Snoop Dogg to star in true crime thriller ‘God of the Rodeo’

Snoop Dogg to star in true crime thriller ‘God of the Rodeo’
Snoop Dogg to star in true crime thriller ‘God of the Rodeo’
Honoree Snoop Dogg accepts the Ultimate Icon Award onstage during the 2025 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 9, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

Another day, another gig for Snoop DoggDeadline reports he is set to star in God of the Rodeo, a true crime thriller from filmmaker Rosalind Ross.

Snoop will also produce the film with his Death Row Pictures partner Sara Ramaker, Giannina Scott for Cara Films and Ridley Scott for Scott Free Productions, while Ross writes and directs.

“Linking up with Scott Free Productions and working with Ridley Scott and Giannina Scott on God of the Rodeo is life changing and an honor,” Snoop said in a statement. “Rosalind Ross brought a story with heart and grit, and that’s what I’m about. Me and the team at Death Row Pictures stepping in as producers, I’m acting in it, and Death Row Records is building the soundtrack—and this one got soul. … We’re bringing an important story and something special to the screen.”

Giannina Scott said she is “excited and blessed to have Snoop join the cast,” calling him “one of the most gifted and influential artists alive.”

Ross added, “It’s a thrill and an honor as a filmmaker to bring the legendary swagger, soul and eccentricity of Snoop to this story in what will be a completely transformative role for him.”

While Snoop’s exact role has not yet been revealed, God of the Rodeo — based on reporting by Daniel Bergner— is set against the brutal backdrop of Louisiana’s Angola Prison in 1967.

It follows Buckkey, an inmate serving a life sentence “who finds a glimmer of redemption” in Angola’s first inmate rodeo, according to Deadline. He later learns the rodeo is less of an opportunity and more of “a grueling fight for survival designed to satiate the public’s” desire for bloodshed and the warden’s sense of power.

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Slayer’s Kerry King to begin work on sophomore solo album

Slayer’s Kerry King to begin work on sophomore solo album
Slayer’s Kerry King to begin work on sophomore solo album
Kerry King of Slayer performs on day 9 of 2025 Festival d’été de Québec on July 11, 2025 in Quebec City, Quebec. (Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Slayer guitarist Kerry King is prepping a return to the studio.

Talent agency Independent Artist Group, which has signed King for international representation, tells Pollstar that the “Raining Blood” metaller will begin recording his sophomore solo album in April.

King released his debut solo album, From Hell I Rise, in 2024.

IAG adds that King plans to launch a solo tour in early 2027.

Slayer, meanwhile, will be performing at the upcoming Rocklahoma and Sick New World Texas festivals. Their sets will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 1986 album, Reign in Blood.

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Documentary on ‘Mercy’ singer Duffy’s kidnapping ordeal coming to Disney+

Documentary on ‘Mercy’ singer Duffy’s kidnapping ordeal coming to Disney+
Documentary on ‘Mercy’ singer Duffy’s kidnapping ordeal coming to Disney+
Duffy performs during the Focus Night as part of the DLD conference 2011, Jan. 24, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)

Welsh singer Duffy, best known for her Grammy-nominated song “Mercy” and Grammy-winning album Rockferry, disappeared from the spotlight for 10 years. She remerged in 2020 to reveal that she’d been kidnapped, trafficked and abused. Her story will now be told in a Hulu Original documentary for Disney+.

The documentary will track Duffy’s life from her childhood in Wales and her global fame, to her harrowing ordeal and its aftermath. According to a press release, the documentary will be driven by “new, unprecedented access to Duffy,” as well as archival footage and interviews with her family, friends and industry peers.

Disney+ executive Sean Doyle said in a statement, “This film will give Duffy the chance to tell her story in her own words,” adding that the project has been handled “with sensitivity and care.” He notes, “I’m especially in awe of Duffy — for her honesty and courage to share her story.”

Director Gill Callan said in a statement, “Duffy’s life has been shaped by success and fame, but equally by pain, defiance, and an irrepressible sense of self. I’m drawn to the tension between vulnerability and confidence in her story and how a person can be deeply affected by their experiences, yet still find a powerful, expressive voice that is unmistakably hers.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.

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Expansive lot of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia memorabilia going up for auction

Expansive lot of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia memorabilia going up for auction
Expansive lot of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia memorabilia going up for auction
Julian’s Treasures From The Golden Road auction admat (Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions)

More than 300 pieces of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia memorabilia are set to go up for auction in April.

