Sir Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney attend the Stella McCartney Winter 2024 show during Paris Fashion Week on March 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Stella McCartney)
Personal items and memorabilia from artists like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Foreigner and Phil Collins are among the pieces up for grabs as part of this year’s MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, held every year to support the charitable arm of the Recording Industry.
Among the items being offered: a signed and personalized copy of McCartney’s 2021 book The Lyrics: 1965 to Present; a drum head and a T-shirt signed by Starr; a giclee print of Collins, signed by Collins; and an Epiphone Les Paul Special electric guitar in satin black, autographed by the members of Foreigner.
The auction also includes: a Hotel California painting with photos, autographed by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder; a leather jacket signed by Culture Club’s Boy George; wristwatches made from clothing owned by Iggy Pop and Nirvana‘s Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic; a jacket worn by Cher in promos for Saturday Night Live; and a Gibson “Jessica” Les Paul Standard guitar signed by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
The auction will take place live at the Recording Academy in Santa Monica, California, and online at JuliensAuctions.com on Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. ET. The proceeds will fund MusiCares‘ mission to help music professionals who need financial support in times of crisis.
Key art for final season of ‘The Upshaws’ (Courtesy of Netflix)
Season 5 (also billed as Part 7) of The Upshaws premieres on Netflix Wednesday, giving fans one final set of stories from the titular family. Dewayne Perkins, who plays their neighbor Hector, a recurring character on the series, spoke to ABC Audio about the show coming to an end.
“It’s sad because I really enjoyed it, but it’s been a beautiful journey. A lot of shows don’t last for that long, especially now in the way that the industry is functioning. So to get five seasons I think is a great feat. And I grew up watching multi-cams, I feel like multi-cams are a big reason why I am doing what I’m doing.“
Dewayne also expressed pride in being part of a show that made space for gay stories.
“To be a part of that feels historic,” he says. “To be able to present gay stories in a Black sitcom … is really cool and something that I’m very proud to be a part of.”
He added that he’s thankful to have worked alongside some industry veterans. “Being able to work with legends like Wanda [Sykes], Mike [Epps], like Kim [Fields], it’s just, it was pretty fantastic,” he says. “So I’m just grateful to have been a part it.”
Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.’ (Warner Bros. Pictures/Fathom Entertainment)
Fans of The Lord of the Rings will get a special surprise as the films return to theaters to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring.
All three of The Lord of the Rings films are returning to cinemas this January. Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Entertainment have announced that director Peter Jackson has recorded exclusive and lengthy fan introductions for each of the extended editions of the three films — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King — which will play ahead of the films.
These fan introductions will include Jackson reflecting on the making of all of the films, what it was like to bring Middle-earth to life and what made creating the films so special. They are custom, never-before-seen insights from Jackson, and the videos were made exclusively for this Fathom Entertainment rerelease.
A sample of the introduction from Jackson for the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring is available to watch now.
“We could not be more pleased that the large The Lord of the Rings fanbase will have the benefit of hearing in-depth and exclusively in theatres from Peter Jackson himself prior to each of these three remarkable films,” RayNutt, the chief executive officer at Fathom Entertainment, said. “The extended editions of the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings movies are sure to be a landmark event for fans and a high point for classic film re-releases in 2026.”
You can return to the shire with the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in theaters from Jan. 16 through Jan. 18 and Jan. 23 through Jan. 25.
Bruno Mars has added a bunch of new U.S. dates to his upcoming The Romantic tour due to overwhelming demand. He’ll now be playing two-night stops in Las Vegas; Arlington, Texas; Detroit; Chicago; Tampa, Florida; and Miami. He’ll also play three consecutive nights in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, California. Tickets go on sale to the general public Jan. 15 at 12 p.m. local time.
Bridgertonhas revealed the songs set to appear in the first episode of the fourth season, which debuts on Netflix Jan. 29. The first episode, titled “The Waltz,” will feature string instrumental versions of Coldplay‘s “Life in Technicolor,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” by Usher and Pitbull,and “Never Let You Go” by Third Eye Blind.
If you missed Backstreet Boy AJ McLean on The Jennifer Hudson Show this week, you can now watch the moment when his daughters, Elliott and Lyric, surprised him mid-interview. “You’re supposed to be in school right now!” AJ joked before breaking down in tears. The two also recorded an intro for his upcoming solo album, My Name Is Alexander James, on which they share what they love most about their dad and how proud they are of him.
The Freezing Man benefit concert, which featured Garbage drummer Butch Vig as musical director, raised over $300,000 for the organization Joey’s Song in support of epilepsy research.
