Prince banned Bruce Springsteen and Madonna from his dressing room, drummer reveals 10 years after singer's death

Bobby Z is reflecting on his friendship with Prince, who died in April 2016 of an accidental overdose.

Key Points

• One tidbit he recalled was when Madonna and Bruce Springsteen weren't allowed in his dressing room backstage.

• The drummer, who played in the band Prince and the Revolution, said that Prince "found meeting other celebrities very uncomfortable unless he was a fan."
  

Prince's dressing room was restricted, even if you were The Boss or Madge.

Bobby Z, the drummer in Prince and the Revolution, spoke toThe Guardianaboutthe musicianwhodied nearly 10 years ago on April 21, 2016, reflecting on their friendship. Among the anecdotes, the musician recalled Prince banningBruce SpringsteenandMadonnafrom his dressing room.

"Once there was a hilarious moment when Bruce Springsteen and Madonna came backstage but Prince's dressing room was off limits to them, so they had to use the band's toilet," Bobby Z remembered.

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The drummer, who was friends with Prince for over 40 years, also said that he "found meeting other celebrities very uncomfortable unless he was a fan," and would get "bashful or embarrassed," despite being a major star himself. "There could be huge stars and he just wouldn't give them the time of day. So besides shakingElizabeth Taylor's hand I don't know if he'd be interested in chatting," he added.

However, "When he metDavid Bowieat Paisley Park [Prince's longtime home and studio] it was a warm moment, because he felt that they were equals."

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The Grammy winner was found dead at Paisley Park, outside Minneapolis.His cause of deathwas ruled as an accidental overdose caused by "fentanyl toxicity" and that "the decedent self-administered fentanyl.” He was 57.Many mourned his passingthroughout Minneapolis, the U.S. and the world, lighting up buildings and structures with purple displays.

Days after his death, The Boss honored Prince with a cover of "Purple Rain" to open his Barclays Center concert in Brooklyn, perVanity Fair. Covered in purple light, Springsteen gave his best rendition of the 1984 track. "Prince forever," Springsteen said. "God bless."

Madonna paid tribute with an Instagram post of her and Prince, who cowrote "Love Song" for her 1989 albumLike a Prayer. "He changed the world! A true visionary! What a loss. I'm devastated. This is not a love song," she wrote, perMashable.

Madge also honored Prince with a performance at theBillboard Music Awards in May 2016, singing "Nothing Compares 2 U," which he composed and wrote but was made famous by the lateSinéad O'Connor's rendition.

Bobby Z, whose real name is Robert B. Rivkin, looked back fondly on his years with prince with Prince. "Playing with Prince was like being in the purple marines: he might toughen you up or break you down, but he'd bring you to a place you didn't think you had," he concluded toThe Guardian."For a moment you might even turn into a superhuman like him."

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April 18, 2026

Prince banned Bruce Springsteen and Madonna from his dressing room, drummer reveals 10 years after singer's death

Bobby Z is reflecting on his friendship with Prince, who died in April 2016 of an accidental overdose. Key Points ...

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Olivia Rodrigo Sparks Dating Rumors With Cameron Winter

Olivia Rodrigois once again in the spotlight of dating chatter. The singer was spotted spending time withCameron Winter, frontman of the band Geese. The two were seen grabbing dinner in Los Angeles on April 14, according to photos published byTMZ. The outing, while low-key, quickly caught fans’ attention and sparked fresh speculation about Rodrigo’s relationship status.

Olivia Rodrigo’s dinner with Geese singer Cameron Winter sparks dating rumors

Olivia Rodrigo kept things simple for the evening. She stepped out in a red sweater layered over a white T-shirt, paired with jeans and black ballet flats. Cameron Winter opted for a similarly relaxed look, wearing jeans and a black Champion T-shirt.

The sighting has sparked dating rumors, but Rodrigo and Winter are not strangers in their professional lives. Both artists recently contributed to Help(2), a benefit compilation album released by War Child. The project brought together a range of musicians, placing Rodrigo and Winter within the same creative orbit ahead of their recent outing.

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Rodrigo was previously linked to British actorLouis Partridge. The two began dating in 2023 and reportedly went their separate ways in 2025. Before this, fans speculated that she was in a relationship with producer Adam Faze. She was also linked with her “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” co-star, Joshua Bassett.