Julien’s Auctions has announced details of Treasures From The Golden Road: Featuring Property From “Big Steve,” “Ram Rod” & Trixie Garcia. The auction features instruments, keepsakes and more from the personal archives of members of the Grateful Dead’s inner circle. The items available belong to crew chief and Jerry Garcia Band manager “Big Steve” Parish, Jerry Garcia’s daughter Trixie Garcia and Grateful Dead head roadie Lawrence “Ram Rod” Shurtliff.

Several of Jerry Garcia’s instruments are part of the auction, including the late rocker’s 1939 Gibson Super 400N Archtop guitar, his custom-made 1988 Alvarez Yairi acoustic guitar and his 1988 Dobro Model 64 “Tree of Life” Resonator guitar. There are also several Jerry Garcia amps and effects pedals, as well as a personalized Madison Square Garden tie-dye director’s chair, a personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bat, sketchbooks and a working songbook.

Grateful Dead items up for auction include speaker cabinets, a dressing room plaque from the Winterland Ballroom and an RIAA Platinum award for 1970’s Workingman’s Dead.

“These items represent fifty years of memories and experiences with the Grateful Dead — from the early days to the final shows in Chicago. Each piece tells a story of the music, the journey, and the community that made it all possible,” says Parish. “Now is the time to share these with the fans and collectors who understand what they mean. I’m genuinely excited to give people the opportunity to own the things that have meant so much to me over the decades.”

The auction will take place April 22 at The Box SF in San Francisco. More information about the items up for grabs, as well as how to register, can be found at JuliensAuctions.com.

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H.E.R. stars in official trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Forgotten Island’

H.E.R. stars in official trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Forgotten Island’
H.E.R. stars in official trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Forgotten Island’
Raissa (Liza Soberano) and Jo (H.E.R.) in ‘Forgotten Island,’ directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. (DreamWorks Animation)

The official trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island has arrived.

Grammy and Oscar winner H.E.R. stars alongside Liza Soberano in the upcoming movie, which centers on friendship. The pair voice high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends ever since they were in grade school. The movie picks up as the girls are set to go off on separate life paths.

“While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families,” according to an official description from Universal Pictures.

On the island, the pair meet new friends, such as the weredog Raww (Dave Franco), as well as new enemies, like The Dreaded Manananggal (Lea Salonga). Eventually, the best friends discover they can return home, but only if they give up all of the memories they have of each other. The besties then race to find a way to get home without forgetting each other forever. 

The trailer is set to the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds. In it, we see Jo and Raissa get transported to the new land, where they receive a warning.

“The Forgotten Island is a dangerous place,” they’re told by a character voiced by Jenny Slate. “The longer you’re here, the more memories you’ll forget.”

The film’s star-studded voice cast also includes Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng. It was written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and produced by Mark Swift, the team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Forgotten Island debuts in theaters on Sept. 25.

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Nashville notes: Stapleton’s ‘Here’ with Mumford & Sons + Dollywood’s ‘MONOPOLY’

Nashville notes: Stapleton’s ‘Here’ with Mumford & Sons + Dollywood’s ‘MONOPOLY’
Nashville notes: Stapleton’s ‘Here’ with Mumford & Sons + Dollywood’s ‘MONOPOLY’

If you missed Hudson Westbrook’s Tuesday appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, you can check it out now on YouTube

You can now pick up MONOPOLY: Dollywood Edition at retail locations inside Dolly Parton’s Pigeon Forge theme park, featuring noted attractions like Blazing Fury, Lightning Rod and NighFlight Expedition for sale on the game board. 

Chris Stapleton guests on Mumford & Sons’ new single, “Here.”


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DOJ to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn $1M to settle malicious prosecution suit: Sources

DOJ to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn M to settle malicious prosecution suit: Sources
DOJ to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn $1M to settle malicious prosecution suit: Sources

(WASHINGTON) — The Justice Department has reached an agreement with President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn to pay him roughly $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the former general claiming he was politically targeted for prosecution during Trump’s first administration, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Woman accused of firing shots at Rihanna’s home pleads not guilty

Woman accused of firing shots at Rihanna’s home pleads not guilty
Woman accused of firing shots at Rihanna’s home pleads not guilty
Rihanna attends the 2025 CFDA Awards at The American Museum of Natural History on November 03, 2025 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

The woman accused of firing shots at Rihanna’s home earlier this month has pleaded not guilty.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, whom police say opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle at the singer’s Los Angeles home on March 8, appeared in court Wednesday morning.

