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Elton John is named TIME’s Icon of the Year

Just ahead of the release of his upcoming documentary, Never Too Late, the legendary Sir Elton John has been named Time’s ‘Icon of the Year.’

NBC’s ‘Today Show’ co-host Al Roker said during a segment announcing the Icon of the Year: “As important as his music is, his philanthropy and his activism, you know works for AIDS and so many other charities, is just nonstop.”

Elton wrote on Instagram: “TIME Icon of the Year – what an honour! Reflecting on my journey – from the highs and lows of my early career to the peace and happiness of life now with my husband and two wonderful sons – I’m reminded of the incredible support and love that have shaped my path. This accolade is a personal milestone and a reminder to the world that being yourself is truly iconic.”

In a new cover story for the publication, John sat for an interview in which he looked back over his career, stating: “If people remember that we tried to change the world a little bit, we were kind, we tried to help people … And then, apart from that, there was the music.”

Never Too Late, which premieres on Disney+ this Friday, Dec. 13th, sees John preparing for his Dodger Stadium concert, which would be his last. He says: “I honestly don’t miss going on tour. I’m 77 and, you know, I’ve done four and a half thousand shows, I’ve gone how many flights. I have two young boys that need me. I have David as my husband that needs me. I love spending time with my boys, and I love being here, at this house.  And I understand why people find it hard to stop, but I didn’t find it hard at all.”

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Jelly Roll, Linkin Park, Stray Kids among additional performers at 2024 Billboard Music Awards

Jelly Roll, Linkin Park, Stray Kids, Fuerza Regida, Megan Moroney and Shaboozey have been added to the lineup of performers for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), hosted by actress/comedian Michelle Buteau and airing live on Thursday, December 12th at 8 pm ET/PT on Fox and Amazon’s Fire TV Channels.  The newly-added performers join previously announced artists including Coldplay, Seventeen, Teddy Swims, and Tyla.

The BBMAs honors the year’s biggest artists, albums, songs, producers, and songwriters across multiple genres, as determined by year-end performance metrics on Billboard’s Year-End Charts, which measures music consumption from the Billboard charts dated October 28, 2023, through October 19, 2024.

Zach Bryan, Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter are the leading finalists this year; while Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Tommy Richman, and Tyla are all finalists for the first time this year.

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards airs live on Thursday, December 12th at 8 pm ET/PT on Fox and Amazon’s Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+. The special will also air the next day on Hulu.

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NY Attorney General rejects demand from Trump to drop $480M fraud case

The New York Attorney General’s Office has rejected a demand from President-elect Donald Trump to drop the , $480 million civil business fraud case against him.

NY Attorney General Letitia James had been urged by Trump defense attorney John Sauer in a Nov. 26 letter to dismiss the case “for the health of our Republic.”  Sauer wrote: “President Trump has called for our Nation’s partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country. This call for unity extends to the legal onslaught against him and his family that permeated the most recent election cycle.”

Sauer had argued that the continuation of the case will impede Trump from carrying out his presidential duties.  However in a two-page letter, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale responded that “this Office will not stipulate to vacate the final judgment already entered by Supreme Court, New York County, in this action or otherwise seek to dismiss the action.”  Vale added that there is “no merit” to Sauer’s claims, and that Trump’s upcoming inauguration “has no bearing” on the outcome of the trial or his ongoing efforts to challenge the judgment, saying: “Presidents do not have immunity from civil lawsuits arising from unofficial conduct, and such lawsuits may proceed while the President is in office. This civil enforcement action is not a criminal action, and [Manhattan] Supreme Court did not impose any criminal sanction on Mr. Trump or any other defendant.”

The civil case was brought by AG James in 2022, and accuses Trump, his two adult sons, his business and key executives within it of falsely inflating Trump’s assets to boost his stated net worth and obtain financial perks. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for fraud and held a bench trial to determine penalties in February, ordering Trump to pay more than $450 million in fines and interest. That penalty included millions of dollars in prejudgment interest that will accrue by $111,983 every day until it is paid, with Trump’s total judgment and interest totaling more than $486 million.

A New York appeals court in March reduced the bond amount to $175 million; the appeals court has yet to issue a decision.

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Suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO denied bail in PA; awaits extradition to NY on murder charges

The suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City faced an extradition hearing on murder charges on Tuesday afternoon.

Luigi Mangione contested extradition to New York but was denied bail and remanded to State Correctional Institution Huntingdon in Huntingdon County. The state of Pennsylvania has 30 days to get a warrant from NY Gov. Kathy Hochul for extradition to NY. Mangione has been charged in NY with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, online court documents show. He also faces gun charges in Pennsylvania related to the firearm police found on him when he was arrested on Monday.