In recent interviews, the “Traitor” singer has offered candid insights into her personal life, particularly regarding relationships and growing up in the spotlight. “I hope that young girls know that life is full of so much joy that is unrelated to a husband or kids,” she said, before adding that she still hopes to become a mother one day.

Rodrigo also spoke about feeling out of sync with typical dating experiences, noting that her career took off at a young age. “I never went to high school, so I didn’t really grow up around a lot of guys my age,” she shared. “I had to catch up at a faster rate than my friends.”

The postOlivia Rodrigo Sparks Dating Rumors With Cameron Winterappeared first onReality Tea.

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April 18, 2026

Olivia Rodrigo Sparks Dating Rumors With Cameron Winter

Olivia Rodrigois once again in the spotlight of dating chatter. The singer was spotted spending time withCameron Winter, frontman of the ba...

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Jill Biden bid staggering amount of money for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 cameo: ‘It was worth a shot’

Jill Biden bid a whopping $35,000 for a cameo in Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry,” but was outbid by some more diehard fans of the show.

The former first lady tried her luck at securing a walk-on role on the HBO Max sports romance during the NYC LGBT Center’s annual Center Dinner gala Thursday night.

“Dr Jill Biden was a surprise guest tonight – and just bid $35k for a walk on [sic] role in Heated Rivalry season 2!” former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Versha Sharmatweeted after the event.

However, the 74-year-old educator was ultimately outbid by $90,000.

“Final winners bid $125k each, for a total of $250k raised for the center!” Sharma added.

But Biden was a good sport about losing out on the “Heated Rivalry” opportunity, andtook to Xto celebrate the NYC LGBT Center.

“Guess I won’t be heading to the cottage after all—but it was worth a shot!” she wrote. “What a wonderful evening supporting @LGBTCenterNYC.”

Biden was at the gala dinner as a surprise guest and appeared to attend the annual event with multimillionaire tech entrepreneur Tim Gill, a spy told Page Six.

“She wasn’t a part of the program. She didn’t get on stage and speak,” the insider told us. “They announced she was there, and everyone gave her a standing ovation.”

The former first lady ended up staying the entire night and was even said to have danced center stage as Mel C performed her newest song, “Sweat,” with the Season 18 “Rupaul’s Drag Race” finalistsDarlene Mitchell, Myki Meeks and Nini Coco.

While Biden spoke to other attendees throughout the star-studded night, a source said the Secret Service stepped in at one point to let the eager crowd know it was time for her to enjoy dinner.

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Other VIPs at the bash included Brooks Brothers CEO Ken Chashi and husband Adam Freed, former “Good Day New York” anchor Baruch Shemtov and CBS News Business analyst Jill Schelsinger.

Thursday night’s gala dinner also honored several people behind “Heated Rivalry,” including creator Jacob Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady.

Author Rachel Reid, who penned the “Game Changers” book series that “Heated Rivalry” was adapted from, was also there to present Tierney with the center’s Cultural Impact Award.

Starring Hudson Williams, 25, as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie, 26, as Ilya Rozanov, “Heated Rivalry” follows the two pro hockey rivals as they navigate a secret romance off the ice.

But the characters step away from the spotlight and escape to a secluded Ontario cottage togetherduring the season’s pivotal and tender finale.

Filming for the fan-favorite episode took place at a real lakeside cottage in Muskoka, and fans of the show can now book a stay at the property through Airbnb for $248.10 CAD per night ($181 USD).

“Airbnb wanted the price to be reduced to make it affordable for more people,” Jayne McCaw, who manages the property,told the New York Timesearlier this year.

“It is their two hockey numbers put together,” she added of the $248.10 CAD rental price. Williams’ Shane wears 24 for the Montreal Metros in “Heated Rivalry,” while Storries’ Ilya wears 81 for the Boston Raiders.

Meanwhile, Biden wouldn’t be the only A-lister to reveal her obsession with the steamy hockey love story.

Pedro Pascal and Jon Hammboth gushed over Storrieahead of the his“Saturday Night Live” hosting debutin February.

Dylan O’Brien also gave François Arnaud, who stars as Scott Hunter in the show, a shoutoutduring an interviewearlier this year.

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April 18, 2026

Jill Biden bid staggering amount of money for ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 cameo: ‘It was worth a shot’

Jill Biden bid a whopping $35,000 for a cameo in Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry,” but was outbid by some more diehard fans of the show. ...

