Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dies at 79

Actress Diane Keaton arrives to the world premiere of Twentieth Century Fox's film "The Family Stone" at the Mann Village Theater, Dec. 6, 2005, in Westwood, Calif. Photo: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, FILE

By Megan Forrester and Bethany Braun-Silva

Diane Keaton, the legendary actress known for her Oscar-winning role in "Annie Hall" and iconic performances in "The Godfather" and "The First Wives Club," has died at age 79.

Keaton's death was confirmed by Dori Rath, a producer who worked with her.

No other information about a cause of death was immediately available. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical call to Keaton's Brentwood home at 8:08 a.m. local time on Saturday and took a patient to the hospital.

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s with her role as Kay Adams in "The Godfather" films and her acclaimed collaborations with director Woody Allen, including "Play It Again, Sam," "Sleeper" and "Annie Hall," the latter of which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978.

Known for her offbeat humor and timeless fashion sense, she went on to star in a string of hits spanning generations, from "Baby Boom" and "Father of the Bride" to "The First Wives Club," "Something's Gotta Give" and the "Book Club" franchise.

Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, Keaton was the oldest of four children. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York before making her Broadway debut in "Hair." Beyond acting, Keaton was a director, producer, photographer and bestselling author.

In 2020, Keaton sat down with ABC News' Juju Chang in an interview that aired on “Good Morning America,” where she revealed details of her complicated relationship with her brother, Randy, and his struggles with mental illness and alcohol.

"When I look back on Randy, I just think wow -- I wish I could've been a better sister," Keaton told ABC News.

In another ABC News interview in 2022, Keaton said she had been "very fortunate to have many opportunities that came my way" and when asked what she would tell her 30-year-old self, she replied she "wouldn't do it."

"What made my life interesting was I had freedom. You know, that I had the opportunity to make my choices with time as it went on," Keaton told ABC News' Will Reeve back in 2022.

Reactions to Keaton's death poured in from celebrities, including her "Father of the Bride" co-star Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who said working with Keaton was "one of the highlights of my life."

Richard Dreyfuss and Diane Keaton pose with their Oscars at the 50th Annual Academy Awards, on April 3, 1978.
Photo: ABC photo Archives / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

"You are one of a kind, and it was thrilling to be in your orbit for a time. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter," Williams-Paisley wrote in an Instagram post honoring Keaton.

Actress Mary Steenburgen described Keaton as "magic."

"There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. My love to her family. What a wonder she was!!!" Steenburgen wrote in a statement.

Keaton is survived by her two children, Dexter, 29, and Duke, 25. She last posted to her public Instagram on April 11, sharing a photo with her beloved Golden Retriever, Reggie.

First published at ABC News, October 12, 2025

Dinner on stage as part of The Dame Edna Show!

By Tony Magee

In the late 1990’s / early 2000’s my friend Lisa McClelland and I went to see Dame Edna Everage at the Canberra Theatre.

Well into the show, she asked who was going out for dinner after the show. Lots of people raised their hands, including me.

She picked me out and asked where we going. 

“We haven’t completely decided yet”

“What’s you name?”

“Tony.”

“And who’s that next to you”

“My friend Lisa”

“Tony and Lisa!”

“You look hungry right now!”

And so a phone was brought on stage and she called up Tossellinis and asked that dinner for two be delivered to the stage door in 20 minutes.

And sure enough, 20 minutes later, dinner arrived! A table with cloth, candle and two chairs was put in place and she motioned to Lisa and I to make our way onto the stage and eat dinner!

We complied and enjoyed ourselves. 

The audience thought the whole thing was hilarious!

This photo was taken as a memento.

Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation Acquires Naming Rights for New Zealand's Singing Competition

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs with the Russian National Orchestra directed by Vladimir Spivakov in 2004.
Photo: Dennis Sinkakov / AFP/Getty Images

From 2026, the competition will be known as the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest

The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation has announced that it is the new Principal Naming Rights Partner of New Zealand's foremost singing competition.

Previously known as the Lexus Song Quest and the Mobil Song Quest, the competition will be known as the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest from 2026.

The announcement represents a natural next step in the Foundation's relationship with the Song Quest, as the two organizations have been working in partnership for the last decade.

