By most measures, 2025 was a rough year for those who care about freedom of the press.

Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. has died at age 71.

For the first time in 20 years, rain is expected to intrude on the Rose Parade in Southern California.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin's journey to conducting the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year’s Day concert began when he stepped in for a banned Russian conductor at Carnegie Hall in 2022.

The Kennedy Center is ending the year with a new round of artists saying they are canceling scheduled performances after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the facility.

The Jonas Brothers will take the Daily’s Place stage on Tuesday night for one last concert before the venue temporarily closes for stadium renovations.

Local authorities in France say Brigitte Bardot’s funeral is set for next week in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez which she helped make famous.

George and Amal Clooney, along with their twins, have been awarded French citizenship.

Britons ranging from Hollywood stars Idris Elba and Cynthia Erivo to a 102-year-old judo instructor have been named in King Charles III’s New Year’s honors list, an annual tradition that recognizes people for their contributions to U.K. public life.

For the first time in 20 years, rain could be an intruder at the Rose Parade in Southern California.

Chevy Chase's new documentary, “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” explores his complex personality and career.

Text message screenshots obtained by The Associated Press show that Tyler Perry and “Boo.

Hollywood has wrapped up a turbulent 2025 with big ticket sales for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Marty Supreme."

The 1960s French sex symbol, actor, singer and animal welfare activist Brigitte Bardot has died.

Brigitte Bardot, who has died at 91, often said that the hounding she received from the world's press in her years as a sex symbol of the 1960s made her identify with hunted and abused animals.

French 1960s sex symbol Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91.

Comedian Mo Amer is gaining attention for his show “Mo,” which explores the journey of a Palestinian refugee family seeking asylum in the U.S. The series is part of a wave of TV shows by Arab or Muslim American creators that aim to tell authentic stories without relying on stereotypes.

Attorneys for the man accused of killing iconic rapper Tupac Shakur are pushing to suppress evidence that was collected in what they say was an unlawful nighttime search.

Tyler Perry faces a lawsuit for sexual assault by actor Mario Rodriguez, marking the second such case against him recently.

The president of the Kennedy Center is criticizing musician Chuck Redd for canceling a Christmas Eve performance.

Perry Archangelo Bamonte, longtime guitarist and keyboardist for the influential goth band The Cure, has died.

Soprano Asmik Grigorian is to sing the title role in Georges Bizet's “Carmen,” a mezzo-soprano touchstone, for the first time at the Salzburg Festival this summer.

Awards season for Hollywood is just around the corner, and as voters cast their ballots for the best in movies over the last year, film studios want to make sure they offer some memorable keepsakes to make sure critics notice their movies.

Influencer Jordyn Woods and New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns are engaged.

As 2025 wraps up, The Associated Press has curated a list of memorable stories and enjoyable reads published this year.

Fernando Dávila, a 72-year-old artist in Florida, paints vibrant works despite being colorblind.

The television adaptation of Rachel Reid’s novel “Heated Rivalry” is making waves with hockey romance fans.

Families worldwide have started traditions of watching new movies on Christmas Day at the theater.

King Charles III has urged people to focus on kindness instead of conflict in his annual Christmas address.

A planned Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center has been canceled.

The end of the year brings fewer new streaming options, but it's a great time to catch up on 2025's best movies, TV, music, and games.

The College Football Playoff's first round averaged 9.9 million viewers across multiple networks, marking a 7% drop from last year.

Christian music is growing in popularity while other genres struggle to grow new listenership.

Lawyers for hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs are asking a federal appeals court in New York to order his immediate release from prison.

Martha Stewart has joined pal Snoop Dogg as a minority owner of Welsh soccer team Swansea.

Venus Williams and Andrea Preti are married.

The evolution of the Christmas Day sports calendar in the U.S. has given fans a respite if they need a break from family gatherings or just some entertainment while they sip on eggnog.

Before the lights go down at “Liberation” on Broadway, the audience is talking.

British authorities have brought new charges of rape and sexual assault against comedian Russell Brand.

Al Michaels has reached a remarkable milestone in his broadcasting career, marking 40 years as the play-by-play announcer for the NFL’s primetime games.

Since his breakthrough performance in 2017’s “Call Me By Your Name,” Timothée Chalamet has been on an ever-ascending path that seemed to reach a culmination when he declared that he’s “in pursuit of greatness” while accepting the best actor award from the Screen Actors Guild for his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.

OK boomers: The oldest of you are turning 80 in 2026, the vanguard of a “rock n’ roll” and “TV age” generation that left an imprint on popular culture like no other.