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Scooter Braun Reacts to Sydney Sweeney’s First Instagram Tribute to Him

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

THE RUNDOWN

• Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun were first romantically linked in summer 2025.

• In December 2025, a source revealed to People that “things are serious” between them.

• Sweeney and Braun went Instagram official months later, in April 2026.

Sydney Sweeneyhas entered a new chapter in her personal life. Months afterending her engagementto longtime partnerJonathan Davino, theEuphoriaactress was linked to music executiveScooter Braun. Since their summer 2025 romance began, the pair has been spotted together in Los Angeles, New York City,Italy, andLake Tahoe.

In April 2026, they went Instagram official.

Here, their relationship history so far.

June 2025

Both Sweeney and Braun attendedJeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding festivities in Venice, Italy. A source later toldPeoplethat the two “hung out in Italy for the Bezos wedding” and that “Syd was intrigued—Scooter’s a charmer. He’s confident, but also sweet and very attentive.”

Shortly after the wedding,TikTok clipssurfaced showing Sweeney and Braun strolling through Venice. She wore a black floral dress, while he opted for a short-sleeve brown polo shirt and pale pink shorts.

September 2025

Multiple outlets, includingPeopleandTMZ, confirmed that Sweeney and Braun were “casually dating” after being spotted on several outings. One source told TMZ, “Sydney has just ended a relationship and she’s doing what women in their 20s do—she’s dating.”

“Everything is casual. She is living her life and working hard,” an insider toldPeople. Another source added, “He’s loving spending time with her and seeing where things go.” The pair also spent Labor Day weekend together at Lake Tahoe.

On September 24, Sweeney and Braun werephotographedhaving dinner at Jon & Vinny’s in Brentwood.

A source speaking withEntertainment Tonightstated that they are attempting to keep things “low-key” at the moment.

“Sydney and Scooter are still seeing each other and trying to be as low-key as possible, while still dating and having fun,” the insider said. “They are just taking things slow and enjoying their time together.”

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In late September, Sweeney and Braun werephotographedholding hands at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights in Los Angeles, where they were joined by her parents, Lisa and Steven. The couple dressed in coordinating gray sweatshirts and baseball caps, with Sweeney wearing her hair in braids.

October 2025

On October 5, the pair wereseenin Manhattan holding hands.

November 2025

On November 4, they werephotographed kissingin Central Park and holding hands in Bryant Park.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the couple wasphotographedat Sweeney’s home in the Florida Keys, joined by friends for a jet ski trip. Sweeney wore a burgundy bikini under her life vest.

December 2025

At the start of the month, a source toldPeoplethat Sweeney and Braun’s romance was no longer casual. “Scooter and Sydney are going strong and things between them are great,” the insider shared. “They’re in a committed relationship, and things are serious."

January 2026

On January 11, a source toldPeoplethat Sweeney and Braun were doing well. “Sydney and Scooter are totally confident and comfortable in their relationship, and there are no trust issues going on,” the insider said. “Things between them are stronger than ever, and they’re in a great place.”

In late January, Sweeney and Braun werephotographedholding hands during a casual daytime outing in Brentwood, California.

The sighting came after Sweeney addressed speculation about her love life in aCosmopolitancover story, saying, “Sometimes I’ll think that I can do a normal thing and have a date in a normal way, and then it gets perceived in a very non-normal way. It’s kind of sad.”

When asked how she decides when to go public with a relationship, she responded, “I understand that I’m a public person, but I’m still in my 20s. I’m still figuring out love, and it’s hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like. At the same time, for all of my 20s, I put my head down and focused on work—and now I want to experience things. But it’s hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I’m just navigating it all.”

February 2026

On February 12, Sweeney and Braun wereseentaking a stroll in Los Angeles. The pair held hands as they chatted. They were both wearing jeans and long-sleeve shirts, Sweeney in navy and Braun in white.

April 2026

Braun joined Sweeney at theEuphoriaseason 3 premiere in Los Angeles on April 7. Roughly a week later, Sweeney went Instagram official with Braun, posting a photo of them together at the event with a white heart. He reposted her Instagram Story, adding, “Lucky bastard” as his caption.

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April 17, 2026

Scooter Braun Reacts to Sydney Sweeney’s First Instagram Tribute to Him

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." THE RUNDOWN Sydne...

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