Music artist Richard Smallwood arrives to the 2016 Stellar Gospel Awards – Arrivals at the Orleans Arena on February 20, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Grammy-nominated gospel singer Richard Smallwood has died at the age of 77. His team confirmed the news in an email to ABC, stating that he passed away Tuesday at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center due to complications from kidney failure.
His family later shared a statement on his Instagram page expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. “We are grateful for the overwhelming love and support during this difficult time,” the statement read. “Your tributes are a testament to Richard’s reach and impact. Please continue to keep his family, friends, the music community, and all those affected by this loss in your prayers.”
Born on Nov. 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Smallwood formed his first gospel group at just 11 years old. He later earned a degree in music from Howard University, where he was a member of the school’s first gospel group, the Celestials, as well as its gospel choir. In 1977, he founded the Richard Smallwood Singers, who released their debut, The Richard Smallwood Singers, in 1982, followed by Psalms in 1984 and Textures in 1987.
After the group disbanded in the early ’90s, Smallwood formed a large backing choir called Vision and went on to release several albums. His final album, Anthology, was released in 2015 and included the Gospel radio hit “Same God.” In 2019, Smallwood released the book Total Praise: The Autobiography before mild dementia and other health issues got in the way of recording.
Smallwood is perhaps best known for writing gospel songs including “I Love the Lord,” performed by WhitneyHouston and the Georgia Mass Choir on The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack. His work has also been featured and covered by Boyz II Men and Destiny’s Child.
He is survived by his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and godchildren.
(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Justice is asking for help reviewing 5.2 million pages of unreviewed documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, seeking to enlist 400 lawyers total from its criminal and national security divisions along with the U.S. attorneys’ offices in Florida and New York, according to people familiar with the matter.
As Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas in an interview earlier this month, the DOJ already had nearly 200 lawyers working to review the files.
But in recent days, department leadership has made clear to the workforce that more help is needed.
The New York Times was first to report the development.
The review of the documents is expected to take much of January, the sources said.
The reorienting of resources from both the criminal and national security divisions has already raised concerns among current and former DOJ officials given the department has already diverted many of those resources towards immigration enforcement, according to sources familiar with the matter.
At this point, the next release of documents is not expected until the end of next month, according to the sources.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November mandating the release of the DOJ’s files on Epstein. The measure required the DOJ to release all of the documents, with certain exceptions like protecting victim privacy and ongoing investigations, by Friday, Dec. 19. Missing the deadline, the DOJ said it has been delayed by the vetting process to protect victims.
It’s not immediately clear why the Department of Justice is only now claiming that it has just discovered upward of 5 million pages of documents from its investigations into Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 in his jail cell awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi admonished the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York after she said they had only just alerted her to the existence of hundreds of thousands of documents that they had not previously provided to her office. It’s not clear why they are only now claiming to be alerted to this vast volume of alleged unreviewed material.
A new year means a new season of American Idol, and in a new promo, an old favorite makes a return.
In the promo, host Ryan Seacrest welcomes judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood to “American Idol University.” “With decades of talent on display, I’m so excited for you all to explore these historic halls,” says Seacrest.
“Look at all these superstars that have graduated from Idol U.,” says Underwood, while admiring portraits of Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and season 23 winner Jamal Roberts. They admire a display case that boasts that Idol contestants have scored 65 Platinum records, 18 Grammy Awards, 1one Academy Award and other accolades.
Another display case features photos and memorabilia from other past contestants, like Adam Lambert, season 21 winner Iam Tongi and Underwood herself. Plus, a series of photos on the wall documents Seacrest’s hairstyle journey.
The three judges then come across a wax statue of Clay Aiken, on a pedestal reading “Class of 2003.” “One of the original greats,” says Bryan. “Go Claymates!” says Underwood. Then, the “statue” of Clay turns and winks at them, causing them to jump back and yell in alarm.
As the three judges walk through a door, Underwood announces, “American Idol Class of 2026 is in session!” After a montage of some of the new season’s auditions, Aiken, no longer on a pedestal, says, “Who will be the next American Idol?”
‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026′ performers (Courtesy DCP)
DJ Cassidy is ringing in the new year on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, bringing his Pass the Mic set to the celebration. The performance will feature Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean and T.I., who said joining the festivities was an easy decision.
“Man, it’s a phenomenal opportunity to just join my brothers and collaborate with the greats in the industry and the genre that we all love to save lives, hip-hop,” T.I. told ABC’s On the Red Carpet during rehearsals for the show. “It’s just a no-brainer. You know what I mean? I love to be here and just love the opportunity.”