Mangione was seen on video pulling away from members of the Blair County Sheriff’s Department before entering the courthouse, screaming: “This is completely unjust and an insult to the American people!” He was pinned against a wall before being forced inside.

Per NBC News, Mangione was arrested yesterday morning at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on a tip from an employee. Authorities said he had a gun similar to the one used in the shooting, a silencer and a fake ID. In handwritten notes, he said “these parasites had it coming” and that he “wasn’t working with anyone.”

According to a confidential assessment of the crime by the NYPD intelligence bureau (based in part on the suspect’s writings) and reported by ABC News, Mangione “appeared to view the targeted killing … as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption and ‘power games.’”  The suspect allegedly described himself as the “first to face” United Healthcare “with such brutal honesty.”

Additionally, according to the New York arrest warrant when arrested on Monday, Mangione had “written admissions about the crime” with him along with several handwritten pages expressing “disdain for corporate America.” NYPD Chief of Detective Joe Kenny said on Tuesday that Mangione indicated “he’s frustrated with the health care system in the United States. Specifically, he states how we are the No. 1 most expensive health care system in the world, yet the life expectancy of an American is ranked 42 in the world.”

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Sing-along screenings of ‘Wicked’ announced for Christmas Day

Universal Pictures announced that sing-along screenings of Wicked will be held at over 1,000 theaters on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will make a new video introduction, with the lyrics for all the film’s musical numbers shown on screen. Wicked will also continue its theatrical run in standard format.

Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution for Universal Pictures, said in a statement: “the overwhelming response to ‘Wicked’ has been remarkable. These sing-along screenings offer fans a unique opportunity to become part of the story they’ve embraced so enthusiastically. There’s something extraordinarily special about experiencing this beloved musical together as a community, and we’re thrilled to create that opportunity this holiday season.”

Wicked is based on the Broadway musical prequel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Wicked: Part Two is set to debut in theaters on November 21, 2025.  The film is now the highest-grossing Broadway musical film adaptation in U.S. box office history, and has made over $320 million domestic and $457 worldwide. It surpasses ‘Grease’, which held the record for 46 years.

Tickets for the sing-along screenings are available now; visit wickedmovie.com/singalong for details on showtimes and availability.

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Stream Nicki Minaj’s 10th anniversary edition of ‘The Pinkprint’

Nicki Minaj has shared a new, expanded version of ‘The Pinkprint’ to celebrate the 10th anniversary milestone of its release.

The Pinkprint was initially released in 2014 and includes 16 songs, including hit singles ‘Pills n Potions’, ‘Anaconda’, ‘Only’, ‘Bed Of Lies’, ‘Truffle Butter’ and ‘The Night Is Still Young,’ along with four new tracks added including ‘Turn Ya Cap Back’ starring Swae Lee; ‘It’s Okay’ featuring David Guetta and Davido; ‘Remember Me’ ft. Parker Ighile; and ‘Arctic Tundra’ featuring the late Juice WRLD.

Stream the 10th anniversary deluxe edition of The Pinkprint – HERE.

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26-year-old suspect in fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO arrested

Police have arrested 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, who is considered a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was fatally shot outside the New York Midtown Hilton hotel Wednesday in what police described as a “brazen, targeted attack.”

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Monday that Mangione was found with a gun consistent with the one used to kill Thompson, along with a silencer as well as a false New Jersey ID police allege he used to check into an Upper West Side hostel where the shooter is believed to have stayed. Tisch said the ghost gun capable of firing a 9 mm round and a suppressor.

Mangione was taken into custody after tipsters at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa. found him suspicious and contacted local authorities. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland and has ties to San Francisco, though his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mangione had a “manifesto” on his person criticizing healthcare companies when he was detained, according to law enforcement sources, who added that the name the suspect used on his fake ID was Marc Rosario. They believe the shooter arrived in New York City in late November, taking a bus that originally left from Atlanta.  Tisch said that Mangione’s handwritten document “that speaks to his motivation and mindset .. It does seem that he had some ill will toward corporate America,” and added that it appears Mangione acted alone.

A UnitedHealth Group spokesperson said in a statement Monday, “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy. We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation.”

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Daniel Penny acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely

On Monday, Dec. 9, a Manhattan jury found Daniel Penny — the man charged in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train — not guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

Penny, 24, had also previously been charged with manslaughter; however, after the jury was unable to reach a verdict last week, Judge Maxwell Wiley had agreed to drop the manslaughter charges at the request of the Manhattan District Attorney. The lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide carried a potential sentence of four years in prison.

