Vanity Fair

Ina Garten's new memoir is a testament to the power of resilience, delivered in the down-to-earth, amusing tone fans will surely recognize. For Garten acolytes, the most shocking revelation of the memoir will likely be that 10 years into her marriage, she seriously considered divorce. “It wasn’t having it all, it was doing it all,” she writes of early wifedom, when after a day at the office she’d return home to cook dinner and do laundry. During her first summer running Barefoot Contessa, she realized the traditional roles she and Jeffrey were trying to fit into didn’t work—already, she identified more as a businesswoman than a wife—and requested a separation, which eventually ended in a reconsideration of their marriage, a reconciliation, and decades of togetherness to come. In conversation with VF's Keziah Weir, the Barefoot Contessa opens up about marriage, her number one tip for a great dinner party, and the process of writing her new memoir, ‘Be Ready When the Luck Happens.’ Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eswkm3iE

"As Rudy Giuliani’s daughter, I’m unfortunately well-suited to remind Americans of just how calamitous being associated with Trump can be, even for those who are convinced he’s on their side. Watching my dad’s life crumble since he joined forces with Trump has been extraordinarily painful, both on a personal level and because his demise feels linked to a dark force that threatens to once again consume America." In a special essay for VF, Caroline Giuliani reflects on how the ex-president has impacted her relationship with her father, and compelled her to support Kamala Harris. Read here: https://lnkd.in/e5i4Kjcg

Having lived most of her life in the spotlight, Ariana Grande is used to the unpredictable twists of fame. Grande starred in Nickelodeon’s ‘Victorious’ and ‘Sam & Cat,’ and hit the music scene as a fresh-faced, golden-voiced revelation with hits like “Problem,” “Break Free,” and “Bang Bang.” After seven studio albums, all those hits, and several world tours, she’s one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. “The back-and-forth throughout the course of my career has been really hard to navigate mentally,” she tells VF. “I was this approachable, funny redhead on Nickelodeon and everyone liked me. And then I had one too many hit records, and everyone decided that I was an evil diva. And then other terrible things happened, and all of a sudden I was this hero and this victim.” Looking back, the Grammy winner says there should be more guardrails in place for young stars. “If you’re going to sign to a major label and your life’s going to change the way that mine did, there should be therapy in the contract…. Nothing can really prepare you for what comes with this amount of visibility.” In VF’s November cover story, the pop superstar discusses not letting tabloids “ruin my life,” her determination to play Glinda in ‘Wicked,’ and the public’s criticism of her perceived vocal change after playing the role. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

Elphaba in ‘Wicked’ was the role of a lifetime for Cynthia Erivo, but there were plenty of hard days on set. The Ozdust Ballroom sequence, where Glinda gives Elphaba a “hideodeous” black hat that makes her the laughingstock of Shiz University, was particularly tough for Erivo. The film dives deeper into Elphaba’s humiliation, and Erivo’s performance is heart-wrenching. “It’s just not a fun thing—if you are doing it as truthfully as possible—to have to do over and over again,” she tells Chris Murphy. “I had a big old breakdown.” Erivo notes that her bond with costar Ariana Grande helped them navigate challenging moments: “There are days when she’s gonna need space, and there are days when I’m gonna need space. But because we love each other very dearly, it’s okay.” Read VF’s full November cover story: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

No rest for the ‘Wicked.’ In VF’s November cover story, ‘Wicked’ stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande discuss love, defying rumors, and flying high. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

Ariana Grande knew she was meant to play Glinda in ‘Wicked.’ “She auditioned many times,” says director Jon M. Chu. Time and again, the Grammy winner proved her worth: “Every time she came in, she was the most interesting person.” Grande, who launched her career on Broadway, is especially proud of her performance in the film—including her vocal transformation. “I am really proud of my hard work and of the fact that I did give 100 percent of myself, including my physicality, to this role,” she tells Chris Murphy. “I am proud of that, so I wanted to protect it.” In her joint VF cover story, the Grammy winner discusses love, the “hard work” she’s done to heal her relationship to fame, and teases a “trippy” new music video. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

Before clinching the role of Elphaba in ‘Wicked,’ Cynthia Erivo thought she’d be watching the film instead of starring in it. “I was like, I don’t think this is going to happen, but I love the idea of watching this musical,” Erivo tells Chris Murphy. Until she booked an audition, she tried to shut out any intel about the vetting process. “I kept telling my team, ‘Do not give me any information. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know who’s gone in. I don’t want to know what people are being asked to do. I don’t want to know anything about it.’” And when she finally got in the room? “She embodied this version of Elphaba that I had never seen,” director Jon M. Chu tells VF. In VF’s latest cover story, the Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winner discusses why she’s “very tight-lipped” about her love life, finding Elphaba’s signature green shade, and how the iconic character brought her closer to herself. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

Presenting our November cover stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. As Elphaba and Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s ‘Wicked,’ it’s clear Erivo and Grande are epically talented—and utterly different—stars. But, as they tell VF’s Chris Murphy, it’s their off-screen bond that gives the film its beating heart. “We both really took the time to get to know the other person and where we’ve been,” Grande says. “What our little wounds are. What our little things are.” Erivo confirms this, telling VF, “We needed real connection, and we needed to lead this with love.” In their VF cover story, Erivo and Grande open up about fame, what they’ve learned from each other, and defying gravity—and expectations. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/eT-68RNN

Whether it’s Frank Sinatra making “High Hopes” the anthem of John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign or Charli XCX declaring that “kamala IS brat,” the celebrity endorsement is a staple of modern political theater. Not every celeb loves to declare, however. Pharrell Williams, who has said he’d rather the famous keep quiet on politics, is not alone: The likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Patrick Mahomes are keeping their ballot choices close to the vest as well. But by and large, the 2024 election has been an endorsement bonanza. See VF's running list of the celebrities who are letting the public know who gets their vote: https://lnkd.in/eXWfXMNi

Princess Diana “ripped the corset out” of her Dior gown before her sole Met Gala appearance in 1993. Designer John Galliano, who says Diana was his very first couture client at Dior, recalls dressing the royal for the event—and the final look that hit the carpet: “I just remember her getting out of the car. I couldn’t believe it. She’d ripped the corset out. She didn’t want to wear the corset.” Read more about the iconic look: https://lnkd.in/dS-5M7qY Photo: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News/Getty Images.