The two-day event, which took place Jan. 9 and 10 in Madison, Wisconsin, featured performances by Vig and his Garbage bandmate Duke Erikson, along with artists including Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, Jane Wiedlin and Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s, Vicki Peterson of The Bangles and John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls.
“It’s Joey Song’s 15th year and it is the most epic one yet,” Vig says. “We want to keep it going. I think the shows on both Friday and Saturday were fantastic. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
In its history, Joey’s Song has raised a total $2.1 million.
Poster for ‘K-Pops!’ (Courtesy of Aura Entertainment)
A trailer has been released for Anderson .Paak‘s upcoming film, K-Pops!, which hits theaters on Feb. 27.
The movie follows Anderson’s character, BJ, “a fish-out-of-water musician on the search for stardom carrying a bruised heart from a complicated past relationship,” according to the official synopsis. As he attempts to reignite his music career, he secures a gig with a house band in Seoul for a K-pop competition show. There, he unexpectedly reunites with his long-lost son, played by Soul Rasheed, who is also chasing a career in the spotlight.
“What follows is a story of uniting people and cultures through music and comedy, rebuilding relationships and learning how to trust people as they evolve,” the synopsis continues.
In addition to starring in K-Pops!, Anderson makes his feature directorial debut and co-wrote the screenplay with Khaila Amazan.
The film also stars Jee Young Han, Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cathy Shim and Kevin Woo.
Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones performs during the final night of the Hackney Diamonds ’24 Tour at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena on July 21, 2024 in Ridgedale, Missouri. (Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood is the subject of a new career-spanning book.
Fearless: The Anthology, from Genesis Publications, has Wood opening up his personal archive in a book for the first time and features photos of rare instruments, designer stage wear, concert set lists and more.
The book highlights hundreds of guitars Wood used over the course of his career with the Jeff Beck Group, Faces and The Stones. Some of them have rarely been seen before, with Ronnie sharing stories behind the instruments in his own words.
The description notes, “Every detail – the colors, patina, wear and tear, and unique modifications – has been captured to tell the story of Ronnie’s extraordinary journey through music.”
Only 1,000 copies of the book are being produced and are available in two formats. Both are signed and come with a variety of extras.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building is seen on March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is cutting 10,000 jobs and closing offices aimed at cutting $1.8 billion (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration took steps this week to reinstate hundreds of health and safety officials who had previously been dismissed in widespread layoffs, granting a major win for advocates of workplace safety.
The newly reinstated employees belong to the National Institute of Safety and Health, or NIOSH, a small federal office within the Department of Health and Human Services that’s focused on protecting coal miners from black lung respiratory disease. Critics of the Trump administration have accused the government of stripping away key protections for miners in its bid to reinvigorate the coal industry, ABC News has previously reported.
“This moment belongs to every single person who refused to stay silent,” Dr. Micah Niemeier-Walsh, an industrial hygienist at NIOSH and the vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees outpost in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday following news of the reinstatements.
In April 2025, hundreds of NIOSH officials were terminated as part of a so-called Reduction in Force, or RIF. Under pressure from lawmakers and labor organizers, the administration brought back some officials months later, and on Tuesday, hundreds more received an email saying the prior “notice is hereby revoked.”
“You are not affected by the RIF and remain employed in your position of record,” according to an email obtained by ABC News.
The reinstatement “ensures the continuation of critical programs that protect all working people, including mine safety research, chemical hazard assessment, and research on emerging occupational risks,” read a statement from AFGE, the federal workers union.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement that “the Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services — whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through NIOSH, safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases.”
Nixon confirmed that the reinstatement applies to all NIOSH officials except those who voluntarily left government.
People gather during protest on January 8, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Anonymous/Getty Images)
(LONDON) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he’s been informed that the “killing” in Iran has stopped and the anticipated executions of arrested protesters won’t take place, as activists say thousands of people have died over more than two weeks of protests.
The information was coming from “very important sources on the other side,” Trump said while announcing the update during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
“We’ve been told on good authority, and I hope it’s true. Who knows, right?” he added.
Asked by a reporter if this means that military action is now off the table against Iran, Trump responded, “We’re going to watch and see what the process is. But we were given a very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on.”
More than 2,500 people have died during nationwide protests in Iran over the past 17 days, activists said Wednesday. Trump has expressed his support for demonstrators and hinted at potential American intervention against the government in Tehran over the killings.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified a total of 2,571 deaths — and is reviewing reports of 779 other deaths — since the protests began on Dec. 28.
The confirmed deaths include 2,403 adult protesters, 12 protesters under the age of 18, 147 government-affiliated personnel and nine non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.
Another 1,134 protesters have been seriously injured, HRANA said, with at least 18,137 people arrested.
