Rihanna promises a ‘jam-packed’ Super Bowl halftime show

PHOENIX – Rihanna is putting in the work ahead of her Super Bowl halftime show, focusing so hard on what she promises will be “a jam-packed show” that her upcoming birthday and Valentine’s Day almost slipped her mind. “The setlist was the biggest challenge. That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 … Read more

Eugene Lee, award-winning Broadway, ‘SNL’ set designer, dies

NEW YORK – Eugene Lee, the six-time Emmy Award-winning production designer for “Saturday Night Live” who won three Tony Awards for his Broadway sets, including the complicated, greenified Emerald City of “Wicked,” has died. He was 83. Lee died Tuesday in Providence, Rhode Island, said Trinity Repertory Company, where he had been a resident artist … Read more

‘Ear Hustle’ podcast co-host is free from San Quentin prison

SAN FRANCISCO – A co-host of “Ear Hustle,” the Pulitzer Prize-nominated podcast produced behind bars, was released from San Quentin State Prison on Wednesday, a year after California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted his sentence. Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, 52, left the lockup near San Francisco and was greeted by his fellow podcast co-hosts Walter “Earlonne” … Read more

Biden’s State of the Union draws audience of 27.3 million

NEW YORK – An estimated 27.3 million people watched President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on television, the second smallest audience for the annual event in at least 30 years, the Nielsen company said on Wednesday. It was also down nearly 28% from the 38.2 million people who saw Biden’s address in 2022. … Read more

At Super Bowl, Sheryl Lee Ralph seeks to ‘Lift Every Voice’

PHOENIX – Sheryl Lee Ralph is living a career dream: The “Abbott Elementary” star won her first Emmy last year and will lend her powerful vocals as a Super Bowl pregame performer this weekend. With all her success, the veteran actor-singer only wishes her late parents were living to witness her recent accomplishments. “I wish … Read more

Stella Jean quits Milan Fashion Week over lack of inclusion

MILAN – The only Black designer belonging to Italy’s fashion council is withdrawing from this month’s Milan Fashion Week citing a lack of commitment to diversity and inclusion, and on Wednesday announced a hunger strike out of concern that other minority designers associated with her will suffer a backlash. Stella Jean told The Associated Press … Read more