Epstein emails show he helped arrange White House visit for Woody Allen
NEW YORK (AP) — Woody Allen’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has been known for years, but emails in the huge trove of records released by the Justice Department illustrate that relationship in new depth. The filmmaker, his wife and Epstein were neighbors in New York City. Records show the three dined together often. They also commiserated with each other about being accused of sexual misconduct. One year, Epstein used his connections to a former member of President Barack Obama’s administration to help Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, get a White House tour. A message sent to an assistant for Allen and Previn via email seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.
Bad Bunny says he will bring his culture to 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bad Bunny says he wants to bring his culture to his Super Bowl halftime show Sunday. He will highlight Latin identity at America’s most-watched event. The Grammy winner revealed some details Thursday during an interview in San Francisco, but he won't provide any spoilers. The conversation was broadcast on Apple Music and social media. Bad Bunny recently won Album of the Year at the Grammys, marking the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize. The Super Bowl will be held Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots.
How Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones and Charlie Puth are preparing for the Super Bowl pregame stage
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandi Carlile plans to perform “America the Beautiful” live at the Super Bowl, without prerecorded tracks. She says she believes audiences deserve the same risk they take daily. Carlile, along with Charlie Puth and Coco Jones, will perform before kickoff. Carlile emphasizes spiritual preparation for the challenging stadium acoustics. Jones will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” focusing on discipline and repetition. She values sound monitoring and advice from Alicia Keys. Puth, performing the national anthem, approaches it as both producer and vocalist, emphasizing restraint. Carlile sees the Super Bowl as preparation for her upcoming Human Tour.
Movie Review: In submission romance 'Pillion,' BDSM meets barbershop quartet
“Do you give?” It can be a pertinent question in any relationship, but it’s a particularly poignant one for the BDSM couple of Harry Lighton’s kink-friendly, disarmingly affecting romance “Pillion.” Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård star as a submissive-dominant couple in what could be termed our first “dom-com.” But what makes “Pillion,” Lighton’s first feature, such a bewitching experience is its lightness, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle. Lighton is keen to enjoy the unfolding dynamics of a relationship in the extreme, one that ultimately, like any other, is guided by needs and wants.
Jon Hamm on hosting NFL Honors and 'fellow Pisces' Bad Bunny's moment: 'I applaud him as an artist'
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jon Hamm is set to host the NFL Honors as they mark their 15th anniversary at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Hamm first attended the awards show when it was a new addition to Super Bowl week. He says the event has grown into something meaningful for players, especially those not tied to postseason success. Hamm highlights the importance of recognizing individual achievements. He brings extensive hosting experience and aims to celebrate the players and their season. Hamm describes the event as an appetizer to Super Bowl week, emphasizing its cultural significance. The NFL Honors air Thursday night.
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Malcolm Gladwell's 'The American Way of Killing' to be released in September
NEW YORK (AP) — Malcolm Gladwell's next book, “The American Way of Killing,” focuses on gun violence in the U.S. Little, Brown and Company announced the release for Sept. 29. The book argues for examining unexpected places to understand lethal violence in America. Gladwell explores the issue through various stories, including a young gunshot victim in Washington, D.C., a 17th-century English knight and a professor in Alabama with a secret. Gladwell, 62, is a New Yorker staff writer and host of the podcast Revisionist History. His previous bestsellers include “The Tipping Point,” “Blin,” and “Outliers.”
Meet the man behind the Super Bowl's annual confetti blizzard
Noah Winter has attended more Super Bowls than Tom Brady, but not as a player. Winter is the mastermind behind the confetti spectacle at the end of each game. His company, Artistry in Motion, has been creating the colorful celebrations in the winning team's colors since the 31st Super Bowl, in 1997. Winter began his career in lighting design and pyrotechnics before transitioning to confetti for Disney and major concerts. The confetti is made from recycled materials and is biodegradable. Winter's team makes sure the confetti drops precisely when the game ends. And in the right colors.
Renée Fleming, Béla Fleck to perform together at Carnegie Hall after dropping out of Kennedy Center
NEW YORK (AP) — Renée Fleming and Béla Fleck will perform a joint concert at Carnegie Hall in the 2026-27 season. They plan to present Appalachian folk music on Dec. 3. This announcement follows their withdrawal from Kennedy Center appearances after leadership changes under the Trump administration. They will also perform on May 23 at the Spoleto Festival in South Carolina. Carnegie Hall's season includes its first complete performance of Wagner’s Ring Cycle and a Philip Glass symphony withdrawn from the Kennedy Center. The season opens Oct. 8 with the Berlin Philharmonic. Yannick Nézet-Séguin will conduct all nine of Mahler’s completed symphonies.
Inside Super Bowl week's concerts, parties and celebrity scene heading into big game
Super Bowl week unfolds in the Bay Area with a mix of sports, music, and celebrity events. The week kicks off with leadership and media events, including the Sports Power Brunch on February 4. On February 5, Bad Bunny and other performers take the stage at the NFL media event, followed by the NFL Honors. February 6 features concerts by Shaquille O’Neal, Post Malone, and Kehlani. On February 7, Dave Chappelle's comedy show highlight the day. Game day on February 8 includes fan experiences like Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate near Levi’s Stadium.
LaMonte McLemore, singer and founding member of The 5th Dimension, dies at 90
Singer LaMonte McLemore has died at age 90. He was a founding member of The 5th Dimension, known for their smooth pop and soul hits in the 1960s and '70s. McLemore died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by family. The 5th Dimension won six Grammy Awards, including record of the year twice for “Up, Up and Away” and “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” McLemore also had a career as a sports and celebrity photographer. He served in the U.S. Navy and played baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system before dedicating himself to music and photography.
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