Two musical revolutionaries, Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, leave life's stage nearly simultaneously

Sometimes death, as life, brings strange symmetries. Two music revolutionaries, Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, both died within two days of each other. Each was 82. Each also shared similar stories — reaching great heights of power and creative influence, both to lose them suddenly, in sordid stories of addiction and mental illness. Wilson birthed the California sound, yet his compositional gifts for melody proved deeper then imagined. Stone brought the races, sexes and musical styles together in a joyous and breathtaking blend. The work will remain, as one senses the tragedies in their lives will recede with time.

What to know about Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on a top sex crimes charge at his #MeToo retrial

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty again. He was convicted Wednesday of a top sex crimes charge at his #MeToo retrial in New York City. The partial verdict came more than five years after his first conviction, which an appeals court later overturned. The jury returned a verdict on two of three charges against Weinstein, acquitting him of another charge while indicating they had yet to achieve unanimity on the final count. That could mean more deliberations on Thursday. The verdict capped an extraordinary fifth day of deliberations in which the jury foreperson complained that he was being bullied by other jurors. Weinstein’s lawyer then asked for a mistrial.

Trump booed and cheered at the Kennedy Center while attending 'Les Misérables'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The audience at the Kennedy Center's opening-night performance of “Les Misérables” greeted President Donald Trump's arrival with a mix of cheers and boos. Trump's appearance Wednesday marks the Republican's first time attending a performance there as president. Trump avoided the center in his first term following entertainment industry pushback over his policies. Since returning to office, Trump has replaced the Kennedy Center's president and board with loyalists, had himself named chairman and pledged to overhaul programming he calls “woke” and too focused on leftist ideology. Trump's moves have upset some patrons and performers.

How the ‘F1’ soundtrack came together, with a little help from Lewis Hamilton

NEW YORK (AP) — The soundtrack for the summer tentpole “F1” needed to sound as massive as the pinnacle of motorsport itself. So, the team behind the movie worked with Atlantic Records for “F1 The Album.” The soundtrack features Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton, Myke Towers, Blackpink’s Rosé, Tate McRae and many more. Director Joseph Kosinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Atlantic Records West Coast President Kevin Weaver told The Associated Press that they endeavored to find big, bespoke songs from diverse artists reflective of F1's global reach with a little help from F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. But most importantly, the songs had to fit the film. The movie and album release June 27.

10 songs to celebrate the life and legacy of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson

NEW YORK (AP) — The musical world has lost a giant. Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader, has died at age 82. Attempting to distill Wilson’s talent and influence in a few short songs is an impossibility. Even just focusing on a few select cuts from The Beach Boys’ 1966 album “Pet Sounds" would feel shortsighted. But now is as good a time as ever to listen to The Associated Press' playlist celebrating his life and legacy. It includes classics like “Surfin USA” and “God Only Knows” as well as unexpected selections Wilson's solo track, “Don’t Let Her Know She’s an Angel."

Brian Wilson, Beach Boys visionary leader and summer's poet laureate, dies at 82

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has died at 82. One of the world’s most beloved and influential musicians, his family posted news of his death to his website Wednesday. Further details weren't immediately available. The Beach Boys’ many hits include “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and “Surfin’ USA.” The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers, he and his fellow Beach Boys rose from local California act to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of the American dream. Wilson himself was celebrated for his beautiful music and agonizing perfectionism and pitied for the demons that plagued him.

Bruce Springsteen's Berlin concert echoes with history and a stark warning

BERLIN (AP) — Veteran rock star Bruce Springsteen, a high-profile celebrity critic of President Donald Trump, slammed the U.S. administration as “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous” during a concert Wednesday in Berlin. The comments were especially poignant as the concert’s venue was built for the 1936 Olympic Games and still bears the scars of World War II and contains relics from the country’s dark Nazi past. “Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign,” Springsteen said to tens of thousands of fans.

Vance made a brief trip to Montana to speak to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance has made a brief trip to Montana to meet with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan and a group of other Fox News executives. That's according to two people familiar with the trip who confirmed the Tuesday night visit to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about it. Vance met with the group at the Murdoch family ranch. It’s not clear why Vance met with the group. Rupert Murdoch and his media organization have long been friendly with Republicans and have, for the most part, had a friendly relationship with President Donald Trump.

World’s most popular TikTok star Khaby Lame leaves the US after being detained by ICE

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The world's most popular TikTok personality has left the U.S. after being detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Khaby Lame was detained on June 6 at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for overstaying his visa but was allowed to leave the country. The voluntary departure that ICE officials granted Lame allowed him to avoid a deportation order on his immigration record. The 25-year-old influencer rose to fame in 2020 without ever saying a word in his videos reacting to absurdly complicated “life hacks." He hasn't commented publicly on his detainment. The Associated Press sent an email to Lame's team Tuesday seeking comment.

Movie Review: Can a rom-com be honest about money? Celine Song’s smart ‘Materialists’ gives it a go

Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a professional matchmaker. Harry (Pedro Pascal), is the handsome, rich guy she meets at a wedding. And John (Chris Evans) is the scruffy waiter she runs into there, a former boyfriend. “Materialists” is writer-director Celine Song's second film, following her soulful “Past Lives.” At first glance, one might worry that Song has gone all glossy rom-com, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review. But dig a little deeper, and one sees Song presenting her own version of a rom-com where characters are actually trying to navigate real life, and that means being realistic about something rom-coms usually aren't: money. In theaters Friday.