12 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Being A Radio City Rockette (From Real Rockettes!)

We might just be getting into the holiday spirit, but for the Radio City Rockettes, it's been Christmastime since September! In addition to a very enlightening game of This or That, twins Caitlin and Courtney Sullivan gave Brit + Co an inside look at what it's like to be a Rockette — and what they do the rest of the year. Consider this the perfect trivia for your Christmas dinner after you've mastered that Rockette red lip ;).

Here are 12 surprising things about being a Radio City Rockette.

1. Rehearsing for the Christmas season is a full-time job.

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Once the holidays roll around, the Radio City Rockette shows might last 90 minutes, but prepping for the season is a full work week. "The rehearsal season itself is six weeks long, six hours a day, six days a week," Courtney says. "So it is a long process and I feel like the rehearsals itself are like a bonding experience for us."

2. The Radio City Rockettes get some serious bonding time.

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"You spend a lot of time with the girls around you and within Radio City, our dressing rooms too," Courteney says of the Rockette rehearsal schedule. "I feel like that's the time when you really get to form those bonds with your sisters and really create magic that can be seen on stage too."

"Yeah, once we move into Radio City, this becomes your family, truly," Caitlin adds. "We spend every day, day in day out together, we spend the holidays together. So you naturally just become very close with everyone."

Each Rockette dresses up her getting-ready station.

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"Everybody dresses up their station to make it feel very homey," Caitlin says. "I like lots of like decor and festive lights, candles, all that fun stuff."

The women love to have treats in their dressing rooms!

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I'm literally snacking on a chocolate bar as I type this, and I'm not the only one who likes to have sweets on-hand! "I love Christmas cookies," Caitlin says. "We will do something with our dressing room and bring in treats every day. I feel like someone's bringing in something new."

The Radio City Rockettes perform up to 200 shows at Christmas.

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"The Rockettes perform up to 200 shows in a season, and the way that each show feels so special and individual, it's just amazing how you never know who's out in the audience seeing the show for the first time," Courtney says. "And the way the ladies in the line put their best foot forward every single time is so inspiring and made me want to give even more."

"It just really amazes me how dedicated and how hard working all the Rockettes are," Caitlin agrees. "And I think we always knew that, but then once you're in it, you have a whole new level of respect for how hard all these women work."

And each Rockette can perform in up to 4 shows a day!

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"I think sometimes people don't realize we can do up to four shows in the day, which is unreal and amazing," Caitlin says. "That might be a surprise to people when they're coming to a show. They might think we just have that one that day, but we actually might have two, three, or four in the day, which is pretty amazing."

But the Rockettes also find time to goof off.

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The Rockettes might be known for their precision, but Courtney promises their smiles are real! "We are having so much fun," Courtney says. "It's really just an amazing feeling to be on stage and we find times to laugh and joke around, but really obviously give our all to our craft. And I think people don't realize like we are really having an amazing time on and off stage."

The Radio City Rockettes really support one another.

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As you can imagine, a career as a Rockette comes with its challenges, but the ladies on the line always support each other. "I was really proud last year was our first season together and just to complete one full season is such an accomplishment," Courtney says. "I feel like we're ready to take it on again and know like we absolutely can do it. And with the support of everyone around us too, you know, you're going to get through the entire holiday season and you're gonna come out even stronger."

The Radio City Rockettes can work a bunch of jobs during the summer.

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The Rockettes have a busy schedule during Christmas — but that doesn't mean they kick up their feet the rest of the year! "Every person on the line has a very diverse background and they go to different job opportunities throughout the year," Courtney says. "People are pulled in different directions when the holiday season is over. The Rockettes do work year-round [with] different opportunities."

"We're always looking to continue to dance and work on our precision," she continues. "The summer though, our favorite thing is to go to the beach. We're from New Jersey and the Jersey shore is like our home. So if we're not dancing, you can definitely find us relaxing on the sand."

The best thing about performing New York City can also be the most challenging.

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You know how, when people talk about New York, they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?" That's because it's hard to live here y'all!