Wyclef likened the invitation to assembling a dream team, joking it felt less like Ocean’s Eleven and more like Professor X calling the X-Men together. “It was like [Cassidy] was calling,” he said, “and I had to unite with my superhero friends.”
Busta credited Cassidy for creating spaces rooted in positivity and respect, and praised him for “being a giver of love” and for consistently “representing feel-good energy.”
“Whenever he puts something together, it just feels right,” Busta said. “So this moment is an incredible moment.”
He added the performance is about more than welcoming a new year; it’s about honoring the years of their friendship.
“The love has evolved to the point where we can celebrate each other,” he said. “It ain’t got nothing to do with no business. … We celebrating everything that we’ve evolved into as friends, fathers.”
Cassidy said sharing the stage with Busta, Wyclef and T.I. is meaningful, calling them “hip-hop heroes” and “musical idols.”
“It’s truly an honor and there’s no place on earth I’d rather ring in the New Year and no one else I’d round the ring in New Year with,” he said.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest airs Dec. 31 starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
2024 was the year that Sabrina Carpenter became a global pop superstar. In 2025 she became an even bigger star, topping the album and singles charts, racking up some career milestones and causing a bit of controversy.
–In February, Sabrina won two awards at the Grammys and opened the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special, singing “Homeward Bound” with rock legend Paul Simon. She attended the Met Gala, covered Vogue, performed on the BRIT Awards and released the deluxe version of her 2024 album, Short n’ Sweet, featuring a duet with none other than Dolly Parton.
–In June, Sabrina surprised fans by releasing a new single and video, “Manchild,” and announcing a new album, Man’s Best Friend. “Manchild” blasted into the charts at #1, and the album — released in August, just over a year after Short n’ Sweet — debuted on top of the Billboard 200.
However, the cover of Man’s Best Friend ruffled some feathers, since it showed her on all fours, with a man’s hand grabbing a fistful of her hair. Many felt the image was degrading toward women; Sabrina found herself explaining the image several times, most recently to Variety in December: “It was about how people try to control women, and how I felt emotionally yanked around by these relationships that I had, and how much power you’re allowing yourself to give them,” she said.
–In July, Sabrina headlined London’s BST Hyde Park festival, bringing out Duran Duran to sing their classic “Hungry Like the Wolf” with her. She headlined Lollapalooza in August and brought out Earth, Wind & Fire to sing two of their hits, “Let’s Groove” and “September.”
–In September, Sabrina was announced as one of the headliners for Coachella 2026. She performed her song “Tears” on the MTV Video Music Awards and took home two awards. Plus, it was announced that she’d guest on an upcoming 2026 TheMuppet Show special on Disney+.
–In October, Sabrina was the only guest artist featured on her pal Taylor Swift‘s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, duetting with Taylor on the title track. Sabrina also hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live and played the Austin City Limits festival, welcoming guests Shania Twain and The Chicks to the stage to sing with her. That same month, she was named Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year.
–In November, Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet tour wrapped up after two years and 72 shows. Also in November, Sabrina received six Grammy nominations, and it was announced that she’d star in a major motion picture based on Alice in Wonderland.
–In December, Sabrina fired back when her song “Juno” was used in a video depicting ICE raids that was posted by the White House. “[T]his video is evil and disgusting,” she wrote. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump issued vetoes for the first bills of his second term, including a bipartisan bill intended to provide funding for a water infrastructure project in Colorado, a measure that passed the House and Senate unanimously.
The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act was set to provide clean water to rural parts of Colorado.
“Enough is enough. My administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies,” Trump wrote in a veto letter sent to Congress. “Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts and restoring fiscal sanity is vital to economic growth and the fiscal health of the nation.”
Trump also vetoed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendment Act, a bipartisan bill that aimed in part to optimize water flow into part of Everglades National Park designated for the Miccosukee Native American tribe and to incorporate the Osceola Camp into the Miccosukee Reserved Area to improve the governing structure of the tribe.
“[D]espite seeking funding and special treatment from the Federal Government, the Miccosukee Tribe has actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected,” Trump wrote in his veto. “My Administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding projects for special interests, especially those that are unaligned with my Administration’s policy of removing violent criminal illegal aliens from the country.”
The Miccosukee tribe was part of the opposition to the construction of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility in the Everglades.
Trump’s veto of the bipartisan bill supporting the Colorado project comes at a time when he has fractious relations with some of the state’s political leaders.
The bill was co-sponsored by House Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who defied the Trump administration by signing onto the Epstein discharge petition that forced a vote on a measure to compel the DOJ to release the files. The pipeline would provide water to residents of Boebert’s district.
“This isn’t over,” Boebert said on social media on Tuesday, responding to the White House’s veto announcement.
