A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Nas performs with Atlanta Pops Orchestra at Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park on July 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
While some people aspire to headline a Super Bowl halftime show, it’s not one of Nas‘ goals.
Asked when he will be hitting the Super Bowl stage, Nas tells Complex, “That’s that some super rockstar s***. Nah, I don’t want to do … I can’t say I don’t want to do the Super Bowl, but I don’t.”
“Why would I do that? Leave it to the professionals. Leave it to the pros. I’m a pro at what I do,” he continues. “It’s the biggest stage. I want to watch it. I want to watch dope halftime shows and that’s what has been happening lately so salute to all of them.”
Nas’ chat with Complex arrives amid his promo run for Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series, which features a comic book and new album releases from some of New York’s hip-hop icons, including Slick Rick, Mobb Deep and Ghostface Killah.
Big L is next up on the list, with a posthumous project, Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King, set to arrive on Oct. 31. The first single of the album, “u aint gotta chance,” is now available on streaming services, and it features a few bars from Nas.
“Even though Big L’s not here with us now, to get on the song with him is still pressure,” Nas shares with Rolling Stone. “He left an outstanding amount of serious rhymes. So just approaching it is like, ‘Damn, I wish we were doing this together, but it’s still an honor to do it.’”
Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is co-executive produced by Big L’s estate and Royce Da 5’9. It features a few freestyles and updated versions of tracks off his Return of The Devil’s Son album, which was previously taken off DSPs because of licensing issues.
NIH-NIAID/Image Point FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — The first U.S. case of a more severe strain of mpox without any recent travel history has been identified in California.
Health officials said this week that the case was confirmed in a Long Beach resident. The patient required hospitalization and is now isolating and recovering at home.
No other identifying details were provided about the patient, including name, age or sex.
While this is the seventh case of the more severe strain confirmed in the U.S this year, it is the first without known travel, according to local officials.
Officials say the risk to the general public is low and the health department is conducting an investigation, including working to identify the patient’s potential sources of exposure.
“We are taking this very seriously and ensuring our community and health care partners remain vigilant so we can prevent any more cases,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a press release. “This underscores the importance of continued surveillance, early response and vaccination.”
There are two types of the virus that cause mpox: clade I and clade II, with clade roughly meaning they are descended from a common ancestor organism. Clade I has historically been associated with severe illness and death, and is endemic to parts of central and western Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Clade II was responsible for a large outbreak that peaked in summer 2022, leading to more than 100,000 cases in 122 countries, including more than 30,000 cases in the U.S.
The less severe strain in the U.S. has continued circulating at low levels and has remained relatively stable.
Parts of Africa have been dealing with sustained person-to-person spread of the more severe strain of mpox. All six previously confirmed cases of the more severe strain in the U.S. have been among people who had recently traveled to areas associated with the outbreak in central and eastern Africa, according to the CDC.
In November 2024, California reported the first domestic case of the more severe strain in a traveler from Africa who experienced mild illness.
People with mpox, which was formerly known as monkeypox, often get a rash that can be located on hands, feet, chest, face, mouth or near the genitals, the CDC said.
Most people with mpox typically recover within two to four weeks without specific treatments.
Currently, the JYNNEOS vaccine, a two-dose vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and mpox, is the only vaccine being used in the U.S.
The JYNNEOS vaccine is recommended for adults at high risk for mpox, which includes people who are gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and have recent or upcoming risk factors like multiple sexual partners, intimate contact with someone who may have mpox, or sex at commercial venues.
ABC News’ Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.
Jon Pardi & Randy Houser will open for Cody Johnson at RODEOHOUSTON (Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo)
Jon Pardi and Randy Houser are headed to the rodeo with Cody Johnson.
Jon and Randy will open Cody’s March 22, 2026, show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which takes place on the 21st night of the annual event.
The Sunday concert at NRG Stadium will be only the fourth time in the institution’s history that a standalone show on a non-rodeo night has taken place. The last was in 2022 when George Strait wrapped up the season.
This will be Jon’s fourth time at RODEOHOUSTON and Randy’s first.
Tickets are on sale now, with the remainder of the 2026 lineup to be revealed on Jan. 8.
Jeremy Allen White and Bruce Springsteen on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’/((Disney/Randy Holmes)
Bruce Springsteen may make it look easy to sing “Born in the U.S.A.” in concert, but Jeremy Allen White learned that it’s anything but.
