Arlene Smith, lead singer of pioneering '50s girl group the Chantels, dies at 84
NEW YORK (AP) — One of the first “girl group” stars has died. The Chantels' lead singer Arlene Smith was 84. The Chantels were best known for the classic ballad “Maybe,” and were the rare group of Black women in the 1950s to have commercial success. Recorded in a makeshift studio in a Manhattan church, “Maybe” was a spare, pleading ballad that Smith sang with tragic force. The 1957 release was a Top 20 hit that eventually sold more than 1 million copies. Rolling Stone ranked ”Maybe” at No. 199 on the magazine’s list of the 500 best songs.
At 60, Too $hort has no plans to stop his hip-hop voyage with new album produced fully by Lil Jon
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Too $hort, the Oakland hip-hop legend, is defying age norms in the music industry. At 60, he's still recording, touring, and challenging the idea that hip-hop has an age limit. His latest album, “Sir Too $hort Vol. 2: Drink & Smoke,” produced by Lil Jon, drops Friday. Too $hort reflects on his enduring career, saying he never imagined stopping. He credits his love for music and collaboration with artists like E-40 and Lil Jon for his continued relevance. He also honors Lil Jon’s late son, Slade, whose work features on the new album, as part of a lasting legacy.
Wildfires force George Clooney's family to evacuate their home in southern France
PARIS (AP) — George Clooney says his family has been forced to evacuate their home in southeastern France due to a nearby wildfire. The Hollywood star made the statement in a letter to the mayor of Brignoles, about 55 miles east of Marseille. Clooney expressed concern for the safety of the community and committed to helping rebuild. The fire near Brignoles broke out Wednesday afternoon, burning about 250 acres. About 700 residents were evacuated but allowed to return Thursday after the fire was controlled. The Clooneys purchased their estate in France in 2021, and it serves as their primary residence.
Movie Review: Olivia Wilde rules playful BDSM comedy ‘I Want Your Sex’
Olivia Wilde plays a famous artist and provocateur who initiates a relationship with a younger employee in “I Want Your Sex.” The film from director Gregg Araki playfully satirizes Gen Z's prudish attitudes toward sex within the construct of this heightened art world. Cooper Hoffman plays the younger employee who gets wrapped up in Wilde's character's orbit. In her review for The Associated Press, film writer Lindsey Bahr praises Wilde's performance, writing that “it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role — nor would you want to.” “I Want Your Sex” is rated R. It opens in theaters Friday.
Actor Storm Reid hopes music reveals another side, introducing listeners to the real her
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Storm Reid wants people to see a different side of her through her new music. Known for her roles in "Euphoria" and "The Last of Us," Reid released her single "Shotty" on Friday. She hopes listeners discover she's just a 23-year-old from Atlanta figuring things out. The recent University of Southern California graduate says music is as important to her as acting. She records independently through her label, 1720 Music, for creative freedom. Reid says she aims to create opportunities for other artists. Despite criticism, she's focused on her music journey, embracing imperfections and authenticity.
The Recording Academy CEO responds to BTS decision not to submit to Grammys
NEW YORK (AP) — Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. has responded to the news that BTS will not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming 2027 Grammy Awards. All seven members of the K-pop group shared the same note Wednesday, saying they want their music to be “loved for what it is” and not divided by language or region. The Academy recently announced the introduction of a best Asian pop music performance category. Some fans viewed the new category as a racialized barrier for Asian performers. Mason jr. said that the category is meant to award more Asian pop performers and that submitting in those categories does not bar an artist from applying to the general fields.
Movie Review: Anthony Bourdain biopic 'Tony' is just an early nibble at a culinary giant
The Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony” explores a pivotal summer in 1975 when the future chef-traveler worked in a Cape Cod kitchen. Directed by Matt Johnson, the film portrays Bourdain as a young, struggling chef, but AP critic Mark Kennedy say it misses capturing his later charisma. Dominic Sessa plays the teenage Bourdain, depicted as a misfit with little joy. The film introduces fictional elements, including a new mentor played by Antonio Banderas. While it offers glimpses of Bourdain's early life, Kennedy says it fails to fully capture his passion for food and new environments. “Tony” is rated R and runs for 106 minutes.
K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit music for 2027 Grammys
NEW YORK (AP) — K-pop powerhouse BTS say they will not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming Grammys. All seven members of the group shared the same note Wednesday, saying they want their music to be “heard and loved for what it is” and not divided by language or region. The Recording Academy recently announced the introduction of a best Asian pop music performance category. Some fans viewed the new category as a racialized barrier for Asian performers. BTS has never won a Grammy, though they’ve been nominated for five. Representatives for the Recording Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jared Leto denies sexual assault allegations described in BBC documentary
Four women have accused Jared Leto of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers, to which the actor and musician responded that he has “never sexually assaulted anyone.” He said in a statement Wednesday that the “claims are absolutely and categorically false.” The documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret" includes claims from four women who accuse him of misconduct between 2002 and 2016. The BBC says it corroborated the women's accounts, but they could not be independently verified by The Associated Press. The documentary does not identify the women by their full names. Leto is a 54-year-old Oscar winner and the frontman of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars.
'60 Minutes' announces new slate of correspondents for upcoming season
NEW YORK (AP) — CBS's "60 Minutes" has announced a slate of new correspondents and contributors for its 59th season. The show's executive producer, Nick Bilton, shared the news Tuesday. Ross Douthat, an opinion columnist from The New York Times, and Norah O’Donnell, former anchor of ‘CBS Evening News,’ will join as correspondents. Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni and Trevor Phillips join as contributors. The moves come two months after a major shakeup at the news magazine, led by new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, which installed Bilton as executive producer and let to departures of three correspondents: Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Scott Pelley.
