‘A Star Is Born’ producer Lynette Howell Taylor elected president of Oscars org

Veteran producer Lynette Howell Taylor has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Film academy CEO Bill Kramer said Thursday that Taylor will succeed Janet Yang in presiding over the organization that puts on the Oscars. Yang was elected president in 2022 and served in the role for the maximum three years. Taylor has served the organization in several high-profile positions, including as vice president and chair of the awards committee. She’s also a prolific film producer whose works include 2018's “A Star Is Born,” “Blue Valentine” and “The Accountant.”

Julia Whelan has narrated 600 audiobooks and counting. So why isn't she paid like it?

After recording more than 600 audiobooks, Julia Whelan has become a go-to narrator for books by popular authors including Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid. Whelan is a superstar in the audiobook world, but she also says you need to record a lot of books in order to live comfortably. Narrators don't get royalties, no matter how successful a book is. She now owns her own publishing company called Audiobrary that shares profits with authors and royalties with narrators. Whelan is an author as well and her first novel, “My Oxford Year,” has been adapted into a Netflix movie dropping Friday.

Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as they oppose bail

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors are urging a judge to reject the latest request for bail by hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, saying nothing has changed since his conviction last month on prostitution-related charges. They also say their initial calculations that federal sentencing guidelines would call for a prison term of at least four to five years was substantially less than what the guidelines will actually recommend. The written submission to a Manhattan federal court judge was filed late Thursday. It was submitted after a defense lawyer made a renewed $50 million bail request for Combs, pending sentencing, earlier in the week.

Justin Timberlake says he's been diagnosed with Lyme disease

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Timberlake has announced on Instagram Thursday that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. The former NSYNC singer shared the news in a post commemorating his two-year Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday. His post says the disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.” Representatives for Timberlake did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment. Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks. Lyme can cause flu-like conditions, neurological problems, joint paint and other symptoms. In the vast majority of cases, Lyme disease is successfully treated with antibiotics.

Movie Review: Liam Neeson tries to fill Leslie Nielsen's gumshoes in a new 'Naked Gun'

Leslie Nielsen for the part of Lt. Frank Drebin deserves a special place in the annals of brilliant casting choices. But why, exactly, Nielsen was so perfect for 1988’s “The Naked Gun” is natural to ponder during Akiva Schaffer’s spirited but just off-the-mark reboot, starring Liam Neeson, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. In this sometimes witty ode to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker style of satire, the role never feels quite right for him, despite the phonetic connections. Like most reboots, particularly comedy ones, the best thing about the new “Naked Gun” is that it might send you back to the original.

FACT FOCUS: No, Oprah Winfrey didn't block access to a private road amid tsunami warning evacuations

Oprah Winfrey's representative and the president of Haleakala Ranch confirmed that a private road on Maui is owned by the ranch and not Winfrey. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake off a Russian peninsula prompted evacuation orders in Hawaii and elsewhere on Tuesday. False social media claims spread that Winfrey didn’t immediately allow public use of a private road during the evacuations for residents to flee, and later relented due to public pressure. Hawaii residents were advised late Wednesday to return to their homes but remain vigilant and stay out of the water.

Hulk Hogan's cause of death was a heart attack, medical examiner says

A Florida medical examiner’s report says Hulk Hogan's death last week was caused by a heart attack. The report said Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, also had leukemia and atrial fibrillation and the cause of death was “natural.” Flags on official buildings in the state will be flown at half-staff on Friday to honor him, as Gov. Ron DeSantis declared it “Hulk Hogan Day in Florida.” The Republican governor called him “a true Floridian through and through.” Hogan was a major WWE star, known for his larger-than-life persona. His wife, Sky Daily, shared her grief on Instagram, calling the loss “sudden and impossible to process.”

On 'Bite Me,' Reneé Rapp punches back

NEW YORK (AP) — Reneé Rapp's second album, “Bite Me,” gave the 25-year-old multi-hyphenate an outlet to work through the whirlwind that has been her career so far. She toured her first album, “Snow Angel,” left HBO's “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and played Regina in the 2024 musical remake of “Mean Girls.” Rapp told The Associated Press that she approached the project with intention. She said that process was grueling, but also fun. She hopes the result empowers fans, too. The album is out Friday. She'll launch a tour in September.

Harris opens up about her historic presidential run after Biden's exit in new memoir, '107 Days'

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a new memoir called "107 Days," detailing her historic Democratic presidential run last year. The 320-page book will be published Sept. 23 by Simon & Schuster. Harris shared in a video announcement Thursday the book offers a behind-the-scenes account of her campaign, the shortest presidential campaign in modern history at just 107 days. New York-based Simon & Schuster declines to provide specifics on the content but assures Harris addresses key topics. Harris would've been the first woman and first woman of color to become president but lost to Republican Donald Trump last November. Harris says she believes there’s value in sharing "what it will take to move forward.”

Only banjos in the building: Steve Martin will co-host the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

NEW YORK (AP) — Get those banjos ready because this isn’t a joke. Actor and comedy legend Steve Martin will co-host the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards for the first time. He'll be alongside Grammy-award winning roots musician Alison Brown. This year's event will take place Sept. 18 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Fans can purchase tickets via Ticketmaster. In addition to their hosting duties, Martin and Brown’s collaborative single, “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back,” has been nominated in three categories. Those are song of the year, music video of the year and collaborative recording of the year.