The Song Quest has been running for the last 69 years, and is widely regarded as an international launchpad for New Zealand's best young singers, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa herself, who won the competition in 1965.

Other past winners of the contest have included Christopher Doig, Malvina Major, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Jonathan Lemalu, Madeleine Pierard, and Anna Leese.

Entries for the 2026 edition of the Song Quest open in December 2025, the semi-finalists will be announced in April 2026, and the Grand Final Gala will take place on Saturday July 11, 2026.

"This is a huge and exciting personal honor," Dame Kiri te Kanawa said. "The Song Quest is a New Zealand icon. It’s a great and venerable institution which over the years has been the catalyst and launch-pad for so many outstanding careers – including my own."

"My Foundation is now taking the leading role in sustaining the Song Quest into the future which is a practical way of ensuring that the opportunity I was given all those years ago will continue to be available to the cream of our young singers."

"My Foundation supports young New Zealand classical singers with exceptional potential. With its invaluable and prestigious on-stage experience and support for our country’s finest young singers, the Song Quest has always been a perfect fit for the Foundation’s work."

First published at The Violin Channel, October 7, 2025

Egypt reopens Amenhotep III’s tomb after 20 years

The reopened tomb, first discovered around 1799, contains ancient Pharaonic drawings. (EPA PHOTO)

By Ahmed Hatem & Samy Magdy in Luxor

Egypt has reopened a tomb of a pharaoh for visitors after more than two decades of renovation in the southern city of Luxor, as it prepares for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The huge tomb of Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt between 1390 B.C. and 1350 BC, is located on the western side of the famed Valley of the Kings.

It was found in 1799 by two people and its contents were looted, including the sarcophagus, Egyptian antiquities authorities said.

It has been under a Japanese-led, three-phased restoration project for the past two decades, including renovating paintings of the pharaoh and his wife on the tomb walls, said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

“It’s a very fascinating tomb,” he told The Associated Press at the scene, adding that it includes a frame of the stolen sarcophagus box, with the lid in place where it would have been.

The tomb starts with a 36-metre-long, 14-metre-deep, downward-sloping passageway beneath the Valley of the Kings.

It includes a main burial chamber for the king, and two other chambers for his wives, Tiye and Sitamun.

Unlike other ancient tombs in the valley, the tomb is not fully decorated, Ismail said.

Its paintings show Amenhotep III with a group of ancient Egyptian gods, and the burial chamber contains inscriptions of scenes from the Book of Dead, which is a collection of spells aimed at directing the dead through the underworld in ancient Egypt.

The mummy of Amenhotep III was moved by ancient priests to the tomb of his grandfather, Amenhotep II, also in the Valley of the Kings, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.

The severely damaged mummy is showcased at the museum along with 16 other mummies of 17 kings and queens of ancient Egypt.

Amenhotep III was one of the most prominent pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, which ruled between 1550 BC and 1292 BC Known as Amenhotep the Great, he ascended the throne as a teenager and ruled for up to 38 years, according to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation.

The tomb’s reopening came less than a month before the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids.

The museum is scheduled to open on November 1.

The re-openings are part of Egypt’s efforts to attract more foreign visitors to revive the tourism sector, a major source of foreign currency.

Tourism, which depends heavily on Egypt’s rich pharaonic artefacts, suffered a long downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed a 2011 uprising.

First published at Canberra City News, October 5, 2025

Aussie battler celebrates life as nation’s oldest man

Aged 112, Ken Weeks is Australia’s oldest living man and the oldest on record. Photo: supplied

By Allanah Sciberras

Through five global pandemics and two World Wars, Ken Weeks has lived all 112 years of his remarkable life to the fullest.

Described by his family as a true Aussie battler, Mr Weeks is not only the country’s oldest living person but also the oldest Australian man on record.

The supercentenarian celebrated the milestone with a heartwarming birthday party surrounded by family, friends and community members.

Born on October 5, 1913, in Grafton on the NSW north coast, Mr Weeks has witnessed a century of change and is proudly going strong.

His granddaughter Eunice says her beloved grandfather is an inspiration.

“My grandpa’s life reflects the Aussie battle – his determination, ingenuity and hope are inspirational,” she said.

“He has a sustaining faith in God. We love him and are happy to be his family.”

