(l-r) Kenan Thompson, host Jack Black, Andrew Dismukes, Tommy Brennan, and James Austin Johnson during the “Husbands” sketch on Saturday, April 4, 2026 — (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC)
Kansas’ signature tune “Carry on Wayward Son” was featured prominently in the Saturday Night Live sketch “Husbands” on April 4, and the band’s guitarist and original member Rich Williams was happy to see it play a role in something so funny.
In the segment, a group of husbands are forced to hang out together as their wives chat in the kitchen. They have nothing to talk about, until host Jack Black begins singing “Carry on Wayward Son,” and the men all chime in and sing along.
“There’s always a good and bad side to things. Everybody I know is sending me the clip,” Williams tells New York Magazine’s Vulture column. “So it’s a nice problem to have, I’ll say that.”
Williams says over the past 50 years Kansas has had a reputation as a “really serious band,” but he notes, “We laugh all the time. We have a lot of stupid inside jokes and our own language.” He adds, “But to be a part of something like this is just wonderful.”
“It’s another feather in our cap that adds to our legacy,” he says. “We’re still out there and working, but to be acknowledged by an institution like Saturday Night Live? Wow.”
Williams describes Jack Black as “one of a kind,” noting “to see him involved in that sketch gave it a lot of credibility, because he’s a musician himself.”
But when it comes to the tune, Williams was unable to answer a question that’s probably been on a lot of fans’ minds — why isn’t the song named “Carry on My Wayward Son” since that’s what they sing in the song?
“Wow. That’s a good question, and I can’t answer that,” he says. “Maybe those two letters filled up too much room on the disc.”
Kerry Condon at the 2026 Oscars. (Disney/Maya Dehlin)
Kerry Condon is heading into the woods with Maya Hawke.
The Oscar-nominated actress is set to star opposite Hawke in Netflix’s adaptation of Liz Moore’s bestselling 2024 novel The God of the Woods.
As previously announced, Hawke will play Judy Luptack, an investigator working to solve the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from her family’s upstate New York summer camp. Condon will play Alice Van Laar, the teen’s mother who’s been hardened by grief and past trauma.
The multigenerational drama series will explore how the girl’s disappearance may be connected to an earlier family tragedy. “As the past and present collide, the Van Laars’ wealth and influence unravel, revealing the damaging consequences of privilege and the abuse of power,” the description from Netflix reads.
Liz Moore and Liz Hannah will serve as co-showrunners, writers and executive producers.
“We love making TV and can’t wait to bring The God of the Woods to life with our partners at Sony and Netflix,” Moore and Hannah tell Netflix. “We hope everyone falls in love (and hate) with these characters as much as we have.”
DJ Afrika Bambaataa performs during the 2015 Guggenheim Young Collectors party supported by David Yurman at Guggenheim Museum on March 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for David Yurman)
Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer and the Father of the Electro Funk Sound, has died. He was 68 years old. A representative for Naf Management confirmed the news in a statement.
“On behalf of the entire Hip Hop community, I am heartbroken to share that we have lost my brother, my legend — Afrika Bambaataa,” the statement begins. “He was more than a man. He was a movement. A father to a culture. A light that guided millions across the world through Peace, Unity, Love, and Having Fun.”
“Hip Hop will never be the same without him – but everything Hip Hop is today, it is because of him. His spirit lives in every beat, every cypher, every corner of this globe he touched,” it continues. “We did not just lose a legend. We lost our foundation. We lost our brother.”
Born Lance Taylor on April 17, 1957, in New York City, Bambaataa began his early life as a member of the Black Spades street gang. As a music enthusiast, he started deejaying at house parties in the early 1970s, inspired by DJs like Kool DJ Dee and Kool DJ Herc. He later organized block parties and participated in breakdancing competitions throughout the Bronx.
As the Black Spades declined, Bambaataa established the Bronx River Organization performing group — later called The Organization — at Stevenson High School. Inspired by his studies of African history, he later transformed his organization into the Universal Zulu Nation, a collective that brought together DJs, MCs, breakdancers, graffiti artists and other creatives, and promoted positive, conscious and artistic expression.
Bambaataa was also a pioneer of the electro-funk sound. His groundbreaking single “Planet Rock” with his group Soulsonic Force became a global hit and was certified Gold, eventually playing a major role in shaping genres such as Miami bass, electronica, house, hip house and early techno. He gained further recognition with tracks like “Looking for the Perfect Beat,” “Renegades of Funk” and his collaboration with James Brown, “Unity.”
