured two operations to remove the resulting loose skin. After all that, you’d think I’d be entitled to enjoy the new me. But it turns out there’s a side-effect to losing so much weight that I hadn’t ­anticipated — the barrage of cutting comments from female friends.

Several have told me: ‘You can’t afford to be too thin at your age!’ Another remarked: ‘Don’t you think that outfit is a bit young for you?’

And suddenly, where previously I was ­considered to be ‘fun’, post-weight loss they made catty digs about how ‘boring’ I am.

An acquaintance at my gym noted: ‘She was a nice girl until she found her ego.’ This came from someone who herself is overweight — a case of sour grapes?

Yes, I was on the receiving end of stares and nasty remarks from strangers when I was at my heaviest, but my friends never breathed a word about my size.

They were always tactful and sensitive — and only too happy to be photographed ­looking comparatively slim next to their larger friend. No one mentioned the very obvious elephant in the room.

Now, however, instead of congratulating me on my hard-won ­transformation, it seems to annoy them. Perhaps the most upsetting example came from a close friend after I’d completed the London Marathon. At our ­running club a couple of days later, instead of praising me for my medal, she looked down at my tummy and gleefully declared that I had the beginnings of a ‘carb belly’.

It really hurt that she would body-shame me at a time like that.

It was in my 40s — when I was finally thinner than the rest of my friendship circle and it was clear I was keeping the weight off for good — that they really started to be catty.

But I’m certainly not the only woman on the receiving end of snide remarks after dramatic weight loss. One friend toned up and lost 2st only to be told by her (now more portly) ­girlfriends that she looked ‘ill’.

Another gym-going acquaintance told me she was flagged down in her car by a ‘concerned’ neighbour who, unprompted, reprimanded her for losing far too much weight.

Meanwhile, another was taken aside by her female boss, who asked if she had a problem with food. Her crime? Showing the girls in the office photos of her on holiday, post-diet, wearing a size 10 bikini.

Can you see a pattern here? A woman works hard to lose weight, begins to enjoy her shapely new figure and that’s when the cattiness starts. Clearly it makes other women feel bad about their own bodies: you can forget the sisterhood when it comes to slimming.

Perhaps the unfortunate truth is that every woman secretly wants at least one friend who is larger, or less attractive, than her as a way of making her feel better about herself. You may not like the way you look, but at least you can tell yourself you’re better than her.

So when said friend revamps their image, causing a potential shift in the pecking order, it causes hackles to be raised. Even those who don’t consider themselves to be at the ‘lower end’ of the spectrum experience some unease when another women within their social or work circle goes through this kind of obvious ‘glow-up’. It poses a risk to the delicate — and unspoken — ­balances of power.

I don’t believe that anyone is fully immune to these sort of feelings, whether you’re a size 6 or a 16. In fact, I’ve known perfectly slim women who felt the need to lose weight when a larger friend started shifting the pounds in order to maintain the ­‘difference’ between them.

For a long time, I was that larger friend. I spent my teens and 20s obese and extremely unhappy. At 11, I was the first among my friends to start my periods and develop boobs, hips and a bit of an hourglass figure.

Suddenly I was a curvy size 12, while they were straight up and down. ­Anxious about the changes to my body, I started to comfort eat — and a vicious circle developed. The more weight I put on, the more I ate.

By 14, I was going to weekly WeightWatchers meetings, but the difficulty of following a restricted-calorie diet triggered yet more binge-eating.

No one else in my family was overweight and Mum cooked everything from scratch. But in secret I was consuming chocolate, biscuits, cakes and sweets.

When I left home to buy a house with my boyfriend at 18, my diet ­worsened. I worked long hours as a hairdresser and breakfast became a ­family-sized bag of chocolate buttons with a full-fat Coke. I’d binge on ­rubbish throughout the day and turn to microwave meals in the evening.

I felt so uncomfortable in my skin that I cloaked myself in baggy clothes from Evans. By 26, I was 5ft 6in and 22st. I went to the GP because my periods had stopped and he bluntly announced my diet was killing me; I wouldn’t live to see 40.

I left in tears, feeling so ashamed.

But it was the push I needed. ­Having failed with extreme diets in the past, I decided to do one thing at a time. First, I started walking for half an hour every evening — and within two weeks I started to feel a bit better.