Mr Weeks has lived a busy life, trying his hand at many professions and even applying for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

From road construction to truck driving and co-owning a car dealership, his hard-working spirit has shone throughout his life.

He lived independently in the same home for 65 years before moving into care at Whiddon Grafton just before his 105th birthday.

“Today, at 112, he stands as Australia’s oldest living person,” Whiddon chief executive Chris Mamarelis said.

“It’s an honour to celebrate this moment with him and to have him as a cherished member of our community.”

Being active has always been important to Mr Weeks, who was still walking into town for shopping after turning 100.

He later adopted a tricycle to maintain his independence and now finds himself walking around his residential care facility, staying connected and aware of everything happening in his home.

Surrounded by loved ones and gifts, Mr Weeks was seen smiling during his early birthday celebration.

He will also be presented with a special gift and a plaque by Whiddon to recognise his record-breaking longevity.

Published at Canberra City News, via Australian Associated Press, October 5, 2025

How the Tallis Scholars opened the world of sacred choral music to new audiences

The Tallis Scholars tackle secret masses and choral extravaganzas with just the sound of their voices. 
(Supplied: Sydney Opera House / Tallis Scholars)

Once upon a time, you could only hear choirs singing angelic music with no instruments in churches. 

It was only relatively recently that groups like The Tallis Scholars started bringing this music into concert halls.

The music is reverential, but the experience isn't exclusively religious.

With just a small number of singers, they perform incredibly intricate music with no help from any accompanying instruments to keep them in tune. 

This style of singing is called a cappella.

"They're probably the most iconic vocal ensemble across the world with one of the most extensive recording catalogues," says soprano Amy Moore, co-artistic director of The Song Company. 

She has sung with The Tallis Scholars in the past.

"They have a very consistent, beautiful sound," she adds.

Formed in 1973, The Tallis Scholars is still lead by founding artistic director Peter Phillips. 

The group last visited Australia in 2022. 

This tour marks their return to the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall since the year 2000. They will also grace Australian stages in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Ahead of the group's Australian tour, Phillips and other singers share their enduring fascination with renaissance choral music and why Australia holds a special place in their heart.

Phillips founded The Tallis Scholars when he was just 19.

"I just wanted to put on concerts of music that I enjoyed singing and conducting," he says. "[Music by] Thomas Tallis and William Byrd in particular."

These composers lived in 16th-century England, during a time known as the Renaissance era. 

Both wrote music for the Catholic church at a time when being Catholic could get them killed.

Phillips says during the group's early days, these intricate polyphonies, written exclusively for singers singing different notes on each part, was rarely performed by other ensembles.

Instead, most concert-goers expected to hear music from the 18th and 19th-centuries.

"We were just getting out of the Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn phase and getting into the Bach and Handel phase," Phillips recalls.

Although these better-known composers have written music for singers, they almost always include accompanying instruments.

But Phillips wanted to specialise in a cappella music, which ranges from intimate, secret masses written for three to five voices, to choral extravaganzas.

Thomas Tallis, the group's namesake, wrote a 40-part vocal piece called Spem In Alium, which requires at least 40 singers to perform.

Much of this music was consigned to the archives. 

But today, thanks to groups like the Tallis Scholars, they have become incredibly popular.

But Phillips wanted to specialise in a cappella music, which ranges from intimate, secret masses written for three to five voices, to choral extravaganzas.

Thomas Tallis, the group's namesake, wrote a 40-part vocal piece called Spem In Alium, which requires at least 40 singers to perform.

Much of this music was consigned to the archives. 

But today, thanks to groups like the Tallis Scholars, they have become incredibly popular.

From amateurs to Renaissance rock stars

The Tallis Scholars are famed for their unique, crystal-clear singing, which has become the gold-standard for many choirs.

Members of the original group started as amateurs, but over the years, they became professional a cappella singers with a huge catalogue of recordings.

The group's extensive catalogue amassed a following, earning them the accolade of "renaissance rock stars."

The Tallis Scholars first came to Australia in 1985 and have made frequent visits over the years. 
(Photo: Sydney Opera House / Tallis Scholars)

"The sound is just coming from the small group of singers who are on the stage, so it can feel quite intimate," says Elisabeth Paul, one of the singers currently touring Australia.

