AP National Entertainment News

By ADRIAN SAINZ Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Steve Cropper, the lean, soulful guitarist and songwriter who helped anchor the celebrated Memphis backing band Booker T. and the M.G.’s at Stax Records and co-wrote the classics “Green Onions,” “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” has died. He was

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — If there were any doubt, the first few days of Hollywood’s year-end awards has already made it abundantly clear: Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is the Oscar front-runner. On Monday, “One Battle After Another” won best film at the 35th Gotham Awards. On

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Ira Sachs’ “Peter Hujar’s Day,” which recreates an interview with the 1970s photographer, led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with five nods, including best feature, director, as well as lead and supporting performances for Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall. The organization announced nominees for the 41st edition of

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press has selected the 10 best songs of the year, presented in no particular order. Read on and then listen to all of the tracks on our Spotify playlist. “Lo que le pasó a Hawaii,” Bad Bunny Selecting just one song from Bad

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press has selected its 10 best albums of the year, presented in no particular order and with a legend describing who might particularly enjoy them, in the vein of our revamped music reviews. Like our picks and want more? Enjoy bonus recommendations accompanying

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — When Kendrick Lamar began his Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, he picked a stage design likely familiar to anyone tuning in: a square, triangle, cross and circle. The Grammy-winning rapper — in front of more than 133 million people — chose to perform

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — After years of advice books, children’s books and cookbooks inspired by “Gilmore Girls,” an upcoming work promises a more personal take on the beloved series. The co-writers are “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and star Lauren Graham. Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers, announced

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday season is here, and with it, a present for fans of end of year data and marketing: Spotify Wrapped is here! And Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has been named its most-played artist for a fourth time, dethroning Taylor Swift. On Wednesday, the

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The end of 2025 is almost upon us. And it’s time to unpack Spotify Wrapped. On Wednesday, the music streaming giant delivered its annual recap — giving its hundreds of millions of users worldwide a look at the top songs, artists, podcasts and other audio

By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Police in New Zealand are waiting for nature to take its course after a man allegedly tried to smuggle a 33,000 New Zealand dollar ($19,000) pendant out of a jewelry store by swallowing it. The 32-year-old man, who has not been publicly named, is accused

By STEVEN SLOAN and HILLEL ITALIE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — On Friday afternoon, the Kennedy Center, best known for its theater, opera and ballet, will be the unlikely center of the sports world when the matchups for next year’s World Cup are announced there. By Sunday, in a quick pivot, the venue will assume

By ANDREW DALTON Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on Wednesday at an emotional hearing over the “Friends” star’s overdose death. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence that included two years of probation and

By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Chanel’s new showman, Matthieu Blazy, took his designs on the road Tuesday — or rather, underground, with a buzzy New York runway show staged on an actual subway platform. The designer, just weeks after his splashy Paris debut for Chanel in October, took over a

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer The new journalism guard is officially in at the Pentagon. And the questions being asked of those running the world’s most powerful military range from softballs to pointed queries to performances. On Tuesday, Defense Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson — focused on her talking points and jabbing at old-guard

By BERENICE BAUTISTA Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Dua Lipa’s three concerts in Mexico are accompanied by an exclusive culinary experience: a pop-up taqueria named La Dua, complete with hot sauce and margaritas. The British pop singer on Monday opened La Dua, a temporary taco shop where registered fans can eat tacos and sip

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer Rap artist Toosii is taking time off from his multi-platinum music career by going forward with his dream to pursue football after saying he has committed to Syracuse University. The 25-year-old made the announcement in a message posted Monday on social media, and a person with knowledge of the

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Mariah Carey, Post Malone, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato and Maren Morris will help ring in the new year on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” with additional performances by 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, OneRepublic and Pitbull. The show on Dec. 31 will be live on

By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and the publisher of the beloved children’s character Franklin the Turtle are disavowing the Trump administration’s use of their music and imagery to support its agenda. Responding to the use of her song “Juno” in a video montage depicting U.S. Immigration and Customs

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Idle sometime gazes up into the heavens and wonders about something if we ever make contact with aliens: Will they have a sense of humor? “I think the answer must be yes, because it’s about self-awareness,” says the founding member of the comedy group

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The year in publishing saw such notable releases as the latest “Hunger Games” novel and the first book in years from Thomas Pynchon. Readers also sought life advice from Mel Robbins, campaign books by former Vice President Kamala Harris, among others, and the posthumous memoir

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — It arrived in 2024. And it never left. Rosé and Bruno Mars’ massively popular, Grammy-nominated “APT.” topped Apple Music’s global song chart in 2025 as the giant music streamer released year-end lists Tuesday and provided listeners with data on their own most listened-to tunes. “APT.”

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Award NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar-nominated producer Jason Blum is now getting some recognition from the literary world. PEN America will honor him at its fundraising gala next spring with the Business Visionary award. PEN, the century-old free expression organization, also will present author-bookseller Ann Patchett with the PEN/Audible Literary

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” was crowned best feature film and the dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi won three awards Monday at the 35th annual Gotham Awards, a starry kickoff to the film industry’s awards season. The Gothams, presented by the Gotham Film

By The Associated Press George Clooney playing a dashing movie star with nagging midlife regrets in “Jay Kelly” and Zac Brown Band returning with fresh tunes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Super Bowl pregame show will open with a trio of standout performers in Northern California: Charlie Puth will hit the stage to sing the national anthem, Brandi Carlile will take on “America the Beautiful” and Coco Jones will sing “Lift Every Voice and

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer “Zootopia 2” had a roaring and record-setting opening at the box office. The animated animal city sequel from the Walt Disney Company brought in $96 million in North America over the weekend, earned $156 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame, and scored a staggering $556 million globally since its

VERSAILLES, France (AP) — A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold at 2.3 million euros ($2.7 million) at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The painting was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was part

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Cat Murphy, a college student, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. Many of her friends don’t understand why. When they engage with the news — if they do — they hear a cacophony of voices. They don’t know who to believe.

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British playwright Tom Stoppard, a playful, probing dramatist who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998’s “Shakespeare In Love,” has died. He was 88. In a statement Saturday, United Agents said the Czech-born Stoppard — often hailed as the greatest British playwright of his generation