EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, winners of the Song of the Year, Best Pop Song and Best Vocal Performance awards for ‘Golden,’ pose in the press room during the 52nd American Music Awards on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images)
After winning a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Oscar, “Golden” proved it still hasn’t lost its shine.
The KPop Demon Hunters hit was named song of the year at the American Music Awards, which aired live from Las Vegas Monday night. Accepting the award were two of the three voices of HUNTR/X, EJAE and Rei Ami, the latter of whom was celebrating her birthday. “I’m gonna make this quick ’cause I have to pee so bad,” she told the crowd before her speech. “Golden” also won best pop song and best vocal performance.
Meanwhile, sombr’s “back to friends” was named best rock/alternative song, while his debut album I Barely Know Her was named best rock/alternative album. The singer also performed his single “Homewrecker,” which ended with him completely drenched in water raining down on him from the ceiling.
BTS, who opened the show with a pre-recorded live performance, was named artist of the year, and their song “SWIM” was named song of the summer. Teddy Swims performed his latest single “Mr. Know It All,” while New Kids on the Block, who currently have a Las Vegas residency, sang their classic “You Got It (The Right Stuff).” And 30 years after winning best new artist, Hootie & The Blowfish returned to perform “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”
The show also featured an unexpected reunion. In the category of best throwback song, the nominees were three songs that had recently experienced a resurgence on TikTok and other social media platforms: “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls, “Rock That Body” by Black Eyed Peas and “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes.
When “Rock That Body” was named the winner, Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo took the stage with none other than Fergie, who’d left the group in 2018. It was the first time in years that all four had appeared together publicly.
Fergie thanked the fans for reviving the song via TikTok, “so that my son would put our song on his playlist,” and then yelled, “Hi Axl! ‘Rock That Body!’ We did it!” Fergie shares son Axl Jack Duhamel with her former husband, Josh Duhamel.
The show closed with newly minted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Billy Idol receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and performing his classics “Eyes Without a Face” and “Dancing With Myself.”
Jungkook, Jin, Jimin, RM, J-Hope, V and Suga of BTS accept the Artist of the Year award onstage during the 52nd American Music Awards on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
BTS made a triumphant return to the American Music Awards Monday night, with their first awards show appearance in four years.
The group, whose first U.S. TV performance came at the AMAs in 2017, scooped the artist of the year award for a second time; the last time was in 2021, before they went on hiatus to complete their mandatory military service. “It’s an honor to have this precious award once again,” said group member RM. They thanked their fans, known as ARMY, for standing by them “for the past 13 years.”
BTS also picked up the song of the summer trophy for “SWIM” at the fan-voted award show, and presented the best female R&B artist trophy to SZA, who seemed thrilled to meet them.
All that was after the K-pop superstars opened the show with a performance of “Hooligan,” which was seemingly recorded at one of the two shows they performed at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on May 23 and May 24.
But BTS weren’t the only K-pop-related winners: “Golden,” from KPop Demon Hunters, was named song of the year. Accepting the trophy along with fellow HUNTR/X singer EJAE, Rei Ami, who was also celebrating her birthday, said, “I’m gonna make this quick ’cause I have to pee so bad.” “Golden” also won best pop song and best vocal performance.
And K-pop adjacent group KATSEYE was named new artist of the year, and also performed a colorful version of their new song “Pinky Up,” which featured them emerging from a giant teddy bear.
Meanwhile, sombr won best rock/alternative song for “back to friends,” as well as best rock/alternative album for I Barely Know Her. He also performed his single “Homewrecker,” which ended with him being drenched in water raining down on him from overhead.
There were two notable reunions during the show. The Pussycat Dolls performed a medley of their hits, including “Don’t Cha,” “Buttons” and “When I Grow Up.” But most surprisingly, the Black Eyed Peas reunited with Fergie onstage for the first time in years, to accept the best throwback song award for “Rock That Body.” Fergie thanked the fans for reviving the song via TikTok, “so that my son would put our song on his playlist.”
Billy Idol accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award onstage during the 52nd American Music Awards on May 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Billy Idol had the honor of closing Sunday night’s American Music Awards, as he accepted the AMA Lifetime Achievement Award and then took the stage to perform two of his classic hits.
Idol was presented the award by Grammy-winning R&B star Leon Thomas, who said he became a fan of the newly minted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer via his late stepdad, musician Jon Kevin Jones. Accepting his award, Idol, rocking a purple shirt and black leather blazer, thanked the fans, saying, “I’ve been able to live my dream. It’s really because of all of you.”