Next, I switched my sugary drinks to water. After that I swapped chips for jacket potatoes. I didn’t weigh myself, but these gradual lifestyle changes were clearly paying off, because I fell pregnant within a ­couple of months.

After my daughter was born, I walked everywhere with her in her pram. By the time my son was born, a year later, I was down to 15st. Losing weight gave me the confidence to leave my husband, who I’d grown apart from, and we split soon after.

A single mum to two under two, I continued to make positive changes. By then I’d learned to avoid bread — it makes me swell up like a balloon — and had introduced ‘prep Sunday’, meaning I’d batch-cook healthy dishes for the rest of the week.

I joined a gym for the first time and lost a further 3st during my 30s. It was in this decade that I underwent two full-circumference lower body abdominal-plasty procedures to remove excess skin, costing a total of £24,000. The surgeon was surprised when I told him I’d lost more than 13st through sheer grit and determination; I was the only patient he’d treated who hadn’t resorted to ­bariatric surgery.

Once recovered, I ordered my first pencil skirt from Next. Black, tight and extremely figure-hugging, I bought one in a size 16 and one in a 14. Imagine my delight when I slipped easily into the size 14. I twirled around in front of my full-length mirror and did a little victory dance.

Reaction from friends was pretty mixed. There was the occasional, ‘looking good, Sarah-Jane!’ but that was as positive as it got.

One said to me, patronisingly: ‘We’ve never talked about your weight and how big you are, have we?’

One friend who had always been taller and slimmer than me sat me down and bluntly terminated our friendship when I reached the same size as her. She told me we had ­nothing in common any more. The irony was we could now have passed for sisters we looked so alike.

At 40, I was 12st and a size 14 but I didn’t stop there. I joined a ten-week beginners running course. At first I was petrified, but I fell in love with exercising outside — and my weight continued to diminish. In fact, I was now the slimmest in the group.

Yet unlike before, now every time I saw my friends, I came away feeling drained. They’d say, ‘promise me you won’t lose any more weight’, or ‘we’re all very concerned about you, Sarah-Jane’. Underneath the statement there was no concern and certainly no ­compassion. The comments never came from a place of love.

The slimmer I got, the louder and more frequent the comments became. On one occasion, I wore a tasteful body-con dress from River Island for a birthday night out and a friend said: ‘Don’t you think that outfit is a bit young for you?’ I was stunned into silence; it was hardly a skimpy Love Island number.

Another time, I was invited to a girlfriend’s family party in Cornwall and she told me: ‘You won’t be able to dress like you do these days. You’ll have to tone it down a bit.’

I was also referred to as ‘a bit extra’ — meaning over-the-top — just for exploring my new sense of style, enjoying the clothes that for decades I’d never felt comfortable to wear.

There have been times I’ve felt ­triggered to comfort eat due to their negativity. But I have good coping mechanisms in place; most importantly, I don’t have sugary foods in the house. And I try to focus on the fact the problem is with them, not me.

But that’s not to say I haven’t faced huge challenges to my resolve. Tragedy struck in 2020 when my younger sister Ceri died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 40. It would have been easy to turn to food for comfort, but I had a firm word with myself.

Ceri had two sons and everything to live for; I promised myself I would cherish my own life because she couldn’t. It made me focus on my health even more.

I used my regular runs to raise money for pancreatic charities. And I stopped drinking altogether because I noticed alcohol had started to make me feel depressed.

This tweak to my lifestyle didn’t go down well with my friends either and I’d get called ‘boring’.

Equally, when I had the healthy option on a menu, I was accused of pushing ‘lettuce leaves’ around the plate. This felt unfair, as they knew only too well that unhealthy eating could trigger my binge-eating again. I believe their sly digs were their way of getting me to eat more.

In fact, on some occasions when I was trying to lose weight, friends would buy me chocolates. I always put them straight in the bin, but would they give wine to an alcoholic?

I often found myself bursting into tears at home after a night out with them and eventually I confided in one new friend I’d made at my running club.

She said I didn’t have to put up with those comments and I needed to find a different ‘tribe’. It was a real eye-opener. Three years ago, at 49, I started seeing a mindset coach. She helped me get to grips with setting ‘boundaries’ and realising that I’d been a people-pleaser for too long. I decided to cut off those who made me feel bad about myself.

