Ed Sheeran's tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore

NEW YORK (AP) — Four supporting acts have quit Ed Sheeran’s tour after Macklemore was removed for his pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Denmark's Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted separately on social media Tuesday that they would withdraw from the tour. The posts appeared hours after Sheeran said he refused to be drawn into a discussion about the war in Gaza. Sheeran stated on Instagram that the decision to remove Macklemore was solely the tour promoter's. Macklemore says he was dropped after expressing support for Palestinians during a concert in New Jersey.

George W. Bush's new book of paintings of political prisoners will be out in March

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President George W. Bush has a new book of oil paintings coming out in March. The Penguin Random House imprint Crown announced Wednesday that “The Call of Freedom: Portraits of Political Prisoners and Dissidents” will be released March 9. It will coincide with an exhibition at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. The book includes 44 paintings and biographical sketches, featuring figures like the late Kurdish-Iranian activist Jina Mahsa Amini. Former Soviet Union dissident Natan Sharansky is contributing a foreword. Bush's previous books include “Portraits of Courage” and “Out of Many, One.”

Armani taps Dario Vitale for its Emporio and accessories lines a year after death of Giorgio Armani

ROME (AP) — The Armani fashion group has named Dario Vitale creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani Accessories. It's a first step in the creative reorganization a year after the death of founder Giorgio Armani. Vitale is a veteran fashion insider who spent some 15 years at Miu Miu. He joins Armani after exiting Versace after just one season. In a statement, Armani said Vitale’s appointment marked the “beginning of a new chapter” for the brand and “opens a dialogue between innovation and identity.” Giorgio Armani died last year at age 91.

Chrissie Hynde hates cameras and talking about herself. She made a Pretenders doc anyway

TORONTO (AP) — Chrissie Hynde is not one for looking back. She detests self-mythologizing. She doesn’t even like cameras. She’s just about the most reluctant documentary subject there is. Yet filmmaker Joss Crowley finally managed to get Hynde to go along with the first authorized documentary on her seminal rock band, the Pretenders. There were ground rules. Hyde would only sit for one on-camera interview. She wanted few talking heads, hers included. The result just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The “Pretenders” film is a long overdue portrait that manifests Hynde's no-nonsense punk attitude.

Scenes from a colonial resurrection: First-person interpretations of history draw America 250 crowds

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — America’s 250th birthday has been a banner year for the actors of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. who immerse visitors in Colonial history via first-person interpretations and true stories. They've received dozens of quirky requests that have delighted the masses both in person and in social media videos— waving the checkered flag at NASCAR races, firing t-shirt cannons from atop the Phillies' dugout and spreading the sermons of American history at concerts and dozens of other events. But the actors also feel an almost patriotic duty to tell the story of America's founding from the perspective of everyday people often left out of history books and sometimes disappearing from National Park sites.

PETA says it plans meeting with fashion executive who restrained protesters at NY Fashion Week

NEW YORK (AP) — A prominent animal rights group says it plans to meet with a top fashion trade executive who was filmed restraining two protesters at a New York runway show. Moira Colley of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says the group will meet with Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The plan is to discuss ending the use of wool and animal skins in fashion. Kolb has apologized for his actions and is taking a leave from his job. PETA initially planned to file a police report but decided on a meeting instead. The group says it hopes to reach an understanding that benefits animals.

Aw shucks: Dolly Parton corn mazes crop up in fields nationwide

BROOKFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Dolly Parton’s megawatt smile and big wavy locks are gracing cornfields across the U.S. and in Canada this fall. Nearly two dozen farms have carved out large corn mazes to honor the late country icon and raise money for her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children. They're located from California to Connecticut, and Texas to Ohio. Brett Herbst is founder of The Maize Inc., which designed the mazes. He calls Parton a “true American treasure.” The “Jolene” crooner died of cancer in August. Before her death Parton thanked organizers for supporting her charity.

A Paris court awards Kim Kardashian 1 euro after her 2016 robbery

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — A Paris court has awarded Kim Kardashian 1 euro in compensation for an armed robbery she experienced in 2016. The court found eight people guilty last year for their roles in the robbery, which Kardashian described as “the most terrifying experience of my life.” The court also awarded a former hotel receptionist 109,516 euros for trauma suffered during the heist. The hotel received 50,000 euros, and Kardashian’s stylist was awarded 1 euro, an amount she had requested. Because of their ages, the robbers became known in France as “les papys braqueurs,” or the grandpa robbers. Kardashian and her stylist expressed gratitude to the French justice system for recognizing the impact of the crime.

Emmy Awards ratings down nearly 10% from last year

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ratings for the Emmy Awards have dropped nearly 10% from last year. About 6.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the 78th primetime Emmy Awards on NBC. That's according to data released Tuesday. “Widow's Bay” from Apple TV was the night's biggest winner, setting a record for a comedy with 14 Emmys. “The Pitt” won best drama for the second straight year. The Emmys telecast had brought in an estimated 6.87 million viewers on ABC in 2024, and 7.42 million on CBS last year. Monday's show was higher than the all-time low of 4.3 million from the Fox telecast of January 2024.

Bobby Seale to reissue 'Seize the Time' and publish new memoir 'I, Bobby'

NEW YORK (AP) — Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, is reissuing his 1970 memoir "Seize the Time" as he approaches his 90th birthday. He's also planning a new book, "I, Bobby," to be released in 2027. Seale says these works aim to correct misconceptions about his story and the movement. "Seize the Time" will be available in February with new introductions and formats. The Black Panthers were labeled a major threat by the FBI in the 1960s. The group subsequently faced decline due to internal and external pressures. Seale's upcoming book will address those issues and his personal journey.