Idol, who started his career 50 years ago as part of the U.K.’s burgeoning punk rock scene, said, “We believed in what we were doing. And we thought that if we just dreamed into this life and gave it everything we had, it would give it back to us in spades. And that’s exactly what happened.”
He concluded by offering a message to “any kid out there” who is interested in music and is “inspired to create that feeling of freedom and pursue a life of art.”
“All I can say is, pick up an instrument, find out who you are, and be it!” he advised. He then took the stage with his longtime musical partner, guitarist Steve Stevens, to perform “Eyes Without a Face” and “Dancing with Myself.”
Idol and Stevens will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame together November 14 in LA; the ceremony will air in December on ABC and Disney+.
(LAKE MARION, S.C.) — A woman died after being struck by a patio umbrella during strong winds at a lakeside South Carolina restaurant over Memorial Day weekend, officials said.
The incident occurred Saturday evening at a restaurant along Lake Marion in Summerton, authorities said.
The woman and her husband were dining on the restaurant’s patio “when a sudden strong wind blew an umbrella from a table,” striking the woman in the head and neck area, the Clarendon County Coroner’s Office said in a statement.
First responders found the woman unresponsive with lacerations to her head and neck area, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroner’s office.
The victim is a woman from Huger, South Carolina, the coroner’s office said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
The restaurant, Driftwood Grill Home of the Lazy Gator, confirmed the incident occurred at its restaurant during a “sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion.”
“This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved,” the restaurant said in a statement Sunday on social media. “Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
The restaurant said it held a support session on Monday with authorities, chaplains and others for those impacted by the “tragic” incident.
“This has impacted many people — including staff members, guests, first responders, families, and community members — and we are grateful for the continued support, prayers, understanding, and encouragement being shown throughout the area,” the statement said.
ABC News’ Jason Volack contributed to this report.
(GENEVA, Switzerland) — The head of the World Health Organization warned on Monday that a rapidly growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda “will get worse before it gets better.”
More than 900 cases and more than 220 deaths have been reported in the DRC, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a virtual briefing. Of those totals, 101 cases and 10 deaths have been confirmed.
Additionally, there have been five travel-related cases and a death in Uganda, according to the WHO and the Uganda Ministry of Health.
“We are facing an extremely serious and difficult outbreak. It will get worse before it gets better,” Tedros said on Monday. “But we know this virus, and we know how to stop it. We have stopped every previous Ebola outbreak, and we will stop this one, too.”
Tedros said he wanted to echo comments made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about overcoming the outbreak with unity.
“The question is just how quickly we can do it, and how many more lives will be lost before we do,” Tedros added.
Tedros’ comments come amid a hospital in northeastern Congo facing growing tension as officials have trouble following safety rules following the death of a well-known religious leader.
Dr. Richard Lokudi, director of the Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital in Ituri province — one of three provinces where the Ebola outbreak is concentrated — told ABC News the facility is under heavy tension after the body of a confirmed Ebola victim, who was also a major religious figure in the region, was brought there.
Lokudi said that family members and groups of young people are demanding the body be returned.
Because the patient was a confirmed Ebola case, authorities are insisting on a “safe and dignified burial” under outbreak protocols, and the body is being temporarily kept at the hospital until burial on Monday.
Lokudi said police and military forces have been securing the hospital and firing warning shots to disperse protesters gathered outside.
He added that the gunfire around the hospital has left him exhausted and stressed.
Last week, Tedros classified the Ebola outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern — one level below a pandemic in the United Nations agency’s alert system.
The WHO continues to consider the national risk assessment as “very high” while the regional level risk remains “high” and the global risk level remains “low,” Tedros said on Monday.
The outbreak has led to multiple countries, including the U.S., India, the U.K. and Australia, putting travel restrictions in place.
Entry to the U.S. is restricted to foreign travelers who have recently been in the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.
Meanwhile, U.S. passport holders and U.S. nationals returning to the U.S. from the three countries will be funneled to Dulles Airport in Virginia to be screened for symptoms and interviewed about possible exposure.
Enhanced screening efforts have also begun at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as of Saturday morning and efforts at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston will begin late Tuesday.
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have been in any of the three countries over the last 21 days are barred from entering the U.S. temporarily.