Democrats also are responding to the bill’s veto, with Colorado’s Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper lambasting Trump on social media, with both accusing him of playing partisan politics.
“Trump just vetoed my Arkansas Valley Conduit bill — passed unanimously to deliver clean, affordable water to Southeast Colorado,” Bennet said. “This isn’t governing. It’s a revenge tour.”
“Donald Trump is playing partisan games and punishing Colorado by making rural communities suffer without clean drinking water,” Hickenlooper said, adding that Congress should overturn Trump’s veto.
Since the bill cleared both chambers unanimously, Congress could overturn Trump’s veto. Doing so would require passing the measure by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Trump vetoed ten bills total during his first administration, only one of which — the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 — was overridden by Congress.
Trump’s veto also comes two weeks after he attacked Colorado Gov. Jared Polis for refusing to release former Mesa County, Colorado, clerk Tina Peters from prison following her receiving a presidential pardon.
Peters was convicted on state charges for a scheme to tamper with voting systems driven by false claims about the 2020 election. Trump’s pardon power does not extend to state crimes.
“The poorly run state of Colorado with a governor whose incompetent and frankly, with a governor that won’t allow our wonderful Tina to come out of a jail, in a high intensity jail because she caught people cheating on an election and they said she was cheating,” Trump said on Dec. 15.
He added, “She wasn’t cheating. She went over, she looked at one of the election scams going on. And because she did that, they put her in jail for nine years.”
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Disney/Frank Micelotta)
The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has a whole bunch of solo material in the works.
The “Mr. Brightside” singer revealed during a Q&A session on The Killers’ Instagram Stories that he’s completed two solo records.
“One is almost mixed. The other will follow shortly,” Flowers said. “Trying to decide how this is going to work logistically.”
“I had a ball making them in Nashville,” he added. “It’s a departure for sure. Gotta keep you all on your toes.”
Flowers has previously released two solo albums, 2010’s Flamingo and 2015’s The Desired Effect.
The Killers, meanwhile, haven’t put out a new record since 2021’s Pressure Machine. As for when they’ll be releasing another album, Flowers says a 2027 release is his “best guess.”
Flowers also says The Killers likely won’t be touring the U.S. again until 2027, and that they won’t be doing shows to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2006 sophomore album, Sam’s Town.
Shoppers at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, CA on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Holiday shopping season sets forth an annual gut check for the U.S. economy, prompting buyers to splurge in a show of optimism or cut back out of fear of what next year holds.
In 2025, shoppers opened their wallets with gusto, though consumers appeared to favor low-cost options and discounts, according to spending data shared with ABC News.
The performance defied concerns overhanging the economy for months, as hiring slowed and inflation ticked higher. Seemingly undeterred, shoppers flexed their strength at the close of this year, offering some reassurance for the wider economy. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.
Holiday sales climbed 3.9% compared to last year, Mastercard SpendingPulse data showed, tracking online and in-store payments from the start of November to Christmas Eve. The data leaves out car sales and does not account for inflation.
The season-long buying spree followed a strong showing early on, as consumers revved up at the outset of the holiday season.
Digital spending on Thanksgiving jumped 5% from a year earlier, totaling $6.4 billion and exceeding expectations, Adobe Analytics data showed. On Black Friday, shoppers topped the previous day’s pace, as spending soared about 9% compared to 2024, adding up to $11.8 billion, Adobe found.
Adobe attributed the strong performance to better-than-anticipated discounts, especially for electronics. Discounts also touched an array of products from furniture to appliances to toys.
The search for price-savings marked a trend that would continue over the coming weeks.
While overall spending jumped, the largest uptick could be found in low-cost categories, according to Placer.ai, a data firm.
For instance, thrift shops and off-price retailers topped the apparel market with traffic up 11.7% and 6.6% respectively, compared to last year, Placer.ai said. Luxury chains and department stores, by comparison, posted meager gains of 1.8%, the data showed.
“Bifurcation has been a defining trend of consumer behavior in 2025 and continued to shape shopping patterns during the holiday season,” said Shira Petrack, head of content at Placer.ai.
Consumer spending among middle- and low-income Americans slowed earlier this year, triggering warnings from restaurant giants such as McDonald’s and Chipotle. A report this month showed consumer sentiment has fallen to its lowest point since a peak of pandemic-era inflation in 2022, University of Michigan data showed.
As of October, roughly half of buyers planned to use a by-now-pay-later plan for holiday shopping as a means of managing their budget, PayPal said.
Still, consumers have continued to power economic growth, even as they have balked at prices.
In the fall, shoppers helped propel the fastest quarterly U.S. economic growth in two years, federal government data last week showed.