The Bear star, who plays Springsteen in the film Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, had to record the song for the movie. During an appearance on Hot Ones, he revealed that it had an adverse effect on his health.
“It’s a hard song to sing cause he’s not really singing it, you know. It’s shouting in key,” he said. “It’s like, you know, in order to get the sound that I was after, I was singing from my chest and I was singing from my throat. And I wasn’t breathing properly. I wasn’t singing from my stomach, which I should have been.”
“And I got knocked out. I got a migraine. I was on my back. I was sweating,” he added.
White says he saw Bruce at a party not long after recording the tune, and went up to him and said hello with barely any voice, which was apparently something Springsteen could relate to.
“He said, ‘What have you been doing?’ And I said, ‘I just recorded “Born in the U.S.A.”‘ And he said, ‘That sounds about right,'” White explained. “I couldn’t believe this man, even at the age of 75, 76 now, he’s performing this song for 90,000 people and then, you know, 19 other songs. It’s incredible.”
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere opens in theaters Oct. 24.
Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
(LONDON) — President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin spoke on Thursday, the White House said, ahead of Trump’s in-person meeting on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump, in a social media post, called it a “productive” conversation and said he and Putin would eventually meet again — in Budapest, Hungary, at an unspecified time. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the call lasted more than two hours.
“At the conclusion of the call, we agreed that there will be a meeting of our High Level Advisors, next week,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “The United States’ initial meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with various other people, to be designated. A meeting location is to be determined. President Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this ‘inglorious’ War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end.”
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked Leavitt if Trump still believed he could get Putin and Zelenskyy in a room together, after he couldn’t reach that step after hosting Putin for a summit in Alaska in August.
“I think he thinks it’s possible, and he would of course love to see that happen,” Leavitt said. “But right now, there were discussions and plans are now being made for the Russian side and our folks, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to meet and then for President Putin and President Trump to perhaps meet again. But I don’t think the president has closed the door on that at all.”
Russia overnight fired more than 300 drones and about three dozen missiles at targets throughout Ukraine, including civilian energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy said on Thursday.
The strike also targeted the State Emergency Service department in the Kharkiv region, he said.
“There are wounded,” Zelenskyy said on social media. “Recovery efforts are underway everywhere. Emergency services are working.”
Zelenskyy, who is scheduled on Friday to meet Trump at the White House, said on Thursday that the ongoing strikes only showed that the West needed to continue applying “pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That pressure included continuing to update sanctions, but, he said, it could also include longer-range capabilities for the Ukrainian military to strike targets farther into Russia.
“Strong decisions are possible, decisions that can help. And this depends on the United States, on Europe, on all partners whose strength directly determines whether the war will be ended,” Zelenskyy said.
He added, “Now there is an important momentum toward peace in the Middle East. In Europe, this is also possible. That is exactly what I will be discussing today and tomorrow in Washington.”
The Kremlin on Wednesday also addressed the potential for the West to supply weapons for or to greenlight longer-range Ukrainian strikes within Russia.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted in Tass, a Russian state-affiliated media outlet, saying that deliveries of U.S.-made Tomahawks would amount to a “dangerous escalation of tensions” between Russia and the United States.
The Russian strike on Ukraine overnight targeted several Ukrainian regions — with a focus on the Poltava and Kharkiv regions — with a total of about 320 drones, about 200 of which were Shahed attack drones, the Ukrainian air force said. About 37 missiles were also fired, the military said.
Most of those aerial attacks were thwarted by Ukraine or otherwise failed, the air force said. Thirty-seven drones and 14 missiles made it through Ukraine’s air defenses, the military said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported downing at least 51 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory. Local authorities said the electricity supplies to several settlements in the Volgograd, Voronezh and Belgorod regions were disrupted by the Ukrainian attacks.
Trump on Wednesday said during an Oval Office press conference that he thought Russia and Ukraine were close to a ceasefire deal about two months ago, blaming the impasse on animosity between Zelenskyy and Putin.
“You know, it’s an obstacle. It’s an obstacle,” Trump said. “There’s no question about it.”
ABC News’s Lalee Ibssa, Joe Simonetti and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
Officials in Philadelphia are searching for Kada Scott, a 23 year old woman who has been missing for nearly a week. Philadelphia Police Department
(PHILADELPHIA) — A suspect has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 23-year-old nursing assistant in Philadelphia who was allegedly harassed by an unknown individual before she went missing. However, the search continues for the missing woman, Philadelphia police said.
