AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:07 p.m. EDT

On a New Kids on the Block cruise, Emma Straub found a way past grief

Emma Straub, known for novels like “Modern Lovers” and “The Vacationers,” has a new book inspired by a fan cruise. After her father, the novelist Peter Straub, died, she found herself drawn to the idea of a cruise as a setting. Her latest work, “American Fantasy,” is about a fictional band. Straub explains that the New Kids on the Block cruise's unique environment and the personal journeys of middle-aged women inspired her story. She also shared insights from co-owning the Books Are Magic bookstores in Brooklyn and emphasized authenticity in writing.

Films by Almodovar, Pawlikowski and Hamaguchi lead an auteur-heavy Cannes Film Festival lineup

New films by Polish filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski, Japanese writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Spain’s Pedro Almodovar will premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival next month. Organizers for the South of France festival laid out a lineup heavy on big-name international auteurs at a news conference Thursday in Paris. This year, 21 films will vie for the Palme d’Or. That includes “Fatherland,” a Cold War drama starring Sandra Hüller; “All of a Sudden,” the French language debut for Hamaguchi; and Almodovar’s “Bitter Christmas.” Cannes is so far light on Hollywood releases and American filmmakers, though Ira Sachs, Jane Schoenbrun and Ron Howard will debut films. The festival runs May 12 through 23.

Movie Review: Halle Bailey seeks romance in the hills in frothy ‘You, Me & Tuscany’

Halle Bailey is an aspiring New York chef who gave up culinary school to care for her mother. She's spending her days working as a professional house-sitter. Then she meets an Italian who has an empty villa in Tuscany. He doesn't invite her there, but she goes anyway, and runs into all kinds of classic rom-com trouble as she seeks love in the hills and vineyards. “You, Me & Tuscany” is as frothy and inconsequential, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review, as the foam on one of its cappuccinos. Regé-Jean Page of “Bridgerton” fame is the chief love interest.

Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert and Ella Langley lead 2026 ACM Awards nominations dominated by women

NEW YORK (AP) — Megan Moroney leads the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards with nine nominations. That includes a first-time nomination for the top prize of the night, entertainer of the year. Women appear to dominate the nods. Moroney is followed by Miranda Lambert, the most-decorated artist in ACM Awards history, with eight. Then it is Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson tied with seven. The nominations for the 61st annual ACM Awards were announced Thursday. The awards ceremony will take place May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Performers will include Lambert, Wilson, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Riley Green and more.

Thousands of fans gather as BTS launches world tour in South Korea

SEOUL (AP) — BTS has kicked off their long-awaited world tour with a concert near Seoul. The K-pop supergroup is returning to the stage after nearly four years. The tour follows the release of their new album, "ARIRANG," their first since members completed South Korea's mandatory military service. Thursday's concert attracted tens of thousands of fans, who braved the rain to see the group perform. The tour will include shows across the United States, Europe, and Asia. BTS, known for their global hits, will continue their tour in Tokyo next, with stops planned worldwide.

Kara Swisher examines the science, tech and business of living longer in new CNN docuseries

NEW YORK (AP) — Kara Swisher begins her new CNN series on longevity and health in a cemetery, reflecting on her father's death. The series, “Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever,” explores how health and tech can extend life. It premieres Saturday. Swisher investigates wellness trends and tech innovations, from AI companions to gene editing. She remains skeptical of quick fixes and critiques the wellness industry's lack of hard science. Swisher's journey includes visits to South Korea, where she examines its high life expectancy. She also creates a 3D clone of herself, exploring the implications of living for generations.

'Ketamine Queen' gets 15 years in prison for selling Matthew Perry the drugs that killed him

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge has handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling “Friends” star Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in a 2023 overdose. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced 42-year-old Jasveen Sangha on Wednesday. Sangha is the third defendant to be sentenced of the five people who have pleaded guilty in connection with the 54-year-old “Friends” star’s death. Prosecutors had recommend a 15-year sentence for Sangha. They cast her in court filings as a “Ketamine Queen” who had an elaborate drug operation catering to high-end clients.

Judge orders rapper Pooh Shiesty to remain in custody in case involving rapper Gucci Mane's label

DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge ordered rapper Pooh Shiesty to remain in custody after he and eight others were accused of kidnapping three music industry professionals and robbing them at gunpoint in Texas during a contract dispute involving rapper Gucci Mane’s record label. U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver told Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., during a hearing Wednesday that she found the “weight of the evidence against you is strong.” During the hearing, the rapper’s attorney raised questions about much of the prosecution’s evidence.

'Malcolm in the Middle' returns after 20 years with questions of legacy and its trademark craziness

NEW YORK (AP) — Hulu has revived “Malcolm in the Middle” with a four-part series subtitled “Life’s Still Unfair.” The show picks up 20 years after the original, with Malcolm now a father trying to protect his daughter from his chaotic family. Original creator Linwood Boomer and his wife, Tracy Katsky Boomer, developed the revival, focusing on Malcolm's struggles as a parent. Some of the original cast members, including Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, return to their old roles. Director Ken Kwapis says original cast members “slipped back into their roles effortlessly.” The revival explores family dynamics and the legacy passed to children. Episodes premiere Friday.