There was no dramatic showdown; I just stopped calling them. I grieved over the loss of some of the women, but they were too toxic for me to take into the next part of my life.

Shortly afterwards, I met my now fiancé Paul, 52, who works for the Ministry of Defence. My children, now 26 and 24, never comment on my size — I’m just ‘Mum’ to them — and my confidence is steadily growing.

It’s taken until now for me to admit that I do look good. I feel great and am finally happy with how I look.

And I no longer suffer fools. If someone says something like, ‘I do hope you’re eating tonight’, I’ll take them to task, asking if they meant to hurt my feelings. They often become defensive.

Today, I run a Facebook group with 1,300 members for those ­battling to lose weight. I aim to be that straight-talking friend I wish I’d had championing me on my weight-loss journey.

After all, I know what works — and that there are no cutting corners. These days, I weigh myself four times a year; I don’t fall into the trap of doing it daily in case a small weight gain ­triggers me to binge-eat.

Instead, I have a pair of tell-tale size 10 non-stretchy jeans to slip into and they are far more revealing than the scales.

Meanwhile, I point out to my members that, sadly, some friends will never do you any favours when you are trying to become the best version of yourself.

Today my social circle only includes those who’ve only ever known the size 10 Sarah-Jane.

I’m sure those former ‘friends’ would prefer the badly dressed, obese, people-pleaser back in their lives — if only to make themselves feel better. But that’s never going to happen.

As told to Samantha Brick.

This week I read about American couples who enter into a relationship contract.

Instead of mundane questions like 'do you want kids?', these contracts – available online – cover everything from weight gain to sex.

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I've been married and in a long-term relationship, and when I look back on a contract that spells out what each of us is willing to tolerate or clarifies our desires or long-term goals, that would have been a very sensible thing to do.

Doing this from the beginning forces couples to address potential issues early before they become thoroughly embedded in the relationship.

It may sound callous and bureaucratic, but determining who should take out the trash, whether you can share towels, or how long you're willing to go without having sex can help avoid conflict further down the line.

I'm currently single, but if I were to get into a new relationship, these would be my 15 most non-negotiable clauses.

KEEP TRIMTING TOGETHER

HAVING a clause about weight should be a completely mutual agreement.

Yes, I've gained weight in the past, but I've always done my best to shed the pounds and be as fit and healthy as possible – and my partner should do the same.

I would expect my partner to kindly tell me if I had gained too much weight, and promise to exercise and eat healthy together.

This rule should be applied to both parties in the relationship.

Ultimately, we both want to continue to like each other.

HAPPY WOMAN HAPPY LIFE

I've always enjoyed feeling comfortable in a relationship – who doesn't?

I don't want to say that my partner should “surprise” me, because that defeats the point.

But regular romantic gestures mean something to me, whether it's my partner saying, “I'll cook for us tonight, you put your feet up,” or “I'll take us on a weekend away soon.”

Whatever it takes to make me happy in a relationship, do it, and I will return the gesture.

MARK A MID-LIFE CRISIS

It is imperative that partners warn each other if we see a midlife crisis coming, and we must guarantee or promise to discuss it calmly.

You can't just come home with a mullet on a new Harley-Davidson.

Makeup sex is a must

WHEN we go to bed angry, make-up sex is a must.

If we've had a bad argument and feel like we just can't get over it, we need to reconcile in the way that best suits each other's imagination.

Sex is a very good thing, unless you have a cold.

We also don't have to schedule it or plan different positions for a specific week, but there is something to be said for not letting it come to a complete boil.

The longer you don't have it, the less you want it.

We need to have an idea of ​​how long we don't want to be without it and I wouldn't let it go to two weeks.

SAY 'I like you'

IT is important to make sure that you both still desire each other; that's why we're together after all.

If that box is checked, it means we want to rip off each other's clothes, which in turn will keep us sexually active.

But we need to make sure we remind each other that we find the other person attractive and cherish that sexual attraction.

It needs to be nourished and nourished with regular sex.

We need to gently remind each other that we are still sexy, sexual, flirty, adventurous, romantic, tender, and whatever else we need to be in order to continue deceiving each other.