"This is just the city that never sleeps," Caitlin says. "There are people everywhere. It's always alive. There's just something magical about New York and I love that. And I think that could come with the biggest challenge as well: the city that never sleeps. You feel like you're going, going, going at all times. But that's pretty exciting to do at our age, living out our dreams. I feel like that will never get old."

"I feel like we have no complaints here!" Courtney adds.

Even as a Radio City Rockette, the work is never done.

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"I feel like there's always room for improvement," Courtney says. "Even today, as we're living at our dream, we're continuously working on our technique and our precision and going back to our foundation, I think the work is never done and you can continue to dream and accomplish some of those really major goals."

"Yeah, the work is never done is I think is kind of our motto," Caitlin adds. "Just keep, keep pushing, keep driving and just keep dreaming. And never give up."

The Rockettes are like one big family.

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Just like so many of our favorite TV show and movie casts, the Rockettes love to bond! "The Rockettes truly feel like a sisterhood and we are so lucky that we are real sisters on the line together," Caitlin says, adding that to dance "with your sister is everything we always hoped for."

And those connections make a magical experience like New York at Christmas even more magical. "[To] be welcomed with open arms has been such a dream come true for us," Courtney says. "We just love the holiday season and to celebrate it at Radio City, I feel like I can't imagine anything better."

Read 35 Magical Photos Of Christmas In New York To Inspire Wanderlust for even more holiday cheer!

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18 Songs That Were Everywhere in 2018

It’s hard to pick a favorite song from 2018, since there were so many stellar releases from both new and established artists. So we’re ending the year instead with a list of songs we could not get out of our heads. For better or worse, these tracks were everywhere in 2018 — on the radio, in stores, on TV, at awards shows, and yes, on our own personal playlists.

1. “No Tears Left to Cry,” Ariana Grande: In April, Ariana Grande dropped her emotional anthem “No Tears Left to Cry,” an expression of the grief she felt after the May 2017 bombing at her concert in Manchester. The accompanying music video featured a bee-themed tribute to the victims of the tragic attack, which killed 22 people and wounded hundreds of others.

2. “Shallow,” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper:Rolling Stone ranked “Shallow,” the lead single from the A Star Is Born soundtrack, as the second-best song of 2018. It’s also up for a Golden Globe and four Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

3. “God’s Plan,” Drake: “God’s Plan” topped the charts in 14 countries and racked up more than 911 million views on YouTube. In the video, Drake gives away nearly $1 million — the entire production budget for the visual — to people and programs in the Miami area.

4. “Sober,” Demi Lovato: “Sober,” which Demi Lovato debuted on June 21, two months before her reported overdose, gave fans some insight into the singer’s struggles with substance abuse. “Mama, I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore / And Daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor / To the ones who never left me / We’ve been down this road before / I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore,” she sings in the tune.

5. “Apesh*t,” The Carters: Beyoncé and Jay-Z took their art to a new level by filming their “Apesh*t” music video in the Louvre. It was the perfect introduction to their nine-track collaborative album Everything Is Love.

6. “I Like It,” Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin: Cardi B had a stellar 2018, and the massive success of “I Like It” was a big part of that. Deemed the Song of the Summer at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, the Latin trap track from Cardi’s debut studio album Invasion of Privacy earned nominations for an iHeartRadio Much Music Video Award, a BET Hip Hop Award, and a Soul Train Music Award.

7. “Havana,” Camila Cabello: “Havana,” from Camila Cabello’s debut solo album, was everywhere this summer. It reached number one in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, France, the UK, and six other countries around the world, and the video starred none other than To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before heartthrob Noah Centineo.

8. “All the Stars,” SZA and Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick Lamar co-wrote and curated the Black Panther soundtrack, and while we loved every one of the 14 tracks, “All the Stars” is a definite standout, especially when you consider the accompanying music video, which is a beautifully stylized homage to African culture.

9. “High Horse,” Kacey Musgraves: Kacey Musgraves had one of the hottest hits of 2018 in “High Horse,” from her Grammy-nominated album Golden Hour. “I think we’ve seen enough / To know that you ain’t ever gonna come down / So, why don’t you giddy up / And ride straight out of this town / You and your high horse,” the former Nashville Star competitor sings.