Tedros said on Monday that WHO teams are on the ground in the outbreak zones assisting with response including contact tracing, establishing treatment centers and infection prevention and control. Tedros added that he will be traveling to the DRC on Tuesday.
The WHO chief said that several aspects of this outbreak make it “especially challenging,” including the delays in detecting the outbreak.
“[It] means that we are now playing catch-up with a very fast-moving epidemic,” he said on Monday.
US doctor infected with Ebola critically ill but says he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ He said that due to recent fighting in the provinces facing the brunt of the outbreak, it means tens of thousands of people are displaced and there is “significant distrust of outside authorities among the local population.”
An additional challenge is that there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the strain of Ebola responsible for the outbreak: Bundibugyo virus.
Tedros said the WHO has recommended prioritizing two monoclonal antibodies to advance in clinical trials and recommended evaluating the antiviral obeldesivir in a clinical trial as post-exposure prophylaxis for those who are high-risk contacts.
ABC News’ Eric M. Strauss contributed to this report.
Lieutenant John Gullen, an emergency response forest ranger for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, detailed how he rescued a hiker who was stuck in Merlin’s Cave. (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(NEW YORK) — Forest rangers in New York rescued a man last week who had been stuck in a crevice in a cave for six hours, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The unidentified Brooklyn man was hiking with friends at Merlin’s Cave in the town of Canaan on May 17 when he became stuck in the crevice, the department wrote in the caption of a Facebook post Friday.
Forest Ranger Lt. John Gullen, who helped safely pull the man out, said in a video posted on the department’s social media page that the man “was really jammed in there more than I had expected.”
“It was like his full body was stuck in a crevice that was basically designed the exact shape of him,” Gullen said.
The man slipped into the crevice about 400 feet from the cave entrance, according to department officials, and had become completely immobilized.
Gullen said three of the man’s friends were still with him when rescuers arrived and had attempted to get him out themselves, but all of them had become hypothermic.
“With any cave rescue, hypothermia is a guarantee,” Gullen said. “It’s about 50 degrees [Fahrenheit] in the cave, and it’s almost 100% humidity, and that gets you cold quick, especially when you’re not moving.”
Gullen said the man maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal, as rescuers worked to free him.
“For most people, that’s like their worst nightmare. So he did such a great job keeping a positive attitude. He was giving me thumbs up … we were telling jokes,” he recalled.
The rescue crew were able to use a rock drill to carefully remove parts of the surrounding stone “inches from the subject’s head and back” until he was finally able to wiggle himself free, officials said.
“Once we were able to get to a point where we could high-five, we were high-fiving,” Gullen said. “It’s a feeling that I wish everyone could experience, because there’s nothing like it.”
The man was ultimately able to walk out of the cave on his own after being warmed up, according to officials.
It seems Tom Hardy will exit the Paramount+ series MobLand after season 2. Deadline reports that the actor will not return to the show if it gets renewed for a third season. Season 2 has yet to premiere, but it has wrapped filming. The outlet reports that Hardy completed the season amid friction between him and the series’ writer, executive producer and showrunner Jez Butterworth …
Ben Stiller and Mike Judge are teaming up for a comedy series at Apple TV. Variety reports that the show, which is currently titled Protective Custody, will star Stiller as a disgraced financier accused of massive fraud …
The first look at The Boys spinoff series Vought Rising has arrived. Prime Video shared the first trailer for the upcoming show, which is set to debut in 2027. It stars Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash and is set in the 1950s. This prequel follows the origins of Vought International …
At least 19 people were injured when a stampede broke out, May 24, 2026, at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, according to police. (Horry County Fire Rescue)
(ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C.) –At least 19 people were injured early Sunday in a crowd stampede at an annual motorcycle festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, authorities said.
The incident at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival occurred just after 1 a.m. local time near a stage at the event. Police suspect it was started by an individual who suddenly began running through the crowd, officials said.
“At no time were there any confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety. The situation appears to have been triggered when an individual began running, causing a brief chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds,” Atlantic Beach Interim Town Manager Titus Leaks said in a statement.
Leaks said that police officers assigned to crowd control at the event in Atlantic Beach, about 17 miles north of Myrtle Beach, quickly calmed the panicked crowd and restored order.
In an earlier online statement, Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) referred to the stampede as a “mass casualty incident.”
HCFR reported that 19 people were evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries and three people were hospitalized.
