AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 5:58 p.m. EDT

How 'Country Roads' became the soundtrack of the US team's World Cup run

John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has become the unofficial anthem of the U.S. men’s national soccer team at the World Cup, with players and fans singing it together after victories. John Denver's estate says the song’s simple, relatable message has helped it transcend its lyrics, which focus on West Virginia. The song was actually inspired by a drive through Maryland and could have gone to Johnny Cash before Denver recorded it in 1971. According to The Athletic, FIFA officials helped spark the tradition by choosing the song as an option for postgame celebrations. Its latest revival builds on a long history as a staple at sporting events around the world.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donate $26M to charities ahead of wedding

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have donated $26 million to charities this week ahead of their Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden. According to Swift's publicist, the donations were spread out across 20 local and national charities. The announcement did not include any mention of Swift and Kelce’s wedding, but a law enforcement official briefed on security plans has told AP that the wedding will be held Friday, with a smaller rehearsal dinner Thursday night. Nine of the selected organizations are based in New York, ranging from the Food Bank For NYC, City Harvest, to Musical Mentors, a nonprofit that connects music teachers with students in need.

Madison Square Garden is abuzz with eager Swifties ahead of Swift-Kelce wedding

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding has fans buzzing in New York City. Many fans and curious onlookers gathered around Madison Square Garden on Thursday, eager to catch a glimpse of what some are calling the wedding of the century. A law enforcement official confirmed the wedding will take place Friday night, with a smaller rehearsal dinner on Thursday. Despite the couple's silence on details, fans are excited to be part of the atmosphere. The area is bustling with increased police presence and busy preparations.

The Knicks. The World Cup. Taylor Swift's likely wedding. It's the Summer of New York

NEW YORK (AP) — It is a city bathed in the orange-and-blue afterglow of a Knicks championship. A place gushing with the joy of World Cup fans jamming its bars and its streets. And girding for a fireworks-blasting, tall ships-sailing July 4. So if Taylor Swift were to choose New York, at this moment, could there be anywhere more fitting? In a city that has lived an autumn of grief after 9/11 and a spring of solitude at the outset of COVID-19, some locals are feeling a sense of euphoria as stars align to deliver a singular Summer of New York. Manhattan real estate agent Steven Gottlieb says, like many born-and-bred New Yorkers, he has “a love-hate relationship” with his hometown, "but there’s a lot to love right now.”

The best movies of 2026 so far, from 'Project Hail Mary' to 'Rose of Nevada'

The best films of the year so far include “Project Hail Mary,” “Disclosure Day” and “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” That's according to the picks of AP Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr. Other favorites of the critics at the year's halfway point include the time-traveling indie “Rose of Nevada,” the mythic revenge thriller “Is God Is” and the antic animated feature “Minions & Monsters.” Coyle and Bahr also single out the directorial debut “Blue Heron” and Pixar's “Hoppers.”

The Onion's new parody of Alex Jones' Infowars starts with $100,000 to Sandy Hook families

The families of those killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting will indirectly receive money from Alex Jones after a billion-dollar defamation verdict. The Onion, which has tried to take over Jones' Infowars in a bankruptcy auction, is sending the families a $100,000 check from merchandise sales combining the conspiracy empire’s brand with the The Onion’s logo. The Onion has big plans for Infowars. The satire news site plans to parody Jones' style with shows and content under Infowars branding. Jones called the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting a hoax, leading to harassment of the families. The Onion CEO Ben Collins says he wants to use satire to expose Jones.

What polling shows about Americans’ interest in the World Cup and USMNT

WASHINGTON (AP) — New polling from Ipsos Sports, provided exclusively to The Associated Press, shows that the World Cup has excited soccer fans and piqued many Americans’ interest, even as the sport continues to face an uphill climb to reach mainstream popularity in the United States. The poll was conducted June 26-28, after the U.S. advanced from the group stage but before they won against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the knockout round. About 6 in 10 soccer fans were “extremely” or “very” excited about the U.S. advancing to the knockout round, much higher than the 25% of Americans overall who said the same. About half of soccer fans say the U.S.'s role in co-hosting the World Cup is going at least “very” well, but there’s less enthusiasm for FIFA’s role.

Supreme Court declines to halt $800-a-day fine for ex-Fox News reporter refusing to divulge sources

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has declined to intervene after a judge ordered former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge to be fined $800 a day. This follows her refusal to reveal her source for stories about Chinese American scientist Yanping Chen, who was investigated by the FBI but never charged. Herridge published a 2017 series for Fox News examining Chen’s ties to the Chinese military. The stories relied on leaked items from an FBI probe. Chen sued the FBI and Justice Department in 2018, claiming the leak violated the Privacy Act. Media advocates are closely watching the case.

Fans mark the release of new Haruki Murakami novel at a midnight event in Tokyo

TOKYO (AP) — Haruki Murakami's new book, "The Tale of KAHO," goes on sale in Japan on Friday. Fans gathered outside a Tokyo bookstore for a midnight release. The novel features Murakami's first female protagonist, Kaho, a picture book author. Murakami says bizarre things start happening around her, and he wrote the novel from her perspective. The story began as a short story and evolved into a full-length novel with four chapters. Fans are eager to see how the story unfolds from a female perspective, a departure from Murakami's usual male protagonists.