AP National Entertainment News

By The Associated Press New Orleans legend Big Freedia returning with a new gospel album and the acting trio of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer teaming up for the armored truck action comedy “The Pickup” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday. Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan. “We are

By ITZEL LUNA Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Soulja Boy was arrested early Sunday following a traffic stop on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Soulja Boy, 35, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was a passenger during a traffic stop at 2:35 a.m., police said, and was

LONDON (AP) — Oasis said Sunday that its members are “shocked and saddened” after a man fell to his death during a concert by the band at London’s Wembley Stadium. The Metropolitan Police force said officers and paramedics responded to reports of an injured person just before 10:30 (2130GMT) on Saturday night It said a

By ITZEL LUNA Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel’s first family stumbled in theaters in its second weekend, but still held on to the top spot at the box office. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” earned $40 million from 4,125 North American theaters, a 66% drop from a healthy $117.6 million debut. The film

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and television stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” said Friday that it would close after the U.S. government withdrew funding. The organization told employees that most staff positions will end

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer behind such standards like “Don’t Touch Me,” has died. She was 85. Her publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, said she died Friday after succumbing to complications from an intestinal infection. Known as “Miss Country Soul” for her unique vocal

By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — Flaco Jimenez, the legendary accordionist from San Antonio who won multiple Grammys and helped expand the popularity of conjunto, Tejano and Tex-Mex music, died Thursday. He was 86. Jimenez’s death was announced Thursday evening by his family on social media. He was surrounded by family members

By The Associated Press And just like that, a universe of fun, friendship and fashion is coming to an end. Michael Patrick King, showrunner of the “Sex and the City” sequel “And Just Like That …,” announced on Instagram that the series will end after the third season concludes. Fans have a two-part finale to

By JANIE HAR Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A few hundred people gathered Friday to name a tiny San Francisco street after legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia on what would have been his 83rd birthday and as part of a citywide celebration to mark the band’s 60th anniversary. Harrington Street, which is one

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer John Krasinski is returning to direct, write and produce “A Quiet Place Part III.” The film has been set for a July 9, 2027 theatrical release, Paramount Pictures said Friday. The first film, released in 2018, was a box-office smash, earning some $341 million worldwide on a budget of

By BERENICE BAUTISTA Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Danny Ocean wants to take his fans to a tropical paradise where they can relax and feel good about the music of his album “Babylon Club.” The album is a way to expand the world of Babylon beyond just the name or his fan club and

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Former Food Network star Paula Deen announced Friday the abrupt closure of the Savannah restaurant that launched her to fame with its menu of fried chicken, banana pudding and other indulgent Southern dishes. Deen ran The Lady & Sons restaurant with her two sons, Jamie and

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer The best of the internet’s cat videos are coming to the big screen this weekend. Cat Video Fest is a 73-minute, G-rated selection of all things feline —silly, cuddly, sentimental and comedic—that’s playing in more than 500 independent theaters in the U.S. and Canada. A portion of ticket proceeds

By MELINA WALLING Associated Press HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Watching his dad make a brand-new miniature train car look old, placing the wooden parts to weather in the sun and rain, pulled Peter Martínez into the world of miniatures. He recalls his father, who made model trains mostly for collectors or hobbyists, wondering why anyone

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British writer Allan Ahlberg, author of more than 150 children’s books including classics like “Each Peach Pear Plum” and “The Jolly Postman,” has died, his publisher said Friday. He was 87. Penguin Random House said Ahlberg died on Tuesday. It did not give a cause of death.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors said they now expect music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs could face a prison sentence “substantially higher” than the four to five years they once thought he was likely to face after his conviction on two prostitution-related charges. They made the observation late Thursday in a

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Veteran producer Lynette Howell Taylor has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Taylor will succeed Janet Yang in the role, presiding over the organization that puts on the Oscars, film academy CEO Bill Kramer said Thursday. An academy member since 2014, Taylor has

By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press Chances are, you’ve heard Julia Whelan’s voice. She’s the award-winning narrator behind more than 600 audiobooks by a long list of bestselling authors including Taylor Jenkins Reid,Emily Henry, Michael Crichton, V.E. Schwab and Kristin Hannah. She’s also narrated long-form articles for The New Yorker, The Atlantic and Vanity Fair. You

By MIKE SCHNEIDER and KATE PAYNE Associated Press Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan ‘s death last week was caused by a heart attack, according to a Florida medical examiner’s report released Thursday. Hogan, 71, whose real name was Terry Bollea, previously had leukemia and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, the report from the District Six

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer Sean “Diddy” Combs has asked a judge to throw out his guilty verdicts on prostitution-related counts or grant him a new trial, saying such convictions are without precedent. “This conviction stands alone, but it shouldn’t stand at all,” the Wednesday filing said. Combs’ lawyers argue that his two felony

By ITZEL LUNA Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, the former NSYNC star said on Instagram Thursday. Timberlake shared the news in a post commemorating his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday, adding that the disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Get those banjos ready, because this isn’t a joke: Actor and comedy legend Steve Martin will co-host the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards for the first time, alongside Grammy-award winning roots musician Alison Brown. This year’s show will take place Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern,

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney. The ad blitz included “clever, even provocative language” and was “definitely going to push buttons,” the company’s chief marketing officer told trade media outlets.

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Kamala Harris will have a memoir out in the fall on her historic presidential run. The book is called “107 Days,” the length of her abbreviated campaign, and will be published by Simon & Schuster on Sept. 23. “Just over a year

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of “Crossfire,” the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts “CeaseFire” this fall, described as an attempt to

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by actor Alec Baldwin for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “Rust.” The judge in a ruling made public Wednesday dismissed the case without prejudice for

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney. The ad blitz included “clever, even provocative language” and was “definitely going to push buttons,” the company’s chief marketing officer told trade media outlets.

By ELISE RYAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Reneé Rapp was clear on her intentions for her sophomore album, “Bite Me,” from the start. “I wanted to love this,” Rapp says. “I wanted to be able to walk away from this and be so proud of myself and impressed, no matter what anybody else