NO FLIRTING

OPENLY flirting with others is off limits.

It's not enticing or attractive and it doesn't keep me on my toes.

Whether I'm there or not, making a cheeky joke with another woman – which would obviously make me feel uncomfortable – is not okay.

If it makes me feel vulnerable, terrible, or insecure, that's a no-go.

You should make me feel like I'm the most important woman in the room, not anyone else.

If you decide to have a lengthy conversation with the waitress, asking where they are from and how long they have worked there,

I just sat there thinking, “God, bring me some soup.”

It's terribly rude, and why on earth would you need to know that information?

However, being polite to my mother, sisters and best friends is extremely important.

MONEY TALKING

FINANCES must be transparent.

I always need to know whether my partner has taken out a loan or received a bonus.

It means that we both achieve our goals for the future together.

If I try to be responsible by not acting like a self-sabotaging idiot with my money or overdrafts, but the other person doesn't, then we are not in a healthy financial situation as a couple.

Financial transparency is necessary so that all decisions are made based on sound facts and trust, and not on ignorance.

The responsibility for negotiating or getting a good deal on the mortgage should be shared.

And I wouldn't want to be treated like a child financially, with the man in charge of the money.

A SECRET CODE IS A MUST

Having a secret hand signal or facial movement is essential.

When one of us identifies this behavior, the other must acknowledge and understand “it's time to leave and go home now.”

Examples of this could be: 'I'm bored and tired' or 'I never want to see this person again as long as I live'.

It's important that we have things we can say to each other that we can't say to anyone else.

BE A GOOD SPORTSMAN

WE both need to be honest about our love for sports at the beginning of the relationship.

Every weekend of mine shouldn't be taken up with a football match, and that doesn't mean the guy is at an away game every other weekend too.

Yes, that's fine every now and then, but don't be a pedantic child about it.

You can be a big fan of something, but that doesn't mean you have to go to every game.

It's not the end of the world if you miss a football match.

WEEKLY DATE NIGHTS

ONE night out together a week is desirable, but we don't have to call it 'date night' as that puts enormous strain on the relationship.

It also doesn't mean we have to go buy an outfit or get our hair done.

But going out together and doing something we both enjoy is great.

For example, go out for dinner, watch a movie, go bowling or even meet up with friends.

We need to remember why we are together and why we love each other.

It's a good chance to talk about something that isn't about the kids, family life, or work.

CLIMB THE CAREER LADDER

Nowadays, I think anyone who lays out their career ambitions and assumes their life will follow naturally must be insane.

There is no such thing as a job for life anymore; you may be doing all kinds of things.

But one of my clauses would be that my partner – and myself – must continue to contribute to our shared life in every way possible.

PACK ON THE PDA

I would DEFINITELY not be with someone who says, “I won't hold your hand as we cross the street,” or “I won't kiss you in public.”

I'm not telling you to strip naked and get down with me in public.

But walking with your arms around my waist, holding my hand, or giving me a kiss because you feel like it makes me feel good about myself.

So why not?

Politeness IS THE KEY

GOOD manners are important, even at home when no one can even see or hear us.

So when one of us walks into a room in the house, the other should smile, look up and be happy to see him.

When I walk into the room, I don't want my partner to continue reading the newspaper or looking at his phone without acknowledging my existence.

Pause the TV and say “Hi” politely.

Be attentive.

Give me a kiss when I get home, and don't forget to wish me a nice day.

I will do the same for you too.

NO SEXTING, EVER

SEXTING or sending nudes to other people is not okay, and that also means dealing with it appropriately if someone randomly sends one to you.

If someone sends you a text that you think you shouldn't show to me, then you know it's not right.

Yes, it's flattering, and yes, it's “only” virtual because you're not fondling their tits in person, but it's still not okay.

Ignore and block, or reply with, “I'm not ready for this.”

There is a difference between jest and deceit; don't confuse these two.

As soon as you cheat, even if it's just a virtual affair, trust is gone.

LIMIT PHUBBLING

LEARN phone etiquette.

Instead of planning a date night, it's much more important to limit the phone fetish.

When we watch TV together, I would expect my significant other to put the phone away.

