AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 12:52 p.m. EST

Ariana Grande and Cher team up for 'SNL' in December. Josh O'Connor gets a hosting turn, too

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC's “Saturday Night Live” has announced its December lineup, featuring Ariana Grande as host on Dec. 20. Cher will be the musical guest. It will mark Grande's third time hosting, while Cher hasn't appeared on the “SNL” stage since 1987. Josh O'Connor will make his hosting debut on Dec. 13, with Lily Allen as the musical guest. “SNL” veteran Melissa McCarthy will host on Dec. 6 for the sixth time. Dijon will make his debut as the musical guest. The NBC sketch comedy show airs at 11:30 p.m. Eastern and streams live on Peacock.

Court settlement calls for NPR to get $36M in government funds to operate US public radio system

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in government funding to operate the nation’s public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settlement. Monday's settlement resolves a legal dispute in which NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of bowing to pressure from President Donald Trump to cut off its funding. On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he wants to defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats. NPR accused the CPB of violating its First Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress.

The next Met Gala exhibit will spotlight fashion across art history

NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced its next spring fashion exhibit. “Costume Art” is set to launch at the Met Gala in 2026. This latest show aims to highlight the connection between fashion and art by pairing garments with art objects from across the museum. Met CEO Max Hollein hopes the exhibit will take visitors on a fashionable journey through art history. The show will also inaugurate new permanent gallery space for fashion, offering a smoother experience for visitors. Curator Andrew Bolton says the exhibit will explore themes like “Naked Body” and “Classical Body,” but also less expected ones like “Pregnant Body” and “Aging Body.”

Tom Cruise finally gets his Oscar moment with a lifetime achievement trophy at the Governors Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Cruise finally has an Academy Award. He received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards. Cruise, 63, was celebrated for his four decades at the peak of the movie industry. He talked about his lifelong devotion to cinema, saying “Making movies is not what I do, it's who I am.” The ceremony also honored production designer Wynn Thomas, choreographer Debbie Allen, and Dolly Parton for her philanthropy. Cruise has been nominated for competitive Oscars four times without a win. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who has been shooting a film with Cruise, presented the award. He suggested this might not be Cruise's last Oscar.

The LA County sheriff is investigating a new sex battery claim against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says it’s investigating a new sexual battery allegation against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is serving a four-year prison sentence on prostitution-related convictions. According to a police report, a male music producer and publicist said he was asked to come to a photo shoot in 2020 at a Los Angeles warehouse. The producer says Combs exposed himself and told him to perform a sex act. The accuser's name is redacted in the report. Combs’ lawyer did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Han Kang, Megha Majumdar and Yiyun Li are among finalists for Andrew Carnegie Medals

NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel laureate Han Kang's “We Do Not Part” and Megha Majumdar's “A Guardian and a Thief” are among the finalists for the Andrew Carnegie Medals. These fiction and nonfiction awards are presented by the American Library Association. Majumdar's book, an Oprah Winfrey book club pick, is the only finalist originally written in English. Yiyun Li's memoir about the suicides of her two sons is also a finalist. Winners will be announced on Jan. 27 and will receive $5,000. The awards were established in 2012 with help from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

New coin honors Freddie Mercury and his 4-octave range

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Royal Mint is celebrating Freddie Mercury with a new coin design. The coin marks 40 years since his iconic Live Aid performance. It features an image of the Queen front man midperformance, with a musical stave representing his vocal range. Mercury’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, struck the first coin at the Royal Mint in Wales last week. She said the coin captures his passion and joy. The Royal Mint’s Rebecca Morgan said fans have been calling for this tribute. The coins go on sale Tuesday, with prices starting at 18.50 pounds each.

New statue of Bridget Jones joins other film icons in London's Leicester Square

LONDON (AP) — Bridget Jones is now a permanent resident of London's Leicester Square, joining icons like Harry Potter and Mary Poppins. A new bronze statue of the romantic comedy heroine was unveiled Monday to celebrate 25 years since the first “Bridget Jones” film. Actor Renée Zellweger, who has played Bridget four times since 2001, attended the unveiling with author Helen Fielding. The statue is the latest addition to the “Scenes in the Square” trail, which launched in 2020 to celebrate cinema. The trail also features characters like Mr. Bean and Batman.