Author Archive for: mgl

AARP The Magazine EXCLUSIVE: Jon Bon Jovi on Aging, Living Your Truth, His Vocal Surgery Journey and Befriending Paul McCartney The legendary rock star opens up in the June/July issue of AARP The Magazine about how aging influenced his new album WASHINGTON—Jon Bon Jovi is determined to deliver one clear message in his new music: Live your truth. In the June/July 2024 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM), Bon Jovi, now 62, is still living out his rock ’n’ roll dreams and shows no signs of stopping.

Bon Jovi has come far, leading the rock star life his younger self dreamed of while growing up in the New Jersey suburbs. However, Bon Jovi opened up to ATM on how his career has changed over the years, whether surviving new waves of music such as grunge or coming to terms with vocal cord damage.

He overcame this vocal cord obstacle thanks to the strong support he’s received over the years. Fellow singer Shania Twain referred him to a voice surgeon, and he also told ATM about his enduring friendships with music icons Paul McCartney and mentor Bruce Springsteen. Now he’s releasing a new album, which Bon Jovi tells ATM is all about aging, because he has even more life experience to inspire his songwriting.

The following are excerpts from ATM’s June/July 2024 cover story featuring Bon Jovi. The issue is available in homes starting in May and online now at aarp.org/magazine.

On whether his new music is about aging:

“Most definitely. ‘Don’t try to be what you used to be.’ I don’t want to be the kid from Slippery When

Wet. I have no desire to be that kid.”

On the impact of age in his songwriting:

“I have a grander palette to write from. More life experience. I think that every record reflects somehow who I am at that time.”

Bon Jovi’s reaction to potential vocal loss

“People had to talk me off the ledge, because you’re like, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong! What’s wrong?’ ”

On becoming friends with the legendary Paul McCartney:

“I’m sitting there with a f—ing Beatle. He comes to my house often, I go to his beach house often, and our wives are very close…. ‘Oh, I’ve got new stuff!’ he tells me. At 81. Crazy.”

Voice surgeon Robert Sataloff on Bon Jovi’s resilience:

“Jon has worked, throughout his career, harder and more diligently than most of his fans would ever have guessed.”

On other rock stars’ acceptance of the grunge movement:

“I watched my peer group suddenly buy flannel shirts and run to that. I said, ‘This is a big mistake. Why would you chase something?’ … I realized: Be who you are, tell your truth.”

On what future tours will look like:

“Whether or not I can ever do a 100-show tour again, I don’t know. But if I can have joy on the stage on night one, that would be great.”

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About AARP:

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org/about or aarp.org/espanol, or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Readers Learn About the Latest Scam Tactics, Including AI Technology, and How to Fight Back.WASHINGTON—Criminals are using the latest technology (and a whole lot of creativity) to come up with fresh ways to steal people’s money and identities. This month, the cover story of the April AARP Bulletin features the real-life stories of fraud—and the ways law enforcement and AARP fraud specialists advise to avoid them.

The cover story sheds light on the ever-evolving global landscape of fraud. Readers will discover:

How scammers are leveraging new tools, such as cryptocurrency ATMs, voice printing and AI;
How the mysterious dark web is used for scams and how one person has infiltrated its criminal communications;
The complicated market of stolen personal information—and a peek inside scammers’ centers of operations;
And the good news: how AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and law enforcement helps protect consumers.

The following are additional highlights from the April AARP Bulletin:

How to Win Credit Card Disputes: Our finance specialists’ number one tip for disputing a credit card charge? Act swiftly! Delaying a credit card dispute could potentially complicate the resolution process. Learn more crucial tips on the kind of paperwork you should keep track of, who you should contact, and what you should not do in this month’s issue.

What You Must Know About the Stock Market: More Americans than ever have investments in the stock market. In this Bulletin primer, readers will learn the importance of understanding market dynamics and how to invest, plus get an explainer on a new phenomenon: “meme” stocks.

The Whats and Wheys of Protein Supplements: As we age, protein intake plays an increasingly vital role in supporting overall health and vitality. Readers will find a comprehensive guide to protein supplements, including how to choose the right ones and integrate them effectively into their daily routine to support their health and well-being.