The economy grew at a robust annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter in the government’s initial estimate, marking an acceleration from 3.8% growth recorded in the previous quarter, the U.S. Commerce Department said.
“Just as they have for several years now, the U.S. consumer continues to carry the baton for the economy,” Bret Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at eToro, told ABC News in a statement.
Zohran Mamdani, mayor-elect of New York, during an announcement in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Zohran Mamdani, the state assemblyman and democratic socialist who catapulted to national attention during the 2025 race for New York City mayor, is set to be inaugurated on New Year’s Day 2026 in a ceremony that will usher in historic leadership for America’s largest city, as Mamdani becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor and first mayor of South Asian descent.
“I think this is an important day for New Yorkers and even for the United States. The Mamdani inaugural on Jan. 1 is going to attract a global audience,” Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy at New York University, told ABC News.
Mamdani will be formally sworn in during a private ceremony by New York Attorney General Letitia James at midnight Thursday. That will take place in the now-decommissioned original City Hall subway station, which is known for its ornate arches and tiled ceiling.
Mamdani will be sworn in during the midnight ceremony on a centuries-old Qur’an from the New York Public Library’s collections, the library said Wednesday.
Laura Tamman, a political science professor at Pace University, said she sees both historical and practical significance in that location.
It is “acknowledging the history of the city,” she said. “It also, honestly, is a secure location … It was such a divisive campaign.”
Mamdani faced death and car bomb threats during his campaign, which included threats that targeted his Muslim faith.
“Whenever you have someone who’s making history like this — I’m sure that there are more security concerns than there were for, say, [former Mayor] Bill de Blasio’s swearing-in,” Tamman said.
At his public inauguration ceremony, set for 1 p.m. ET on the steps of New York City Hall on Thursday, Mamdani will be sworn in by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn-born independent and fellow democratic socialist who has been an ideological ally.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow democratic socialist who represents a swath of the Bronx, will also deliver remarks.
Moss said that having Sanders be a part of the inauguration makes a statement “that this is a national event … so I think that [Mamdani is] identifying his ideological roots and his connection to national politics.”
Tamman, meanwhile, said that “Ocasio-Cortez was, similarly to [Mamdani], really underestimated by the Democratic establishment, and has gone on to become a really important leader in the party.”
Mamdani’s transition team has also said that Cornelius Eady, a prolific poet and a National Book Award finalist, will read a new poem at Mamdani’s inauguration, and that the inauguration will include a block party open to the public.
Mamdani triumphed over independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa after campaigning largely on making the city more affordable, although he often faced questions over his relative lack of political experience and feasibility of his proposals. His campaign promises included a rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, free bus fares and free childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
During the campaign, he took stances on policing and public safety more moderate than how he had spoken about policing previously, and committed during his campaign to keeping on New York City’s current police commissioner, Jessica Tisch.
Mamdani will also face the challenge of translating his campaign promises into reality, which will include working with the state government, which controls taxes, and the city council on various city proposals.
At an event on Tuesday with reporters, Mamdani focused largely on administration appointments and the road ahead.
“I will demand excellence from my team, from myself, and also, I will ensure that we create the conditions where that excellence is possible to deliver on,” he said while responding to questions about the city’s Law Department.
Moss said that “no one expects a new mayor to do everything they promise, but they have to be making progress on their promises.”
“So Mamdani has to have some wins this year, which lay the ground for bigger wins in the future. And I think the key part is that he has identified what he wants,” Moss said.
The new mayor will also have to navigate the liberal-leaning city’s relationship with the Republican-controlled federal government. In November, Mamdani met with President Donald Trump in what was widely expected to be a contentious meeting, but ended up being very cordial.
During the meeting, Trump and Mamdani said they agreed on many things, after they had criticized each other for months during the campaign.
“I think you’re going to have, hopefully, a really great mayor; and the better he does, the happier I am,” Trump said at the time.
Neera Tanden, president of the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that Mamdani “has to get the rents down. He has to make sure the city runs well.”
“But I think a lot of people look at the fact that he was able to get Donald Trump to basically compliment him,” she added.
ABC News’ Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
Fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Eve celebrations on January 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Izhar Khan/Getty Images)
(LONDON) — Countries across the globe are beginning to usher in 2026.
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first to ring in the new year, while Alaska and Hawaii will be among the last places to say goodbye to 2025.
New Zealand
At 6 a.m. ET, New Zealand was one of the first countries to reach 2026, ringing in the new year with a fireworks display.
Australia
In Australia, fireworks over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge went along as planned, but law enforcement presence was ramped up in Sydney in the wake of this month’s mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