How are we supposed to laugh together at comedies if you're not paying attention?

If you use a separate device you are doing something different and I don't know what it is.

That is not true.

It's like being the outsider in a group while others laugh.

Transgender WWE star Gabbi Tuft has opened up about her 'frustrating' struggle to lose muscle mass to help her achieve a more 'feminine' body.

San Francisco native Gabbi, 45, made the transition three years ago from her longtime professional wrestling career as feared gladiator Tyler Reks.

During the height of her fighting career, the athlete weighed 280 pounds and had only six to eight percent body fat. However, since menopause, Gabbi has lost 50 pounds and put on weight, giving her the body she wanted.

But achieving the feminine body of her dreams was certainly not easy.

Now the former wrestling star has lifted the lid on the “extremely difficult” battle to lose muscle mass while staying slim, which has pushed her to new mental and physical heights.

Speak with Business insiderthe 45-year-old revealed how she had to change her mindset to help her body evolve.

The WWE icon said: 'Since there were no reliable guidelines on how to lose muscle mass as a trans person, I had to figure this out for myself. In the end I succeeded, but it was not an easy journey.'

She noted that at the beginning of her journey, she contacted every fitness coach she knew and asked for their advice on how to lose both weight and muscle mass.

However, they advised her to only lift smaller weights, which made her lean but didn't cause her to lose any of her muscle mass.

After trying several methods and failing, Gabi became “frustrated” and decided to take matters into her own hands by studying muscle atrophy.

Her research focused on how transgender women could change their body shape.

She noticed that a light bulb went off when she learned that patients who rested completely in bed lost more muscle mass than those who just got up to go to the bathroom.

So she used this idea to stop resistance training altogether, hoping that muscle atrophy would occur.

Even though the athlete wanted to lose muscle, she still wanted to stay slim, so she took up bodyweight workouts to keep her lower body toned.

“While this was a good start, my body really started to transform when I discovered a way to force my body to use muscle as an energy source,” she told the outlet.

The WWE star noted that when she started forcing her body to use muscle for fuel, she started seeing results.

She told Business Insider, “I necessary to deprive my body of all other fuel sources to burn muscle mass.'

The athlete focused on transitioning to her own version of a keto diet that included only protein and healthy fats.

She explained that this helped her body convert muscle into glucose, instead of carbohydrates and sugars.

Gabbi started intermittent fasting and followed a strict exercise regimen that included intense amounts of cardio.

And soon the 45-year-old started seeing the feminine body she had always wanted.

She told the outlet, “The muscle mass started peeling away quickly when I started taking this approach. It was incredible to see.”

At the beginning of her journey, she wore pants size 14 to 16.

After losing her muscle, she is now a size 10 and wears a size large or medium in tops.

And while it was difficult to find the right exercise balance to keep her toned and lose muscle mass, she noted that it was even harder to teach herself to be happy in her new body.

The athlete revealed that she had to “let go” so she could “embody the female form.”

She noticed that when obstacles stood in her way, she focused on why she wanted to achieve her goals, her “why.”

Her professional wrestling career lasted from 2008 to 2012, with appearances on Smackdown, Raw and Wrestlemania.

As a professional WWE wrestler, she had built up a tremendous amount of muscle mass. Specifically, her 6-foot-4 frame weighed 280 pounds, with only six percent body fat.

She said: “At my peak, I looked like a cross between Ragnar Lothbrok from 'Vikings' and The Mountain from 'Game of Thrones.'” which led to a series of less common obstacles during the transition.

After retiring, she founded a fitness company called Body Spartan with now ex-wife Priscilla, which focuses on “positively transforming the body, mind and spirit of men and women through targeted video workouts, nutrition programs and motivational sessions.”

But in 2021, she made headlines with her transition from male to female.

She previously admitted that when she was younger, she would dress up in her mother's clothes when left alone.

But it wasn't until the pandemic that she had time to fully rethink her identity — and that's why she started dressing up.

After years of flooding her body with testosterone, she decided to switch in her early 40s.

Although hormone therapy promoted the change, she claimed she had made herself a “guinea pig” to eliminate the amount of muscle mass Gabbi had.

According to Gabbi, it took her two years to find an exercise and diet routine that helped her get and keep her desired body.