Lainey Wilson rules the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards once again, Alan Jackson is honored

NEW YORK (AP) — Lainey Wilson has taken home the top prize at the Academy of Country Music Awards — the title of entertainer of the year — for a second year in a row. And that was after she cleaned house, taking home trophies for both female artist and album of the year. The  60th annual edition of the ACM Awards also saw Alan Jackson honored with an inaugural lifetime achievement award. Reba McEntire once again hosted. There were a few duets, including the Backstreet Boys with Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll with Shaboozey and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson.

Jury to be chosen for sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs

NEW YORK (AP) — The final stage of jury selection for the racketeering and sex trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was set to occur three days before opening statements. Federal prosecutors and lawyers assembled Friday to narrow a pool of 45 prospective jurors to 12 jurors and six alternates who will hear the two-month trial. For three days this week, would-be jurors were asked questions to help the judge and lawyers determine if they could be fair and impartial. And they were also questioned to ensure they could decide the case on the facts even after seeing explicit videos of sexual activity. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

Kids author Mo Willems and The Pigeon stare down the future in a new book

NEW YORK (AP) — Author Mo Willems has sold millions of books and won many awards, but the accolade that means most is when a parent says their child read aloud for the first time from one of his books. The 57-year-old author, illustrator and animator is best known for his bestselling picture books like the “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” and “Knuffle Bunny.” His latest, “Will the Pigeon Graduate?” tracks The Pigeon’s fear of an uncertain future and is sure to resonate beyond young kids during this graduation season.

Movie Review: Schmaltzy and sweet, Vince Vaughn leads Netflix’s ‘Nonnas’

The new Vince Vaughn movie “Nonnas” aspires to be a bit of cinematic comfort food. Streaming Friday on Netflix, “Nonnas” is based on the true story of a middle-aged man who opens a restaurant on Staten Island and hires Italian-American grandmothers, played by Talia Shire, Lorraine Bracco, Brenda Vaccaro and Susan Sarandon, as chefs. “Nonnas” was directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by his wife Liz Maccie. Associated Press film writer Lindsey Bahr writes in her review that “Nonnas” is cinematic comfort food. It's a little predictable, a little safe but done with an evident earnestness that makes it hard to dismiss. It's rated PG.

Jennifer Aniston's alleged stalker appears in court shirtless and a judge orders a mental evaluation

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has ordered a man who authorities say crashed his car through the front gate of Jennifer Aniston’s home to face a competency review. A Los Angeles judge says Thursday that 48-year-old Jimmy Wayne Carwyle must go through mental-health court to determine whether he is competent to face charges of felony stalking and felony vandalism. Carwyle appeared shirtless and wrapped in a blanket behind glass in a custody area of the Los Angeles courtroom. A judge doubted whether he would understand, but ordered Carwyle to stay away from the “Friends” star. Carwyle's attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf during the hearing.

Kali Uchis pours her heart into new album 'Sincerely,'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kali Uchis wrote the album that she knew her future self would need to listen to. “Sincerely,” began as a collection of letters to herself, friends and loved ones but took on a deeper meaning as the Colombian American songwriter gave birth to her first child and dealt with her mother's death. The 14-track album out Friday is dedicated to Uchis' late mother. The Grammy-winning artist hopes that after listening to the album, fans will feel more connected to themselves and more in touch with their emotions. The album's title is meant to evoke letters.

Varroooom! It's back on the bikes for Ewan and Charley for Europe trek in 'Long Way Home.'

NEW YORK (AP) — The last time Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman went on a global motorcycle adventure, they rode cutting-edge, electric Harley-Davidsons. For their latest trip, they took a trip back in time. The best friends chose to use vintage bikes this time as they rode through 17 European countries for Apple TV+’s “Long Way Home,” the fourth installment of their popular road trip docuseries. It starts airing Friday. McGregor picked a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, which was used as a patrol bike by the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol. Boorman picked a rusted out BMW R75/5 and scrambled to make it road worthy.

Ex-model testifies Weinstein sexually assaulted her at 16 and 19, says ‘my soul was removed from me'

NEW YORK (AP) — A former model has testified that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old, calling it the most “horrifying thing I ever experienced” to that point. Kaja Sokola told jurors at Weinstein’s #MeToo retrial on Thursday that the onetime movie honcho put his hand inside her underwear and made her touch his genitals at a Manhattan apartment in 2002. Weinstein is not charged with any crime in connection with the alleged assault. Sokola is testifying because Weinstein is charged with forcing oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel four years later. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and denies sexually assaulting anyone.

Kendrick Lamar enters BET Awards with a leading 10 nominations for the ceremony's 25th anniversary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar extends his dominant musical reign, entering next month’s BET Awards as the leading nominee. The rap megastar earned 10 nominations Thursday, including an album of the year for his highly-acclaimed project “GNX.” His ubiquitous diss track “Not Like Us,” emanating from the Drake feud, received nominations for video of the year and viewer’s choice award. Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla tied for the second-most nominations with six. Metro Boomin pulled in five nods, while SZA and The Weeknd each scored four. The BET Awards will celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 9 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show will air at 8 p.m. EDT.