AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 5:00 a.m. EST

South Korean movie star Ahn Sung-ki, dubbed 'The Nation's Actor,' dies at 74

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean film star Ahn Sung-ki, whose prolific career earned him the nickname “The Nation's Actor,” has died. He was 74 and had had blood cancer for years. His agency and a Seoul hospital announced his death Monday. Ahn debuted in “The Twilight Train” in 1957 and appeared in about 70 movies as a child actor. He left the film industry to live an ordinary life but returned when he couldn't find work with his university degree. The lead role in the coming-of-age tale “Good, Windy Days” was followed by a series of highly successful and critically acclaimed movies and he became arguably the country’s most popular actor in much of the 1980-90s.

What to expect from CES 2026, the annual show of all things tech

LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the start of the New Year squarely behind us, it’s once again time for the annual CES trade show to shine a spotlight on the latest tech companies plan on offering in 2026. The multi-day event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, kicks off this week in Las Vegas. Advances across industries like robotics, healthcare, vehicles, wearables, gaming and more are set to be on display. Artificial intelligence will be anchored in nearly everything, again, as the tech industry explores offerings consumers will want to buy. In 2025, more than 141,000 attendees from over 150 countries, regions, and territories attended the CES. Organizers expect around the same numbers for this year’s show.

Leonardo DiCaprio on the importance of creating cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Leonardo DiCaprio emphasizes the importance of creating cinema over content at the Palm Springs Film Festival’s 37th annual International Film Awards. The intimate A-list award show on Saturday night kicks off Hollywood’s whirlwind award season, honoring some of the film industry’s most anticipated award contenders. Notable peers at the event in Palm Springs, California, included Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Kate Hudson and Michael B. Jordan. Recipients and presenters made long, heartfelt speeches at the non-televised event. Many of the stars will travel to Los Angeles for the Critic's Choice Awards on Sunday.

What to Stream: Kid Laroi, 'The Pitt' and 'Tron: Ares'

Returns to “The Pitt,” the Grid and music of Kid Laroi are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you. Kid Laroi's sophomore album, “Before I Forget,” drops Friday, offering listeners breakup reflections and lovelorn lyrics. On the TV front, “The Pitt” returns for its second season Thursday on HBO Max. The Emmy-winning drama follows a day in a Pittsburgh ER. After nearly a decade, “The Night Manager” also returns Sunday on Prime Video with a new story. For movie fans, “Tron: Ares” hits Disney+ on Wednesday. The third film in the franchise stars Jared Leto and features a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack.

BTS announces March comeback date, putting an end to a nearly four-year hiatus

NEW YORK (AP) — They’re going to light up 2026 like dynamite. K-pop group BTS’ comeback has an official date. According to a note shared to social media by the entertainment company Big Hit Music, the mega popular group will return March 20. That's after a nearly four-year hiatus as the seven members had to fulfill South Korea's mandatory military service. They staggered their enlistments, finishing last summer. The 2026 album will mark their first since 2022’s anthology, “Proof,” their 2021 Japanese compilation album “BTS, the Best,” and their last studio album, “Be,” released in 2020.

Country singer Zach Bryan has married Samantha Leonard

NEW YORK (AP) — Here’s to a lifetime of pink skies. The irreverent country singer Zach Bryan is married. Bryan confirms the news in an Instagram post shared Thursday. Beneath a photo of him holding his bride, Samantha Leonard, he wrote the caption, “tougher than the rest.” It is a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. It is unclear when the couple started dating or got engaged. Rumors of their relationship hit social media in August, when Leonard posted a picture of the pair embracing on a boat on her official Instagram account. Bryan is scheduled to release a new album, “With Heaven On Top,” next Friday.

Broadway director Alex Timbers achieves a rare feat with 4 shows running simultaneously

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Timbers has achieved a remarkable feat with four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. His latest, “All Out: Comedy About Ambition,” joins hits like “Beetlejuice,” “Just in Time” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” Timbers describes his work as joy-forward experiences that break the fourth wall, engaging audiences directly. Known for blending highbrow and lowbrow elements, his shows often mix sincerity with subversion. Timbers believes future Broadway audiences seek out-of-the-box, emotionally engaging performances. He draws inspiration from historical productions like the “Ziegfeld Follies” and “Hellzapoppin,” aiming to capture their populist yet sophisticated appeal.

Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' could make Grammy history

NEW YORK (AP) — The Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has redefined what it means to be a global giant. And he may once again make history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is up for six awards. He is also the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for album, song and record of the year simultaneously. Win or lose, experts say Bad Bunny’s Grammy nominations mark a symbolic moment for Latinos. That is because his critically acclaimed 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” took local, traditional Puerto Rican sounds and made them global smash hits. It's also because his success arrives in a particularly tense political moment.