The Dalai Lama and K-pop win first Grammys, Steven Spielberg achieves EGOT status
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 68th annual Grammy Awards are taking place Sunday in Los Angeles. Spirits are high as the Premiere Ceremony kicks off with host Darren Criss. Steven Spielberg has won a Grammy, becoming an EGOT winner. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande win best pop/duo group performance for "Defying Gravity." "Golden" from “KPop Demon Hunters” wins song written for visual media, marking the first Grammy for a K-pop act. FKA twigs wins best dance/electronic album for “EUSEXUA.” The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling recording, beating out Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Trevor Noah will host the main show, airing live on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The Grammys bring more celebrity pushback to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown
Artists this awards season are having to decide whether and how to join the growing cultural revolt against the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns. Those questions will again surface Sunday when music’s biggest stars walk the red carpet at the Grammys. Activists are circulating anti-ICE pins after debuting them at the Golden Globes. But they're hoping for a better showing of support tonight than they got last month. Public backlash continues to grow after a Border Patrol officer fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Plus, Jess Morales Rocketto, one of the organizers, says the music industry tends to be less risk-averse than Hollywood.
Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says, after performers' backlash
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts venue for two years starting in July for construction. Trump’s announcement on social media Sunday night follows a wave of cancellations since Trump ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump announced his plan days after the premier of “Melania” a documentary of the first lady was shown at the storied venue. He says the proposal is subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies.
‘Melania,’ panned by some film critics, opens with strong ticket sales for a documentary
NEW YORK (AP) — Promoted by President Donald Trump as “a must watch,” the Melania Trump documentary “Melania” debuted with a better-than-expected $7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The release of “Melania” was unlike any seen before. Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the rights, plus some $35 million to market it, making it the most expensive documentary ever. While the result would be a flop for most films with such high costs, “Melania” was a success by documentary standards. It’s the best opening weekend for a documentary, outside of concert films, in 14 years. The Sam Raimi-directed survival thriller “Send Help” was No. 1 with $20 million.
The Grammys red carpet is open. Music stars tend to go bold with their fashion
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The Grammys are a night of bold fashion statements where artists break the traditional red carpet rules. Celebrities will mix costume and contemporary styles with sexy, dramatic, and eccentric looks for music's biggest night. Stars toned down their attire last year due to the Los Angeles wildfires. On Sunday, artists will likely return to pushing the envelope so, daring looks are expected. The Associated Press will stream a four-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com.
The Latest: Music stars arrive on red carpet ahead of tonight’s Grammy Awards show
The 68th annual Grammy Awards are about to air live from Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+. Sunday night's award show is expected to mark a return to normalcy for the awards. The 2025 show was altered to focus on Los Angeles-area wildfire relief efforts. Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with nine this year. He’s followed closely by Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian record producer/songwriter Cirkut. There are a number of first-time nominees as well this year, including Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, JID and Timothée Chalamet. Comedian Trevor Noah returns to host the show for his sixth consecutive time — and his last.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Iranian drama 'It Was Just an Accident' arrested in Tehran
One of the Oscar-nominated screenwriters of the Iranian drama “It Was Just an Accident” has been arrested in Tehran just weeks before the Academy Awards. Representatives for the film on Sunday said that Mehdi Mahmoudian was arrested Saturday. No details on the charges against Mahmoudian were available. But his arrest came just days after Mahmoudian and 16 others signed a statement condemning Islamic Republic leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators. Two other signatories, Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, were also arrested. Jafar Panahi, the prize-winning director of “It Was Just an Accident,” issued a statement Sunday decrying his co-writer’s arrest.
Demond Wilson, who played Lamont on 'Sanford and Son,' dies at 79
Demond Wilson, the actor who played the son on the seminal 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” has died. He was 79. Wilson's Lamont character was the subject of endless insults from Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford in an early sitcom that focused on Black characters. The Vietnam War veteran was born in Georgia and grew up in Harlem. He had starring roles in a few more short-lived shows and returned to acting occasionally. Starting in the mid-1980s, he focused on his role as a minister and had mostly disdain for Hollywood.
Updating list of Grammy Awards winners
LOS ANGELES (AP) — FKA twigs, Natalia Lafourcade, and Leon Thomas are among the early winners at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The awards ceremony handed out 86 awards during the Premiere Ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Darren Criss hosted the event, which included performances and awards presentations. Some notable winners include FKA twigs for best dance/electronic album, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for best pop duo/group performance, and Leon Thomas for best R&B album. The Dalai Lama won best audio book, narration and storytelling recording. The main telecast begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
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