10. “Back To You,” Selena Gomez: It’s almost impossible not to sing along with Selena Gomez’s “Back to You,” the lead single from the season 2 soundtrack for 13 Reasons Why.

11. “This Is America,” Childish Gambino: Somehow, even with commitments to Atlanta, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and The Lion King, Donald Glover found time to record and release new music as Childish Gambino. In May, he dropped “This Is America,” which debuted at number one in the US and went viral online, thanks in part to its award-winning music video. The Hiro Murai-directed video — featuring scenes depicting gun violence, police brutality, and racism — racked up more than 455 million views this year alone.

12. “thank u next,” Ariana Grande: Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” might be the most epic metaphorical mic drop of 2018. The song, which she released shortly after her split from fiancé Pete Davidson, references several of the singer’s high-profile exes — including Davidson, Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, and the late Mac Miller — and the roles they played in her life. “One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain / Now, I’m so amazing,” she sings on the track. Did we mention that the music video pays homage to some of our favorite rom-coms?

13. “In My Feelings,” Drake: Drake had another hit on his hands with “In My Feelings,” which sparked a viral dance craze known as the #InMyFeelingsChallenge or the #ShiggyChallenge (after social media star Shiggy, who created the dance). For a few weeks this summer, it was impossible to scroll through Instagram and Twitter without seeing #DoTheShiggy or hearing “Kiki, do you love me?” The dance became so ubiquitous, in fact, that Drake made it the centerpiece of his music video for the song.

14. “Girls Like You,” Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B: “Girls Like You” was originally released as part of Maroon 5’s 2017 album Red Pill Blues, but it didn’t really take over the airwaves until the band released a second version featuring Cardi B. The video for the song — which features dozens of powerful women including Camila Cabello, Aly Raisman, Gal Gadot, Lilly Singh, Tiffany Haddish, Ellen DeGeneres, Millie Bobby Brown, Chloe Kim, and Ashley Graham — topped Vevo’s list of the most-viewed videos of 2018.

15. “In My Blood,” Shawn Mendes: Shawn Mendes had several hits in 2018, but “In My Blood” was by far the most pervasive. Released as the lead single from the singer’s third studio album, the track describes Mendes’ struggle with anxiety: “Help me, it’s like the walls are caving in / Sometimes I feel like giving up / No medicine is strong enough / Someone help me.” He performed it on multiple talk shows and awards shows, including the 2018 Billboard Awards and the 2018 VMAs.

16. “Psycho,” Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign: Thanks in part to “Psycho,” Post Malone was the second most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2018, behind only Drake, who is the most-streamed artist of all time.

17. “The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey: There’s a good chance you had this song stuck in your head at least once a week, every week, for the past 12 months. Even though it was released in January, it finished the year at number one on two different Billboard charts, and in the top 10 on two others. It’s also nominated in three categories at the 2019 Grammys.

18. “Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai: Newcomer Ella Mai broke out with her catchy love song “Boo’d Up,” the first single from her self-titled debut album. Although the track was originally released as part of an EP in 2017, it blew up in 2018. Billboard even named it the third-best song of the year.

What songs did you play on repeat in 2018? Let us know @BritandCo!

(photo via Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

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Selena Gomez Is Still "Glowing" After "Surprise" Benny Blanco Proposal

There's one popstar who's ready to get her "love on" — Selena Gomez is engaged! And in addition to Taylor Swift throwing her hat in the ring for flower girl and Hailey Bieber seemingly sending love to the happy couple, Selena continues to feel great as we get closer to the big day. Here's the latest news on Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's engagement, because I simply can't get enough.

Here's how Selena Gomez's feeling after her engagement to Benny Blanco — and how they celebrated.

Benny Blanco's proposal to Selena Gomez proves how well he knows her.

Benny Blanco reportedly popped the question on December 11, and we know from Selena's photo dump that the engagement began in a park with a Taco Bell picnic. And honestly? I've never had more respect for someone. And ever Selena Gomez's ring found its permanent home on her finger, sources says she's been "glowing."

“They’re so supportive of each other,” a source tells People. “He wants the best for her and she wants the best for him. They’re perfect together. They really are.”