Penny, a White Marine veteran, had been charged in connection with the May 2023 incident that made national headlines. Neely, a 30-year-old Black homeless man, had boarded a northbound F train at Second Avenue on May 1, 2023. Video footage showed Penny restraining Neely by the neck on the floor of the subway train in Manhattan, as two other passengers appear to come to Penny’s aid. Prosecutors say that Penny put Neely in a chokehold for several minutes after approaching him from behind, and that eventually Neely’s body stopped moving and he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Prosecutors argued that Penny was indifferent to Neely’s life and noted that he continued the hold on him even after the train had stopped and the doors had opened (per The Associated Press.)

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that Neely was verbally threatening passengers on board, with CNN reported at the time that Neely — a Michael Jackson impersonator — saying he didn’t care if he went back to jail and complained of being hungry. The defense also argued that the pressure on Neely’s neck wasn’t applied consistently enough to kill him.

In a statement, Bragg said he respected the verdict, but condemned the “hate and threats” directed at prosecutors trying the case for the DA’s office: “Over the duration of this trial, talented career prosecutors and their family members were besieged with hate and threats – on social media, by phone and over email. Simply put, this is unacceptable, and everyone, no matter your opinion on this case, should condemn it.”

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Jay-Z denies ‘heinous’ sexual assault allegations against him and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs against 13-year-old in 2000

Jay-Z (legal name Shawn Carter) is publicly denying the ‘heinous’ allegations made against him in a civil lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

NBC News reported that Jay-Z, 55, and Combs are accused of raping a 13-year-old girl 24 years ago in the lawsuit, that was amended since originally being filed in October. Carter was named in the civil lawsuit filed by a woman identified only as Jane Doe; according to the amended complaint, Doe alleges that she was assaulted after she was driven to an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.

The lawsuit that was originally filed in New York City on October 20 had the names of two celebrities redacted, only listing Combs, 55, as a defendant. An amended complaint was filed on Sunday, Dec. 8 has the unnamed woman alleging that she was raped by Combs and Carter, while a still-unnamed female celebrity watched during a party in a N.Y.C. residence after the VMAs.  The suit states: “Defendant Sean Combs, along with his longtime friend and collaborator Shawn Carter (a/k/a ‘JayZ’), drugged and raped a thirteen-year-old girl at an afterparty following the 2000 Video Music Awards. Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor.”

Carter responded to the allegations via the X account of Roc Nation, calling the accusation false and stating that the filing was a blackmail attempt:  “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!! These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case  You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same. I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”    

Carter added that his “only heartbreak” is for his family: “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age.”

Combs’ attorneys also denied the allegations in a statement: “This amended complaint and the recent extortion lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee exposes his barrage of lawsuits against Mr. Combs for what they are: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs. As his legal team has said before, Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”

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Elton John teams with Brandi Carlile for ‘Never Too Late’

Elton John and Brandi Carlile dropped their new original song “Never Too Late” from the Disney+ documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late. “Never Too Late” was co-written by Elton and Carlile in the summer of 2023, and is produced and co-written by Andrew Watt.

Carlile shares: “I found the early cut of the documentary that went on to become Elton John: Never Too Late so moving. It was really amazing to see historic footage of Elton and the trajectory of his life. But as fantastic and as beautiful as everything was that we were all witnessing as fans, his life was also pretty lonely and difficult at times. And I thought that the documentary illustrated a really important sentiment because he might not have ever found his serenity and his peace, but he did find it, and he found it later in life. And it is never too late – too late to find the love of your life, or to start a family, or to change your mind about anything.”

John added: “When Brandi told me she was so inspired by the early cut of the documentary that she wanted us to to co-write a new song for it, I was thrilled. I’ve known for a long time how great she was but still, reading her lyrics and co-writing with her on the music was deeply moving. Especially given how personal it is to see, seeing my life on the screen, she just perfectly captured the essence of the documentary and why I stopped touring to spend more time with my family. I’m constantly astonished by her craft, she can channel my voice in a way only Bernie has managed to do before. I know Bernie helped guide Brandi on that. The standard of her musicianship, her songwriting, her passion for what she does are sensational. She truly is one of the greatest there is.”

Elton John: Never Too Late received a limited theatrical release before it officially debuts on Disney+ on December 13th. The documentary follows Elton as he looks back on his life and the early days of his 50-year career, with R.J. Cutler and Elton’s partner, David Furnish, directing the film.

Listen to Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Never Too Late (from the film “Elton John: Never Too Late”) – here.

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