A “Big Brother” contestant and Jacksonville native was hospitalized after a series of cardiac arrests, according to a GoFundMe.

Vincent Zampella, one of the creators behind such best-selling video games as "Call of Duty," has died at 55.

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion after yet another drawing passed without a big winner.

Barry Manilow will have surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung, and has rescheduled his upcoming concerts in January.

Banksy appears to confirm a new mural in London is his latest work.

Barry Manilow will have surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung, and has rescheduled his upcoming concerts in January.

A new night-time holiday display in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is delighting visitors with music, colors and over a million twinkling lights.

Grupo Frontera is heading to the 2026 Grammys with two nominations.

Paramount is sweetening its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.

John Skelley can't escape the pull of Harry Potter.

Chris Rea, the singer-songwriter best known for “Driving Home for Christmas,” has died at 74.

In a year of pop culture moments, some things were old and some things were very new.

The Grammys' country album category has been split into two for the 2026 award show.

Hours before airtime on Sunday, CBS News' “60 Minutes” held a planned story on President Donald Trump's deportation policy at the order of the network's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

The “Home Alone” movies turned holiday travel chaos into comedy.

Cirque Musica’s Holiday Wonderland is set to bring high-flying acrobatics, dazzling costumes and festive music to the Florida Theatre on December 22, 2025, offering Jacksonville families a holiday experience that blends spectacle with seasonal cheer.

James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series “The Wire,” has died.

Rapper Nicki Minaj has made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona.

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records.

Bowen Yang has left “Saturday Night Live” mid-season after Saturday's episode with Ariana Grande.

British children's author and comedian David Walliams has denied allegations of inappropriate behavior after HarperCollins decided not to publish his future books.

A life ring and a lifeboat remnant from a famous Great Lakes shipwreck have sold at auction for $150,000.

A judge has voided the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-D.

Jennifer Lawrence playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

The Kennedy Center has added President Donald Trump's name to the memorial that Congress created for John F. Kennedy.

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt have announced the birth of their baby, a girl.

Sony is taking control of the beloved comic strip Peanuts.

A YouTube content creator whose livestream talking about investments mysteriously appeared to take over a White House website says he has no idea how it happened.

The Brazilian film “The Secret Agent” is opening nationwide in U.S. theaters.

Donald Trump's White House asked TV networks to grant him airtime for the first national address of his second presidency.

Tennessee’s governor has pardoned country music star Jelly Roll, a Nashville native who for years has spoken about his criminal record and his path to finding redemption.

A court in Romania has sentenced American rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in jail on drug possession charges.

President Donald Trump’s handpicked board has voted to rename Washington’s leading performing arts center as the Trump Kennedy Center.

Harrison Ford will receive a lifetime achievement award from SAG-AFTRA in March.

Arab female film directors are reshaping Arab cinema by telling untold stories and claiming space in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

The past year wasn't all doom and gloom; there was plenty to smile about, too.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a major change for the Oscars.

Warner Bros.

Gil Gerard, known for his role as Buck Rogers, has died at 82.

Alex Warren's song “Ordinary” is, by many measures, a defining song of 2025.

Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.

Warner Bros.

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most U.S. adults are on board with giving cash or gift cards as holiday presents.

Tennessee Williams' early radio play, “The Strangers,” is featured in The Strand this week.

Democratic senators are criticizing the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission for pressuring broadcasters to take ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air.

Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner, appeared in court as he faces charges of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents.

A private equity firm owned by Jared Kushner says it's no longer backing Paramount’s hostile acquisition bid for Warner Bros.

Some of Rob and Michele Reiner's closest friends, including Billy Crystal and Larry David, have released a heartfelt statement mourning the couple.

A doctor who pleaded guilty in a scheme to supply ketamine to actor Matthew Perry has been sentenced to 8 months of home confinement.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released shortlists for 12 Oscar categories Tuesday, including best song, score, and the new casting prize.

Christine Baranski has teamed with the Skylark Vocal Ensemble for a unique rendition of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol.”.

Joe Ely, the influential Texas-born singer-songwriter whose blend of honky-tonk, rock, roadhouse blues, led to collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and the Clash, has died.

Fans of Jane Austen are celebrating the author's 250th birthday with events in Britain and beyond.

Howard Stern has announced he's staying on SiriusXM for another three years.

Rome has opened two subway stations.

Donna Summer has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said.

France's first lady has defended her use of a sexist slur against feminist protesters.

New York Jets defensive tackle Jowon Briggs surprised his teammates earlier this season by singing a song during a special teams meeting.