Kada Scott was last seen by her mother on Oct. 4 when she was leaving for work at a nearby nursing home, police said last week. On Wednesday, police said Keon King, 21, has been charged with kidnapping “for his involvement” in the disappearance of Scott.
While King is in custody in connection with Scott’s disappearance, officials said “a lot of work” is still to be done in the investigation, and they are “still treating this as if Ms. Scott is still alive.”
“The No. 1 priority is locating Ms. Scott,” John M. Stanford, the first deputy commissioner for field operations at the Philadelphia Police Department, said on Wednesday.
Scott arrived at work on Oct. 4, but left prior to her shift’s completion, and has not been seen since, Philadelphia police Capt. John Craig said during a press conference last week. It was not clear what time Scott left work, but officials said her shift typically was from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Scott was reported missing to police on Oct. 5, with law enforcement saying they had “some concern, more so than usual” regarding her disappearance due to worrying phone calls she was receiving.
“In the days leading up to her disappearance, Ms. Scott related to her family and friends that an unknown individual or person had been harassing her via phone,” Craig said last week.
Officials were able to recover Scott’s vehicle, which was located in the parking lot of the nursing home where she worked, Craig said.
On Wednesday, officials said evidence shows Scott was “in communication with an individual” — identified as King — and that she appeared to meet with him “very shortly after” she left work on Oct. 4.
“Mr. King is the last person we believe to be in contact with her when she went offline,” Ashley Kozlowski, the Philadelphia assistant district attorney, said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Police were previously asking the public’s help in locating the suspect’s vehicle, a 1999 metallic-gold Toyota Camry with a Pennsylvania license plate of MSX-0797, which they believe Scott may have been in. Later on Wednesday, police confirmed to ABC News that King’s vehicle was found in an apartment lot.
Officials said they received two tips, the first led them to an elementary school where they recovered evidence “of value,” and the second that led them to the vehicle connected to Scott’s disappearance.
Officials on Wednesday said the car has “front-end damage on the left front bumper” and that it “could be anywhere.”
King has a “little bit of a pattern of this type of history,” as he was involved in a case earlier this year where he was accused of kidnapping and strangling a “female acquaintance,” officials said. The case was dismissed after a witness failed to appear in court, but Kozlowski said on Wednesday they “made the decision to refile those charges.”
On Tuesday, police told ABC News the investigation was being led by the Homicide Unit, but said they were not characterizing it as a homicide investigation.
The 23-year-old’s father, Kevin Scott, told ABC News the family remains confident “she’s gonna be with us as soon as possible.”
“It’s been difficult, extremely difficult. We keep faith that she’s OK and she’s going to be with us as soon as possible, she’s going to be found and hopefully no harm is done to her. I’m going to keep that positive vibe going,” Kevin Scott told ABC News.
King was arraigned on Thursday and is being held on $2.5 million bail, the Philadelphia district attorney told ABC News.
ABC News’ Tommy Foster, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Deena Zaru and Tesfaye Negussie contributed to this report.
Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein are seen on the set of ‘Office Romance’ on April 7, 2025, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez has revealed her favorite person to smooch on the big screen.
The actress and singer appeared on Watch What Happens Livewith Andy Cohen on Wednesday, where the host asked her to name her favorite person she has ever had to kiss for a movie.
“We have George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Gere, Owen Wilson, JoshLucas, it goes on and on,” Cohen said. “Plus movies which are in the can waiting to come out!”
Lopez’s answer happened to be a much more recent smooch.
“I’m gonna say my favorite — I just did a movie with Brett Goldstein and I’d say he was the best kisser,” Lopez said.
Lopez stars alongside Goldstein in the upcoming romantic comedy Office Romance.
The Netflix film was written by Goldstein and Joe Kelly and helmed by Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again director Ol Parker.
Goldstein spoke to Netflix back in April about working on the project.
“Every day I come to work to do a rom-com with Jennifer Lopez and this incredible cast, and I expect people to jump out and tell me I’m being pranked,” Goldstein said. “Hasn’t happened yet, so maybe this is real?”
Betty Gilpin co-stars in the film that also features Edward James Olmos, who portrayed Lopez’s father in the 1997 film Selena. He plays the actress’s onscreen father again in Office Romance.