Leaks said that once the situation was stabilized, the event resumed normal operations.
“First and foremost, we want to express our sincere concern for anyone who was injured or impacted,” Leaks said. “Any situation where individuals are harmed is taken seriously, and our thoughts are with those affected as they recover. The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remains our highest priority.”
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held every Memorial Day weekend for the past 40 years, attracting visitors and motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country, officials said.
Last year’s event was marred by several high-profile incidents, including a party boat shooting in Little River and multiple fights that sent several people to the hospital, according to ABC affiliate station WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina.
(NEW YORK) –A soggy weather pattern will continue to plague the eastern half of the nation on Sunday with wet and cool conditions, but some improvement is in store for the Northeast and Midwest leading into Memorial Day.
Flood watches have been issued for the eastern Texas coast and into southern Louisiana and Mississippi, including the cities of Beaumont, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, for heavy rain through Memorial Day.
A widespread one to two inches of additional rain is likely from southern Louisiana up to the Carolinas, with pockets of two to four-plus inches possible with the heaviest downpours.
Some of these storms could also be strong enough to produce gusty winds as well as some small hail.
The rainy weather is causing some flight delays on Sunday at airports, including O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago Sunday morning due to thunderstorms. Arriving flights at O’Hare were experiencing average delays of 44 minutes, according to the FAA. Flights scheduled to depart from O’Hare were experiencing delays of up to one hour and 45 minutes, according to the FAA.
Thunderstorms forecast for central Indiana on Sunday afternoon could interrupt the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET, but the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis is forecasting a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms that could affect the race.
Memorial Day forecast Scattered rain and thunderstorms continue to linger in the South for Memorial Day.
The Northeast will see some rain move through early Monday morning but it will gradually begin to clear out, making way for a drier and mild afternoon and evening. Most of the region warms back up to average temperatures for Memorial Day.
The Midwest may see an isolated shower or two but will mostly be dry, with warm temperatures.
Much of the West remains warm and dry, except for the Pacific Northwest, where some clouds and showers will begin moving in, causing cooler temperatures.
Post-holiday forecast For folks going back to work or school or making their way back home from the holiday weekend, the South will continue to see scattered rain and thunderstorms into the new work week. This may cause some minor travel hiccups for those traveling by plane and some slippery conditions for drivers.
The Northwest will see some clouds and showers move into the region and begin to spread into the intermountain areas of the West later on in the week, but it won’t be a complete soaker.
This will also usher in noticeably cooler temperatures for much of the West for Tuesday into Wednesday, with highs going from the 70s and 80s for most of Monday down into the 60s and barely reaching the 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Emergency teams work the scene after multiple rapid-fire gunshots ring out near the White House on May 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — The Secret Service said officers shot and killed an armed man who opened fire at a White House checkpoint Saturday evening.
A bystander was also struck by gunfire in the incident, but it was not immediately clear how, the Secret Service said.
The man, who has not yet been named by authorities, allegedly walked up to the checkpoint in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW around 6 p.m., removed a weapon from a bag and began firing at the officers posted there, the Secret Service said.
“Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
Regarding the bystander who was struck, the Secret Service said: “It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire.”
There was no immediate word on the bystander’s condition.
No Secret Service members were hurt during the incident, which is still under investigation.
President Donald Trump praised law enforcement for their response, writing on social media, “Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.”
Trump added, “The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates. This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondent’Dinner shooting, and goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it!”
What we know about the alleged suspect The alleged suspect was a 21-year-old who was known to the Secret Service, multiple officials told ABC News.
Courts records indicate that the same alleged suspect had a stay-away order from the White House put in place on July 11, 2025.
He had been arrested the day before after attempting to get into the White House and get past a security checkpoint, according to a court record. He told officers he was “Jesus Christ” and allegedly told officers he wanted to get arrested.
In a separate incident on June 26, he was involuntary committed, according to the same court record.
Reporters told to run for cover At the time of the shooting, Trump was in the Oval Office working with aides Steven Cheung, Natalie Harp, Margo Martin and others, according to a White House Official.
ABC News’ Selina Wang was filming a piece for social media platforms at the White House when the apparent gun shots sounded. She and crew members quickly ducked for cover.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post that the agency was on scene and assisting the Secret Service.
“We will update the public as we’re able,” Patel said.
When the gunshots sounded, reporters were told to sprint into the White House Press Briefing Room.
