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.

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."

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 the thousands of fans.

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.

Carole King, Keith Richard, John Cusack and more celebs react to the death of Brian Wilson

Carole King, John Cusack, Sean Ono Lennon, Ronnie Wood, Nancy Sinatra and more celebrities are sharing their sorrow on the death of Brian Wilson. The visionary leader of the Beach Boys was 82. Wilson’s family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts Wednesday. Lennon, the son of John Lennon, says his heart is broken. He called Wilson — in his words — our American Mozart. Cusack, who played Wilson in the 2014 biopic “Love & Mercy,” called Wilson “the maestro” with an “open heart.” Nancy Sinatra says singing “California Girls” with Wilson was one of the biggest thrills of her life. No additional details about Wilson's death were immediately shared.

Trump plans to attend 'Les Misérables' at the Kennedy Center after taking over the institution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is taking his seat in the president's box for opening night of the award-winning musical “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center. Trump's scheduled appearance Wednesday comes as he has focused on the performing arts center more than any recent predecessor. It'll mark 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.

Indiana Jones' whip, Kane's Rosebud sled and Culkin's 'Home Alone' snow cap are going up for auction

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Many of movies’ most sought-after props are going up for auction, including the Rosebud sled from “Citizen Kane,” Macaulay Culkin’s snow cap from “Home Alone” and a whip wielded by Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." The sale from Heritage Auctions that begins July 15 also includes gems from the “Star Wars” galaxy, like a filming miniature of Luke Skywalker’s X-wing starfighter from “The Empire Strikes Back” and the lightsabers wielded by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in “Revenge of the Sith.” The Rosebud sled is owned by “Gremlins” director Joe Dante, who found it while filming and hung on to it quietly for decades.

Fans greet K-pop stars Jimin and Jung Kook of BTS discharged from military service

YEONCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Hundreds of fans gathered in the early morning hours to catch a glimpse of K-pop superstars Jimin and Jung Kook, the latest and final members of BTS to be discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service. The pair wore their military uniforms Wednesday, saluted and addressed fans who had assembled to see the pair after their discharge. They enlisted in December 2023, one day after RM and V did the same. The latter were discharged on Tuesday. The seven singers of the popular K-pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 after they finish their service. Suga is fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service.