AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 8:46 a.m. EST

Trump hosts Kennedy Center Honors, a touchstone in his attack against what he calls 'woke' culture

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sylvester Stallone, Kiss and Gloria Gaynor are among the luminaries celebrated at the annual Kennedy Center Honors. Donald Trump hosted the Sunday night gala in Washington, and it's a presidential first. Since returning to office in January, the Republican has made big changes to the performing arts institution. He's ousted the leadership and had himself voted in as chair. The honorees were being recognized for their influence on American culture and the arts. It was expected to be emotional for Kiss members after the recent death of their original lead guitarist, Ace Frehley.

Bad reviews didn’t scare off the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ audience. It even broke a record

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is dominating the box office in its opening weekend in North America. According to studio estimates on Sunday, it surpassed expectations earning $63 million in ticket sales over the weekend. This marks the biggest opening ever for the weekend after Thanksgiving and the largest for a PG-13 movie this year. “Zootopia 2" landed in second place with $43 million, followed by “Wicked: For Good” in third place. “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” and “Now You See Me: Now You Don't” rounded out the top five. With just a few weeks left in 2025, the domestic box office has just passed $8 billion.

Trump says Netflix deal to buy Warner Bros. 'could be a problem' because of size of market share

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.

What to know about changes to Disney parks' disability policies

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.

Puerto Rico salsa giant Rafael Ithier, who led El Gran Combo for more than half a century, dies

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Rafael Ithier, a beloved musician and a founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, whose hits have inspired Bad Bunny and other icons, has died. He was 99. An attorney for the Ithier family, Víctor Rivera, confirmed the musician’s death to radio station WKAQ late Saturday. Ithier was a self-taught pianist, arranger, composer, music producer and orchestra conductor of what many consider was the best salsa orchestra in the world. Ithier led El Gran Combo for more than half a century with his trademark smile and black mustache.

Nobel literature laureate Krasznahorkai delivers rare lecture in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Hungarian author and Nobel Prize for Literature 2025 winner László Krasznahorkai, known for his surreal and anarchic novels, gave a rare public lecture in Stockholm on Sunday. The event was part of the Nobel week, where laureates hold news conferences and give speeches. Krasznahorkai, spoke in Hungarian about topics like angels, human dignity, and rebellion. He described new angels as having no wings or messages, merely existing among us. The Nobel judges praised his work for its absurdism and grotesque excess. Nobel Prize ceremonies will be held Wednesday on Alfred Nobel’s Dec. 10 death anniversary.

La Scala gala crowd cheers premiere of Shostakovich's 'Lady Macbeth' once censored by Stalin

MILAN (AP) — The gala crowd at Milan's Teatro alla Scala has cheered the season premiere of Dmitry Shostakovich's "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" with a 12-minute standing ovation. This marks the second time since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine that the storied theater has opened with a Russian melodrama. On Sunday, the audience embraced stage director Vasily Barkhatov's bold telling of Katerina Izmajilova's fall into a murderous love triangle. U.S. soprano Sara Jakubiak received cheers for her portrayal of Katarina on her La Scala debut.

Trump awards medals to the Kennedy Center honorees in an Oval Office ceremony

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has presented medals to the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees during an Oval Office ceremony. The recipients are actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford. The Republican president said the group was “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class of Kennedy Center Honorees ever assembled.” Songs by Gaynor and Kiss were played on a sound system in the Rose Garden patio just outside the Oval Office as reporters waited to be admitted. Trump also joined the honorees at a traditional dinner at the State Department on Saturday.

Darlene Love reflects on her enduring holiday classic, 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'

Darlene Love can't escape her holiday classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” She hears it everywhere, from the post office to the grocery store. Released in 1963, the song is as iconic as Bing Crosby's “White Christmas.” Love performed it for years on David Letterman's show and continues to sing it on other platforms. Her career began when Phil Spector signed her in 1962. Love fondly recalls their sessions, despite a complicated relationship with Spector. She also shares a long friendship with Cher, who sang backing vocals on “Christmas.” Love believes the song endures because its lyrics resonate universally.