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About AARPAARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

AARP The Magazine EXCLUSIVE: Brooke Shields Reflects on Aging, Beauty Positivity, and Seeing the Glass Half FullShields discusses aging, reckoning with her image as a sexualized child model-actor, and how she achieved the rare normal life as a celebrity. WASHINGTON—“Want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” With these words spoken at the age of 15, Brooke Shields grabbed the attention of the world. In the April/May 2024 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM), Shields, now 58, reflects upon her early career and the challenges she faced, and continues to face, as a mom, actor, model and author.

Shields’ life looks a little different now than when she was the youngest model to appear on the cover of Vogue or when she was cast at age 11 to play the daughter of a prostitute in Pretty Baby. Shields opens up to ATM about the pressure that came with her fame, her brief break from Hollywood to study at Princeton University, and the trials and tribulations that came with her return, including her eventual split with her mom as her agent and being sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive.

She also provides ATM a glimpse into her family life today, as she and her husband, Chris Henchy, prepare to be empty nesters after raising their two daughters. Shields’ next role will be in the Netflix rom-com Mother of the Bride premiering this May.

The following are excerpts from ATM’s April/May 2024 cover story featuring Brooke Shields. The issue is available in homes starting in March and online now at aarp.org/magazine.

On aging in front of the camera:

“You have to change the narrative. It’s an affront to people if Brooke Shields gets older. You can’t grow up, you cannot age. It’s disappointing to them that I don’t have the same face I had when I was 16.”

On what it was like being famous as a teenager:

“It only became clear to me how famous I was when we went out. If we went to Studio 54 or the Cannes Film Festival, there would be hordes of people and paparazzi screaming my name and sometimes rocking the car, and I’m like, ‘This is nuts.’ It was like facing a firing squad.”

On coping with the sexual assault by a Hollywood executive:

“It’s a universal problem. It doesn’t matter who’s doing it, it’s still happening. I was shocked and then surprised, then fearful, then dissociated, going like, ‘OK, what can I do to get out of here? What needs to happen so that I can leave?’”

On firing her mom as her agent:

“My mother kept calling it a divorce. And I was like, ‘Oh, Mom, I’m still your daughter, but if I’m going to do this, I have to do this on my own. I’ll make my own mistakes.’ But that meant I didn’t need her, and then who was she if I didn’t need her?”

On learning how to say no:

“I recently turned down a project, and it was hard for me because I don’t back out of things. But it was giving me such anxiety. There were other things I needed to do — get a foot operation, write a book, get my company off the ground. I felt such relief saying no.”

On comparing parenting to her own upbringing:

“From the time my girls were little kids, I spoke to them as human beings and made my best effort to switch it back around. ‘What do you think about that, or how does that make you feel?’ They’ve never felt judged by me, whereas I felt judged all the time.”

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About AARPAARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org/about-aarp or aarp.org/español, or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Protect yourself by protecting your Medicare card!  

The next Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) is coming fast, which means con artists may try to steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud. Medicare has taken actions to make Medicare cards safer by replacing Social Security Numbers with more secure ID numbers. But even with those efforts, fraudsters may still try to take advantage of you during Open Enrollment. 

Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs for taxpayers just like you. That’s why it’s so important to know how to protect your Medicare card and Number.

What can you do to protect yourself and prevent Medicare fraud?

The most important thing you can do is guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card. Don’t give your Medicare card or Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it.

You can also:

Keep your Medicare Number to yourself. If you get a call from people promising you things if you give them your Medicare Number — don’t do it. This is a common Medicare scam.
Refuse any offer of money or gifts for free medical care. A common ploy of identity thieves is to say they can send you your free gift right away — they just need your Medicare Number.
Use a calendar to record all of your doctors’ appointments and any tests you get. When you check your Medicare statements, look out for any items and services listed and other details that don’t look correct. If you see a charge or service that you think is incorrect and you know the provider, call their office and ask about it.
Learn how a Medicare plan works before you join.
Stay alert for fraud during the coronavirus disease 2019 (or COVID-19) national emergency. Con artists like to take advantage of people when they’re distracted.
Committing Medicare fraud is illegal & you should report it

If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan, call the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).

Learn how to protect yourself from health care fraud. Visit Medicare.gov/fraud for more information on how to help fight Medicare fraud.