What to know about the artists backing out of the Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts
NEW YORK (AP) — Musical artists' cancellations from a Donald Trump-linked U.S. celebration in Washington continue the Republican president’s tense history with the entertainment industry. Freedom 250 has organized “The Great American State Fair,” a series of events on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10. The event was launched by Trump and features concerts, exhibits and tributes. But artists including Bret Michaels, the Commodores and Martina McBride have canceled their performances. The artists say they were misled about the event's theme and want to avoid political controversy. Performers including Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice are still expected to appear. Freedom 250 tells The New York Times it's focused on celebrations and events honoring America's history.
What to watch for at the Tony Awards on Broadway's biggest night
NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway's biggest night is approaching with the Tony Awards broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on June 7. Pink will host, marking her debut as MC. Viewers can watch on CBS or stream on Paramount+ with Showtime. The top nominees are “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” each with 12 nominations. June Squibb, at 96, is the oldest Tony-nominated actor in history. Nathan Lane aims for his fourth Tony, which would tie him as the most-awarded male performer. The season set a new box office record, though attendance slightly declined. Performances will include nominees and original cast members from “The Book of Mormon.”
When Sue Tilley met Lucian Freud, it changed her life. Now a painting of her could fetch $47 million
LONDON (AP) — Sue Tilley was working in an unemployment office when she met artist Lucian Freud. His paintings of her in the 1990s are now famous, and very valuable. “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” considered one of Freud’s masterpieces, is up for sale at Sotheby’s on June 24. It has a presale estimate of between $33 million and $47 million. Tilley hasn’t received any money from the portraits but doesn’t regret it. She says the experience changed her life. Freud, known for his fleshy nudes, painted Tilley in four monumental portraits. One sold for $33.6 million in 2008 and another for $56 million in 2015.
Shrey Parikh bounces back, battles nerves and dominates spell-off to win the National Spelling Bee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shrey Parikh has won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, beating Ishaan Gupta in a lightning-round tiebreaker. Shrey is a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California. He finished third in 2024 but lost his school bee last year when he was battling a fever. He has dominated the bee circuit since. That included winning several online competitions against many of the same kids he outlasted this week in the nation’s capital. On Thursday night he turned a tense, high-quality final into a blowout. He raced through the 90-second spell-off and got 32 words right, a record for the format. Scripps later announced that “bromocriptine” was his winning word.
In ‘Pressure,’ the story of the meteorologist who helped save D-Day
The film “Pressure” explores the tense 72 hours before D-Day, highlighting the crucial role of Scottish meteorologist Capt. James Stagg. He advised Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Allied leadership to delay the invasion due to bad weather. This decision changed the course of the war. Brendan Fraser plays Eisenhower, diving deep into research to portray the general's humanity. Andrew Scott plays Stagg, focusing on the character's integrity. Director Anthony Maras uses colorized archival footage to present a fresh perspective on D-Day. The film emphasizes leadership and the importance of listening to expert advice, resonating with today's challenges.
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Music Review: On Paul McCartney's 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane,' an ex-Beatle reminisces
NEW YORK (AP) — For Paul McCartney, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” is a trip down memory lane. The 83-year-old ex-Beatle reminisces about bus rides with George Harrison, his parents and a long-ago crush who once lived in his neighborhood. He duets with Ringo Starr on a tune about rough surroundings that he didn’t notice because, as the title says, it was “Home to Us.” With the help of producer Andrew Watt, McCartney plays almost all the instruments himself. The pop-rock disc is “pleasant in spots, inoffensive in others,” writes reviewer David Bauder for The Associated Press.
Movie Review: 'Backrooms' goes from internet meme to the big screen
What evil lurks in the drabbest of interiors? The meme-rooted “Backrooms” is the latest movie to pull its mounting horrors out of liminal spaces. It's based on a meme that began as an anonymous 4chan post. But “Backrooms” struggles to retrofit a compelling story to match its disquietingly banal imagery, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle. Directed by 20-year-old YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons, the movie is a fitfully unsettling nightmare that never convincingly builds beyond its creepy, dated-decor premise. A24 releases “Backrooms” in theaters on Friday.
Martina McBride, Morris Day among wave of cancellations at Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts
NEW YORK (AP) — Martina McBride, Morris Day, the Commodores and Young MC have all announced they will not perform at “The Great American State Fair” on Washington's National Mall. The wave of cancellations comes a day after the White House-affiliated Freedom 250 announced the lineup for June and July. Freedom 250 has not responded to requests for comment. President Donald Trump launched Freedom 250 last year to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. The organization describes itself as nonpartisan. Rapper Vanilla Ice has confirmed that he will perform.
Bruce Springsteen calls out the White House and announces a protest festival
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard and Joan Baez will headline a protest festival near Washington, D.C., shortly before the midterm elections. Former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Springsteen announced the festival Wednesday at a Springsteen concert. The Power to the People festival is set for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland. It focuses on "freedom, justice, equality, and rock ‘n’ roll." Proceeds will benefit VoteRiders and HeadCount. Morello says the idea is to celebrate activism, creativity and hope. Springsteen has been vocal against President Donald Trump, who has criticized him in return. On Wednesday, Springsteen encouraged the audience to “fight for the America that we love.”
Joshua Henry recalls Met Gala jitters as 'Ragtime' acclaim builds toward Tony Awards
NEW YORK (AP) — Joshua Henry, star of "Ragtime," reflects on his Tony nomination and his Met Gala performance of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” He admits he was more nervous than ever, worried about falling down the famous staircase. Despite the nerves, Henry remains a standout on Broadway, earning acclaim for his role as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in “Ragtime.” With the Tony Awards approaching, the four-time nominee credits his family for grounding him and shaping his perspective on success for the past 20 years. He praises the show’s emotional connection, which continues to draw audiences despite a challenging theater season. The Tony Awards ceremony is June 7.
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