An LA judge denied her request for bail reduction, which remains set at $1,875,000.

Ortiz was arrested earlier this month and booked on attempted murder in connection with the shooting at Rihanna’s home.

The singer’s mansion was struck by gunfire while she was at home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and sources with knowledge of the investigation at the time.

Sources told ABC News that no shots penetrated inside the home, only the exterior. Multiple rounds did hit the outside of the home, as well as a vehicle parked out front. No one was hurt in the incident, sources added.

A motive was not immediately clear.

In court on Wednesday, prosecutors described the incident as “extremely dangerous” and said it was “calculated.”

They added that Ortiz poses a flight risk.

Additionally, the state says that the attorney general wants her prohibited from practicing as a speech-language pathologist. 

The court has prohibited Ortiz from practicing her profession while the case proceeds.

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Elton John gets birthday wishes from husband, famous pals

Elton John gets birthday wishes from husband, famous pals
Elton John gets birthday wishes from husband, famous pals
Elton John performs at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, November 8, 2025 (Kevin Kane/Getty Images for RRHOF)

Elton John is celebrating his 79th birthday on Wednesday, and he’s gotten some birthday wishes from his famous pals — and his husband, who’s also his manager.

“Happy Birthday to my beautiful husband,” David Furnish wrote on his Instagram. “You amaze and inspire me every single day with your courage and kindness. Thank you for all the bountiful love you give me and our sons. We absolutely adore you.” 

Elton and David, who’ve been married since 2014, share two sons, Zachary Jackson Furnish-John and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John. Elton responded in the comments, “I am the luckiest man in the world. I love you, our boys, our life. Thank you for everything.”

Charlie Puth, and actors Eric McCormack and Ryan Phillippe offered birthday wishes in the comments.

Elton’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin posted a photo of the two of them together and wrote, “A very happy 79th birthday to my super sweet amigo.” Elton commented, “Love you @bernietaupinofficial.”

On his Instagram Story, Elton also shared birthday posts from pals like tennis legend Billie Jean King — who wrote, “Grateful for a lifetime of music, memories, and friendship” — and Donatella Versace, who called him her “darling friend.” Elton’s guitarist Davey Johnstone also sent a message, as did Grammy-winner Lola Young and makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury.

Charlotte wrote in an Instagram Story, “Darling, you are a TRUE INSPIRATION and a FORCE FOR GOOD — not just for your LEGENDARY music, which has touched and influenced so many, but for the INCREDIBLE work you do through [Elton John AIDS Foundation], changing so many lives around the world!”

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‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ HBO series gets teaser trailer, announces Christmas Day release

‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ HBO series gets teaser trailer, announces Christmas Day release
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ HBO series gets teaser trailer, announces Christmas Day release
Dominic McLaughlin stars in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ (Aidan Monaghan/HBO)

The boy who lived, for a brand-new era.

HBO has released the official teaser trailer for the first season of its upcoming Harry Potter series. It is officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the network announced.

Additionally, HBO has set the season to premiere Christmas Day on HBO Max. 

“There is nothing special about Harry Potter – at least that’s what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic,” its official logline reads. “But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past.”

Dominic McLaughlin leads the cast as Harry Potter, alongside Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, who play Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

“I’ve always wanted to know about my parents,” McLaughlin says as Harry in the trailer.

We then see Nick Frost as Hagrid, who says to him, “Your parents were the kindest, bravest people I ever met. They were funny and clever, and they stood up for what they believed was right. And the next time I see you will be in Hogwarts.”

The rest of the trailer finds Harry getting onto the Hogwarts Express and arriving at the wizarding school. We see glimpses of the great hall, the quidditch pitch, the sorting hat and other classic moments from the first Harry Potter book.

“Are you really Harry Potter?” Stout’s Ron asks Harry in the trailer’s last moments. When the boy who lived confirms so, Ron makes an explosion noise and accompanying hand movement on his own forehead, in the infamous spot where Harry’s lightning bolt scar resides.

The show is described as a faithful adaptation of the books by J.K. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer on the series.

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