AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 7:23 a.m. EST

Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of The Mavericks, has died at age 60

NEW YORK (AP) — Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of The Mavericks, has died at age 60. He was battling colon cancer and later leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Malo co-founded The Mavericks in 1989, blending genres like alt-country, Americana, and Latin. The band won a Grammy and multiple awards. Malo also released solo albums and collaborated with others. He urged fans to prioritize

US playwright Jeremy O. Harris released 3 weeks after arrest in Japan for alleged drug smuggling

TOKYO (AP) — The American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris has been released from detention in Japan. He was taken into custody last month on suspicion of smuggling the psychadelic drug ecstasy. The police department confirmed Harris's release on Monday but did not specify if he was released on bail or if he left the country. Harris was arrested at Naha Airport on November 16 for allegedly carrying 0.78 grams of MDMA. Japanese criminal procedures allow investigators to keep a suspect in custody for up to 23 days before indictment. Harris is known for his Tony-nominated play “Slave Play” and his work on HBO’s “Euphoria.”

Coldplay, U2 and Ed Sheeran top Pollstar's most popular touring artists of the new millennium

New York (AP) — Pollstar has ranked the top 25 “Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium” based on ticket sales from Jan. 1, 2001, to the end of 2025. Leading the list? Coldplay with 24.8 million tickets sold. They’re followed by U2, with 20.2 million tickets sold, and Ed Sheeran, with 19.6 million. Rounding out the top five is Dave Matthews Band with 19.6 million tickets sold. In fifth is Taylor Swift with roughly 18.9 million. Keep in mind that her debut album was released in 2006. Pollstar chart data is pulled from reported and estimated box office data from events that occurred between 2001 and 2025.

10 notable books of 2025: A posthumous memoir about Epstein, 'Hunger Games' and reliving 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — The publishing world's notable releases this year included a new “Hunger Games” novel and a book by Thomas Pynchon. Suzanne Collins' prequel “Sunrise on the Reaping” sold over 4 million copies despite her limited promotion. Mel Robbins' self-help book, “The Let Them Theory,” topped bestseller lists, while David Szalay's “Flesh” won the Booker Prize. Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir, “Nobody's Girl,” made headlines for its revelations. Rick Atkinson's “The Fate of the Day” received acclaim for its history of the Revolutionary War. Books on the 2024 election, including Kamala Harris' “107 Days,” also captured readers' attention.

Paramount says China's Tencent withdrew from its Warner Bros bid to avert national security issues

BANGKOK (AP) — Paramount Skydance says that the Chinese gaming and social media giant Tencent Holdings withdrew from its bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery to avert a national security review. A revised filing by Paramount with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows the Chinese company dropped its $1 billion financing commitment for the takeover bid due to concern its participation might lead to a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS. The filing said that three Middle Eastern foreign sovereign wealth funds that are part of Paramount's bid gave up their rights to participate in Warner Bros' management to avoid additional scrutiny.

Nnena Kalu is first artist with a learning disability to win the prestigious Turner Prize

LONDON (AP) — Scottish artist Nnena Kalu has won the Turner Prize for her vivid abstract drawings and sculptures. She is the first artist with a learning disability to receive Britain's most famous visual art award. Kalu, 59, who has autism, received the prize on Tuesday evening in Bradford, northern England. Her winning works included brightly colored cocoonlike shapes displayed in a disused power station in Barcelona. The judging panel praised the "powerful presence" of her work. Kalu is a resident artist at ActionSpace's studio in London, which supports learning-disabled artists. She beat three other artists to win the prize.

Eric Dane's emotional memoir, including his life with ALS, to be published in 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Dane, known for his roles in “Grey's Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” has announced a memoir titled “Book of Days.” The book, set to be published in 2026 by Maria Shriver's The Open Field, will explore key moments in Dane's life. These include his first day on “Grey's Anatomy,” the births of his daughters and his ALS diagnosis. In a statement released Monday, Dane expressed his desire to capture meaningful moments and help others find meaning in their own lives. ALS is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells, often leading to death within three to five years.

Golden Globe snubs and surprises: ‘Wicked,’ Julia Roberts, Sydney Sweeney and more

The Golden Globe nominations have left many surprised with notable snubs and unexpected inclusions. “Wicked: For Good” and director Jon M. Chu were notably absent from the best picture and director categories. Despite its popularity, “The Joe Rogan Podcast” was also left out of the podcast category. Sydney Sweeney and Gwyneth Paltrow were snubbed in the acting categories, despite strong performances. Meanwhile, Julia Roberts and Emily Blunt secured nominations, even though their films received mixed reviews. The awards also recognized “KPop Demon Hunters” for box office achievement, despite Netflix's limited theatrical release.

ABC signs Jimmy Kimmel to a one-year contract extension, months after temporary suspension

President Donald Trump won't be getting his wish, at least not soon. ABC says that it has signed late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel to a one-year contract. His previous multiyear contract had been set to expire in May 2026, so this will keep him on the air at least until May 2027. The network had suspended Kimmel in September following remarks made after GOP activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, but put him back on the air following a public protest. He continued poking fun at the president relentlessly, leading Trump to urge ABC last month to “get the bum off the air.”