Bam played a key role in developing the careers of artists such as New Edition, Maurice Starr and the Jonzun Crew. His eclectic deejay sets, which blended genres including go-go, soca, salsa, reggae, rock, jazz, funk and African music, earned him nicknames like “Master of Records” and the “Grandfather” or “Godfather of Hip Hop Culture.”
Bambaataa was deeply involved in humanitarian efforts, as well. He promoted Afrocentric, spiritual and health-conscious education, as well as hip-hop history. He participated in anti-apartheid initiatives, including “Hip Hop Artists Against Apartheid” for Warlock Records in 1990, and helped organize a concert at Wembley Stadium in London in honor of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. He also raised funds for the African National Congress in Italy.
In addition to his music and activism, Bambaataa worked as a radio host on Hot 97 FM in New York City; served as a visiting scholar at Cornell University; contributed to the early development of the Hip Hop Museum; and appeared as a voice actor on the television series Kung Faux.
Bambaataa faced several sexual assault allegations in 2016 dating back to the ’70 and ’80s, all of which he denied; the allegations were met with backlash and led to him stepping down from a leadership role for Universal Zulu Nation. Rolling Stone reports he lost a child sexual abuse civil case in May 2025 after failing to make a court appearance.
Kristin Ramsey, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ashley Okland. (West Des Moines Police)
(WEST DES MOINES, Iowa) — The woman accused in the 2011 cold case murder of an Iowa real estate agent was allegedly spotted by a witness outside the crime scene just after the fatal gunshots, according to new court documents.
Kristin Ramsey, 53, was arrested last month for first-degree murder in the April 8, 2011, death of Ashley Okland, according to the West Des Moines police.
Okland was working at a model townhouse when she was shot twice at close range: once in the chest and once in the face, according to court documents.
A woman who was in the neighboring townhome said shortly after 2 p.m. she heard two loud noises a few seconds apart that sounded like “thuds,” prosecutors said Wednesday in a filing regarding Ramsey’s motion for bond. Authorities believe those “thuds” were gunshots, prosecutors said.
The witness said after hearing the noises she saw Ramsey “outside the front door of the model home,” the court documents said. “Shortly after that the witness observed the Defendant from the second floor window of her home pacing by her vehicle on her cell phone.”
The witness then said she saw Ramsey back her car up quickly and “in an erratic manner,” and then drive away, the documents said.
“Concerned that something was wrong, the witness entered the model home and discovered Ms. Okland unresponsive on the ground,” according to the court documents. The witness called 911, and “shortly after she left the Defendant returned to the area of the townhome,” the documents said.
While police have yet to release a potential motive, court documents said the model home was owned by the same company for which Ramsey was a sales manager.
Ramsey was interviewed multiple times and has allegedly given “conflicting versions of her whereabouts and other events” from that day, according to the court documents. Her statements themselves conflict, and they also conflict with other witness statements, the documents said.
Ramsey has not entered a plea and is due in court on Friday for a bail hearing. Her attorneys did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
(WASHINGTON) — First lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied having any knowledge of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein‘s crimes, saying, “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”
The first lady’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to ABC News when asked what prompted her to publicly speak out about the issue.
President Donald Trump said he did not know the first lady was going to make a statement today about Epstein, according to an MS Now reporter who said she had a brief phone interview with the president.
At the beginning of her remarks, Melania Trump said, “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.” She did not elaborate who those individuals were.
She went on to say that she never had a relationship with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator who was convicted of sex trafficking.
“I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she said.
“I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book ‘Melania,'” she added.
“The first time I crossed paths with Epstein was in the year 2000 at an event Donald and I attended together. At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said.
The first lady said that fake images and stories about her and Epstein have circulated for years, prompting her to come out and address them.
“Be cautious about what you believe,” she said. “These images and stories are completely false.”
The first lady also said that she had never been legally accused of any crimes with Epstein and that she is not featured in any of court documents, depositions or victim statements related to Epstein.
“I have never been legally accused or convicted of a crime in connection with Epstein,” she said.
Melania Trump said that several individuals and companies have been forced to retract claims about her and Epstein.
The first lady called for public hearings into the Epstein controversy and to allow survivors to testify before Congress.
“Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone. Several prominent male executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course, this doesn’t amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth,” she said.
“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” she said. “Then, and only then we will have the truth.
In February, Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, indicated on CNN that President Donald Trump and Melania Trump would be subpoenaed to testify in front of the committee about their ties to Epstein if Democrats take the majority in November — similar to how former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton were. The Clintons testified before the Oversight Committee in February.
Pressed on whether the committee would bring in Melania Trump, Garcia said: “We’re going to have a very long list of people, anyone that we believe had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — on Day One will have a subpoena from our committee.”
Following the first lady’s announcement on Thursday, Garcia echoed the call for a public hearing.
“We agree with First Lady Melania Trump’s call for a public hearing with the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. We encourage Chairman [James] Comer to respond to the First Lady’s request and schedule a public hearing immediately,” he said in a post on X.
Oversight Democrats have a “shadow” hearing scheduled for May with Epstein survivors in Palm Beach, Florida, where the president’s Mar-a-Lago club is located.
“Becoming” single artwork. (LG | ZOID | Virgin Music Group)
Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison has debuted the video for “Becoming,” his collaborative single with Godsmack frontman Sully Erna and Extreme shredder Nuno Bettencourt.
The clip, which premiered via RevolverMag.com, finds Morrison, Erna and Bettencourt performing together under a downpour of rain.
“What you can’t see in the video is the humidity!” Morrison tells Revolver. “It was over 90 degrees outside and we were locked in a steel room with constant running water for 5 hours.”
“It was like playing in an Ecuadorian Rain forest,” he adds. “It played havoc with the hair!”
“Becoming” will appear on Morrison’s upcoming album, Hollow, due out in August. The record will also include guest spots from Marilyn Manson, The Offspring’s Dexter Holland, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Billy Idol’s Steve Stevens and rappers Chuck D, B-Real and DMC.
Hollow follows Morrison’s 2024 album, The Morrison Project, which includes the Ozzy Osbourne collaboration “Crack Cocaine.”
‘Romanticize the Dive’ album artwork. (Metric Music International/Thirty Tigers)
Metric is headed to the roller rink to celebrate the release of their new album, Romanticize the Dive.
The band has announced a roller disco party at Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn, New York, taking place April 23, the day before Romanticize the Dive drops on April 24.
Metric will be filming a video for the Romanticize the Dive track “Crush Forever” at the event, which will also feature a playback of the whole album.
“Show up in your finest indie sleaze attire and get ready to roll,” Metric says.
Bruce Springsteen on Jimmy Kimmel Live!/(Disney/Randy Holmes)
Bruce Springsteen is one of several musicians to make Forbes’ new Self-Made 250 list, spotlighting influential Americans in entertainment, business, sports and more who have built their own success.
The list is being released in conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary, with the mag noting that its ranking “encompasses financial success, obstacles overcome and enduring impact.”
With that in mind, The Boss lands at #60 on the list, with Barbra Streisand at #65, Stevie Wonder at #69 and Cher at #130.
Oprah Winfrey tops the list, which also includes such famous celebrities as Dolly Parton, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Whoopi Goldberg, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Viola Davis, Brandi Carlile, Tracy Chapman and Eminem.
Darius Rucker returns to the Grand Ole Opry April 17 for a show that includes Vince Gill.
You can check out Flatland Cavalry’s Wednesday TV debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show on YouTube. The band’s nominated for group of the year at the May 17 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Dolly Parton comes in at #7 on Forbes‘ rundown of The Greatest Self-Made Americans. Oprah Winfrey is #1. Dolly’s the highest-ranking non-billionaire on the list.
Mariah Carey is honored at the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala on Jan. 30, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
All Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is someone to buy her New York City home — probably.
The New York Post reports that Mariah has listed the penthouse she owns in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood for $27 million. The penthouse stretches over the 16th, 17th and 18th levels of the building, with just over 12,700 square feet of living space, and has 360-degree views over the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline.
Mariah created the property by spending about $9 million for two separate units and then cobbling them together. She hired famed decorator Mario Buatta to design the property, and he included her favorite symbol, the butterfly, everywhere, from the tiles in the kitchen to the handles on the bedroom cabinets.
This is the property that fans saw on Mariah’s legendary 2002 episode of MTV’s Cribs. In 2022, she invited Booking.com customers in for a holiday photoshoot. You can see photos of the property at StreetEasy.com.