"I get comments from audience members I meet after concerts who are blown away by [the sound]."

While in Australia, The Tallis Scholars will also be joined by Melbourne bass-baritone Lachlan McDonald, who was invited to sing with the group after one of their regular singers became unavailable.

Phillips says music written more recently can go hand in hand with the centuries-old music that The Tallis Scholars are known for.

One reason this works is because composers of church music throughout history often use chant melodies harking back to one of the oldest sources of written notation: the Gregorian chant tradition.

If you're familiar with these chants, you can find them like clues in music across the centuries, Phillips explains.

One of the staples of the group's touring repertoire is Miserere by 17th-century composer Gregorio Allegri, which incorporates plainchant and more elaborate renaissance polyphony.

The performance features offstage soloists, including a spine-tingling high C in the treble part.

"It's the one piece that everybody knows and it's the one piece they want to hear," Phillips says.

Many chamber choirs and small ensembles have been formed since The Tallis Scholars brought sacred Renaissance polyphony to global concert stages.

Moore now works and sings with The Song Company, an Australian vocal ensemble that was formed in 1984. 

They often perform the same kind of music as The Tallis Scholars, as well as choral music written by Australian composers today.

Despite the ease of finding this music on streaming platforms, Moore says there's something special about witnessing singers performing live on stage.

"There's a tremendous power in the human voice, in its ability to reach, touch and move people," Moore says.

"Sometimes we're trying to make them laugh, sometimes we're trying to make them cry, but as singers, our primary goal is always trying to connect with the audience through music."

The Tallis Scholars are touring Australia from October 5-12, performing in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. You can hear the Melbourne and Sydney performances on ABC Classic across November and December.

First published at ABC News, October 5, 2025

Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge dies at 96

By Ian Youngs Culture reporter

Patricia Routledge, seen here in 1992, starred as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC television series “Keeping Up With Appearances.”Credit...Dick Williams / Mirrorpix, via Getty Images

Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96, her agent has said.

She also starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played BBC One's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp.

Her agent said in a statement to the PA Media news agency: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep this morning surrounded by love.

"Even at 96-years old, Dame Patricia's passion for her work and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations of audiences have continued to find her through her beloved television roles."

Dame Patricia as Hyacinth Bucket with Clive Swift as long-suffering husband Richard in Keeping Up Appearances

The statement added: "She will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers around the world."

Dame Patricia was best known as Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" - a comic creation who embodied the extremes of English pretension and snobbery.

"She's an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the actress said.

Keeping Up Appearances ran from 1990 to 95, and the following year she was voted the nation's most popular actress at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards.

The Birkenhead-born star also found acclaim on stage as well as screen after starting her career in the theatre in the 1950s.

Following roles in London's West End, she established herself in the US when she won the Tony Award for best lead actress in a musical on Broadway in New York for Darling of the Day in 1968.

She was as adept at serious drama as she was at musicals and comedy - she appeared in Richard III and Henry V at the Royal Shakepseare Company, then won an Olivier Award for best actress in a musical for Candide in the 1980s.

Alan Bennett wrote his first Talking Heads monologue for Routledge, and two subsequent instalmets

The 80s also saw her become a true national TV star - playing Kitty in Victoria Wood's As Seen on TV, and delivering three of Bennett's renowned Talking Heads monologues, including 1988's A Lady of Letters, for which she received a Bafta nomination.

She earned two further Bafta nominations, for Keeping Up Appearances, in 1992 and 93, then starred in the title role as a retired woman on a quest to solve crimes in BBC One's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between 1996 and 98.

'Loved around the world'

Jon Petrie, the BBC's director of comedy, said he was "so sad to hear of the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge".

He said: "She was an actor of remarkable range, but her portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances has to be one of the most iconic performances in British comedy.

"She took a character on the page and gave her such truth, precision and warmth that Hyacinth became part of the national conversation; instantly recognisable, endlessly quotable, and loved around the world.

"Whatever she did, she brought impeccable craft, and in doing so inspired generations of writers, performers and audiences.

"Dame Patricia made millions laugh and left a legacy that will always be remembered with gratitude and admiration."

She was made an OBE in 1993, a CBE in 2004, and a dame in 2017.

First published at BBC News, October 3, 2025