25 years after 'Britney,' 5 new Britney Spears songs showcase a pop icon at a transformative moment

NEW YORK (AP) — Britney Spears' 2001 self-titled album ‘Britney' marked a pivotal moment in her career. At 19, she was already a global icon, transitioning from teen pop to a more mature sound. The album, certified quadruple platinum, showcased her evolution with hits like “I'm A Slave 4 U.” On Friday, Legacy Recordings releases the “Britney (25th Anniversary Edition)." It features five previously unreleased tracks and two new remixes. These songs add depth to her legacy, reflecting themes of autonomy and self-definition. Fans can revisit the album, exploring its impact and Spears’ journey from adolescence to adulthood.

Dolly Parton's manager moves to drop complaint accusing late singer's nephew of threatening estate

Dolly Parton’s longtime manager has moved to drop a complaint that accused the late singer’s nephew of threatening her estate and its employees. She’s Alive, the entity founded to manage and protect Parton’s estate, had secured a temporary restraining order against Bryan Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, in September. A hearing, pushed several times over the course of a month, was slated for next Tuesday. A very brief filing in a Tennessee court Thursday gives no reason why the complaint is being withdrawn.

Awkwafina digs into her culinary roots to try something a little crazy: Open a restaurant

NEW YORK (AP) — Awkwafina has taken a surprising turn in her career by diving into the culinary world. Her new Apple TV series, “Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook,” follows her journey from a novice cook to opening her own restaurant. The show, premiering Friday, captures her learning experiences, from making stir-fry to mastering Peking duck. Awkwafina was born Nora Lum and comes from a family with a rich restaurant history. They opened the New York City eatery Lum's. Her journey reconnects her with her roots and honors her family. The series also highlights a trend of Asian Americans returning to the restaurant industry, defying their parents' expectations.

'ER' and 'The Pitt' are similar enough for lawsuit to move forward, appeals court finds

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California appeals court has found enough similarity between “ER” and “The Pitt” for a lawsuit by Michael Crichton's widow to proceed. The court ruled that the trial judge was correct to reject Warner Bros. Television's motion to dismiss. Both shows star Noah Wyle as an emergency room doctor and focus on the healthcare system. The lawsuit argues “The Pitt” is an unauthorized “ER” reboot. Crichton had a contract preventing any “ER” spinoffs without his consent. The court dismissed claims against Wyle and others, finding no evidence they interfered with Crichton's contract.

In ‘Possible Love,’ a South Korean auteur returns with a story of marriage, labor and class

VENICE, Italy (AP) — South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong's latest film, “Possible Love,” is now streaming on Netflix. The film explores the impact of mass layoffs in South Korea, inspired by the 2009 Ssangyong Motor Co. incident. The story follows a laid-off autoworker and his wife, played by Jeon Do-yeon, who agrees to be followed by a well-off documentary filmmaker. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival where it won the runner-up prize, is South Korea’s submission for the Academy Awards. Lee last directed “Burning,” which was short-listed for an Oscar in 2018.

Lady Gaga, Shakira, Jack White and Boy George lead the 2027 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees

NEW YORK (AP) — Lady Gaga, Shakira, Pink, Boy George, Jack White, Sia, Vince Gill, Ne-Yo, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are among the impressive list of nominees for the 2027 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. Also on the ballot are America’s Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, Grandmaster Melle Mel as well as members of ZZ Top and War. Eligible voting members have until midnight Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 14 to turn in ballots with their choices of up to three nominees from the songwriter category and up to three from the performing-songwriter category. The 2027 inductees will be announced in early 2027. Last year's class included Taylor Swift, Kiss’s Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and more.

Russell Brand is convicted of rape, and judge says he'll get a prison term

LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand has been convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The British comedian faces a significant prison term when sentenced Monday. Brand, known for his risqué comedy and past promiscuity, denied the charges. He was taken into custody after the judge rejected a bail request. Prosecutors described him as a manipulative predator. The jury deliberated for over eight hours before reaching the verdict. Brand was acquitted of two rape counts and one attempted indecent assault. Police have provided prosecutors with investigations into two more allegations against him. Brand's conviction follows a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4.

Met Gala exhibit will examine everyday items of clothing, replacing scuttled Galliano show

NEW YORK (AP) — The new Met Gala exhibit will examine ordinary items and materials like jeans, puffer jackets and plastic and how fashion designers transform them. The new theme announced Thursday sounds about as far as can be imagined from the glittering, elaborate designs of John Galliano. The British designer was originally slated to be the subject of the Met’s fashion exhibit next spring before that idea was scuttled amid an outcry over past antisemitic and racist statements. Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton tells The Associated Press that it was a scramble to come up with “extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday” after the cancellation.

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree headed to New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been cut down and is heading to New York City to mark the beginning of the holiday season in the city. The 76-foot Norway spruce is expected to arrive Saturday after making the 200-mile trip from West Edmeston, New York. The tree will be wrapped with over 50,000 multicolored LED lights and crowned with a 900-pound Swarovski star before lighting up during a live broadcast ceremony on Dec. 2. The tree will be on display until Jan. 9, after which it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

Online magazine Salon, an early staple of internet discourse, announces it will shut down

WASHINGTON (AP) — Salon is shutting down after 31 years. That ends one of the early internet’s most influential websites that featured sharp voices and political and social journalism backed by a liberal sensibility. The statement cited the fact that “the business realities of independent digital journalism have changed profoundly over the years.” It did not immediately indicate what would become of its employees, though some reported they had lost their jobs. Nineteen full-time employees were affected. Salon said there were no immediate plans to take down its online archives, which include three decades of stories from across the world and across topics and genres.