Larenz Tate and Nia Long attend the “Remembering Love Jones” during the 2025 American Black Film Festival at New World Center on June 14, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ABFF)
Love Jones‘ iconic duo Nia Long and Larenz Tate will work together again on an untitled romantic drama that has been greenlit by Netflix.
Though the logline hasn’t been disclosed, inspiration for the film came from Maxwell‘s debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite. Kay Oyegun penned the script; Eugene Ashe is signed on to direct.
The untitled drama will mark another collaboration for Long and Tate, who teamed on the ’90s cult classic Love Jones. Their next movie, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, will arrive on April 24, 2026.
Long celebrated the news on Instagram, writing, “The timing is divine and working with @larenztate is my favorite thing to do. We’re doing this one for YOU!!!! Thank you for all the love from the bottom of my heart and soul. Let’s go.”
In his own post, Tate wrote, “REUNITED and it feels so good!!!! SUPER EXCITED to star along side the amazingly talented & phenomenal Nia Long! @iamnialong Devine timing indeed!”
“Maxwell my brotha you already know … it’s on!!! Netflix! We are making Sumthin’ special for YOU world!” he continued.
(KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis.) — A Wisconsin man pleaded not guilty on Thursday after he was arrested for allegedly threatening federal agents in a series of TikTok videos, according to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News.
Andrew Stanton, 38, was arrested earlier this month and charged with threats to assault, kidnap or murder a United States official after authorities linked him to several TikTok videos threatening agents at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, prosecutors said.
“When there are mass shootings, they are successful. People die and people are terrorized. You can apply that to other people: federal agents,” Stanton allegedly shared in a video on Sept. 10, prosecutors said.
On Aug. 26, the Southwest Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center received a tip from the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center that an “individual appearing to be” Stanton was making threatening statements on TikTok specifically aimed at “soliciting Israeli personal information,” prosecutors said.
“Do you have the known whereabouts of [Israel flag] IDF members in the IL/WI area? Feel free to dm me. We need verification that they are IN or served,” the text in the video said, according to the criminal complaint.
The account where these statements were posted was removed, but prosecutors said additional accounts that were believed to be Stanton’s — after obtaining the email address associated with the accounts and comparing the suspect’s driver’s license photo with the man in the videos — contained similar rhetoric, prosecutors said.
On Aug. 29, one of those accounts posted a video that stated, “We’re not getting through to them [politicians] with using our words. That’s never gonna happen. You have to use bullets,” according to prosecutors.
Another video featured text on the screen that read, “I imply the very TRUE statement that a violent state can only be stopped with violence in return” and “I think we should be OFFING federal agents,” prosecutors said.
On Sept. 5, authorities made multiple attempts to interview Stanton, but were “unable to reach him,” prosecutors said.
Then, on Sept. 11, a federal law enforcement officer texted Stanton saying he was a supervisor with CBP, assigned to the FBI, indicating “he wished to speak to Stanton about posts he had been making,” the criminal complaint said.
Stanton then proceeded to send a series of threatening messages to the officer, prosecutors said.
“Please die. It will help future generations,” Stanton allegedly wrote.
Then, on Oct. 4, the suspect posted a video threatening the officer he had been messaging, prosecutors said.
“If they show up to your neighborhood, and I’m talking to you, Border Patrol Officer Joe, it’s time we start shooting you,” Stanton allegedly said in the video, according to the criminal complaint.
In the same video, Stanton also allegedly said, “If ICE shows up to your neighborhood — I’m sorry, I’m just gonna say it. It’s time to start [expletive] shooting at them,” according to the complaint.
Stanton’s final pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 1, with his trial being set for Dec. 15, according to court records. He is currently being held in the Kenosha County Detention Center, according to jail records.
An attorney representing Stanton did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Luke Combs & Bailey Zimmerman (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
For country stars who are football fans, it’s probably one of the best gigs you can get: Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs will play ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday.
“WE’RE SO READY FOR THIS!” the show wrote on its socials. “Join us in Athens on Myers Quad.”
Luke and Bailey are set to perform before the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Sanford Stadium.
While it’s a safe bet the two will perform their #1 hit “Backup Plan,” Bailey’s fans will get to see even more.
“Stick around after the show if you’re in Athens to hear @baileyzimmerman perform two additional songs,” the show added.
You can tune in to watch College GameDay Saturday at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN.