These two know each other inside and out, and considering Benny Blanco grabbed Sel's favorite meal from Taco Bell, the proposal proves it! "It was very her," another source says. "It was a total surprise to Selena."

It's those tiny moments that are the most romantic to me because they prove you're willing to go the extra distance on tiny details other people would overlook. "Benny and Selena were so excited to share the news right away with their loved ones," the source continues, mentioning that the couple had an "impromptu gathering" with some friends and family members after Selena said yes. "It's such a true partnership between them."

And Selena Gomez has talked about how much Benny Blanco means to her.

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A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)

Selena Gomez has spoken about how much Benny means to her, saying "he is my absolute everything in my heart" in the comments of an Instagram fanpage, while Benny told Howard Stern in May 2024 that he couldn't imagine his life without Selena in it. "I just know that when I look at her, I just say, ‘I don’t know a world where it could be better than this.’ That’s what I always say to her.”

And in March 2024, Selena Gomez posted the sweetest tribute for Benny's birthday, honoring his "emotional endurance, positive disposition, unbelievable talent (that blows me away), undeniable humor and loving, kind heart." Now they get to spend every birthday together!

Check out Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's amazing proposal pictures for more celebrity engagement goodness.

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The 'Gilmore Girls' Creators Are Packing On The Drama In First 'Étoile' Leak

If Gilmore Girls andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have shown me anything, it's that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino always has an incredible story up her sleeve. Her new show Étoile, which is coming to Prime Video, promises to be a beautiful and sophisticated look at the world of dance, and if the fact that it's from Amy wasn't enough reason to watch it, it's also Prime's first new show to get a two-season order! Here's everything we know about the series.

What is the next Sherman Palladino show?

Writer/Producer/Director Amy Sherman-Palladino, Writer/Producer/Director Daniel Palladino seen at Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life premiere.Eric Charbonneau/Netflix

Following our beloved Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino's next series is Étoile, which is set at two world-famous ballet companies in New York City and Paris. When both companies run into some trouble, the decide to swap their most talented stars in a last-ditch effort to save themselves.

And based on the first set leaks from New York City, it looks like Étoile will definitely be packing on the drama. This short clip shows Luke Kirby standing outside Lincoln Center in a serious conversation (probably about the fate of his ballet company, TBH).

"Well, guess that plan for early retirement will have to wait," Dan and Amy said in a joint statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Instead, we’ve decided to embark on an international journey with an unbelievable group of players and the most talented ballet dancers in the world. We will sleep when we’re dead."

But this isn't the first time ASP has forayed into the world of ballet! Her ABC Family series Bunheads (which premiered on June 11, 2012) follows Michelle (Sutton Foster) who moves to her hometown of Paradise and starts working at her mother-in-law's dance studio The Paradise Dance Academy.

Who will star in the new show?

Photo via WB

The best part is that the role of Michelle's mother-in-law is played by Emily Gilmore herself, Kelly Bishop!

When does Étoile premiere?

Anya Juárez Tenorio/Pexels

We don't have an official release date yet, but considering THR recently revealed the show will finish filming soon, we're hoping to see Étoile in 2025. Just like Gilmore Girls is the ultimate fall rewatch, maybe Étoile will be the ultimate winter rewatch!

Who's in the Étoile cast?

Luke Kirby attends the The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Finale Celebration at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Mon, May 22, 2023. Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Prime Video

So far, we know that Étoile will star Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick, Camille Cottin, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge, and David Alvarez. Yanic Truesdale, who played our favorite Gilmore Girls concierge Michel, has also joined the series as a recurring character! I'm so excited to see Yanic working with Amy Sherman-Palladino again — it's like a Gilmore Girls reunion!

What does Étoile mean?

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Étoile translates to "star," and there are so many different connections here! We have the ballet stars themselves, but you also wish upon a star and reach for the stars when you're working towards a dream. If you ask me, Étoile is the perfect name for this series.

How many episodes does Étoile have?

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The first season of Étoile will have eight episodes total, but considering Prime Video ordered two seasons, we'll definitely be getting more episodes.

Are you excited to watch Étoile? Check back here for the latest news on the series, and stay updated on your favorite TV shows and movies on our Facebook!

This post has been updated.

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