The HRANA data relies on the work of activists inside and outside the country. ABC News cannot independently verify these numbers. The Iranian government has not provided any civilian death tolls related to the ongoing protests.
The head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, had suggested earlier Wednesday that there would be expedited trials and executions for those who have been arrested in the nationwide protests.
“If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly,” Mohseni-Ejei said in a video shared online by Iranian state television, according to The Associated Press.
“If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect,” Mohseni-Ejei said.
Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday that he’s been told that the executions are not happening.
“It was supposed to be a lot of executions today, and the executions won’t take place,” Trump said.
A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that some personnel had been advised to leave al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening due to increased tensions in the region. Reuters was the first to report the advisory.
In a statement posted to its official website, Qatar’s International Media Office acknowledged that some personnel were leaving al-Udeid. “Such measures are being undertaken in response to the current regional tensions,” the statement said.
As casualties from the protests mounted, Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday, “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.”
“I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump added.
When later pressed by a reporter during a visit to Michigan on Tuesday on what he meant by help is on its way, Trump responded, “You’re gonna have to figure that one out, I’m sorry.”
Trump said he thought it was “a good idea” for Americans to evacuate from Iran. The State Department on Tuesday said that all U.S. citizens should leave the country.
Trump said he hasn’t been given an accurate number of how many people have been killed so far in the protests, but said “one is a lot.”
“I think it’s a lot. It’s too many, whatever it is,” he said.
Later Tuesday, he told reporters that he will be receiving “accurate numbers” on how many protesters have been killed in Iran soon and “we’ll act accordingly.”
Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran. The president and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested other options are also still under discussion.
One U.S. official told ABC News that among the options under consideration are new sanctions against key regime figures or against Iran’s energy or banking sectors.
Members of Trump’s national security team — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe — met Tuesday morning to discuss Iran, according to Leavitt. Trump did not attend the meeting, nor was he scheduled to, she said.
Vice President JD Vance also led an Iran strategy meeting on Tuesday afternoon with the National Security Council principals committee, a source with direct knowledge of the meeting confirmed to ABC News.
Iranian officials have threatened retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets in the event of any outside intervention.
Protests have been spreading across the country since late December. The first marches took place in downtown Tehran, with participants demonstrating against rising inflation and the falling value of the national currency, the rial.
As the protests spread, they have taken on a more explicitly anti-government tone.
Government forces have responded with a major security crackdown. A sustained national internet outage has also been in place across the country. Online monitoring group NetBlocks said on Wednesday that the blackout had surpassed 132 hours.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top Iranian officials have said they are willing to engage with the economic grievances of protesters, though have framed the unrest as driven by “rioters” and “terrorists” sponsored by foreign nations — prime among them the U.S. and Israel — and supported by foreign infiltrators.
On Wednesday, President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by state media telling a meeting with Economy Ministry officials that if economic conditions were improved, “we wouldn’t be witnessing their protests on the streets.”
Dissident figures abroad have urged Iranians to press the protests and topple the government in Tehran.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi — who from his base in the U.S. has become a prominent critic of the Iranian government — on Monday appealed to Trump to act in support of the protesters.
On Tuesday, Pahlavi called on members of the Iranian military to join the protests. “You are the national military of Iran, not the military of the Islamic Republic,” he wrote on X.
“You have a duty to protect the lives of your compatriots,” Pahlavi added. “You do not have much time. Join them as soon as possible.”
ABC News’ Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
Timothy Busfield is seen in a mugshot photo. (Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility)
(New Mexico) — Actor Timothy Busfield, who was arrested on charges of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse, is facing a new assault claim from another alleged victim, according to a motion for pretrial detention.
In a document filed on Wednesday, prosecutors said the father of a 16-year-old went to law enforcement on Tuesday to report alleged abuse from “several years ago.”
The teenage girl said that during an audition, Busfield “kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates,” the document said.
Busfield “begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy,” the document said, adding that the teenager’s father was a therapist and agreed at the time.
Busfield’s attorney said in a statement on Wednesday, “Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false. As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed.”
Busfield, best known for his role as Danny Concannon on “The West Wing,” turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday on charges of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse, according to police and U.S. Marshals sources.
The charges stem from accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a child actor on the set of his show “The Cleaning Lady,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News. According to court documents, the child’s parents reported that the alleged abuse began in 2022, when the child was 7 years old, and lasted until 2024.
Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by investigators, according to the criminal complaint.
A publicist for Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, said in a statement on Tuesday that Gilbert “is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds. … Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
The new court document argues Busfield should remain detained. The prosecutors also accuse Busfield of speaking to the media before turning himself in to allegedly “prioritize personal narrative control.”
At a brief court appearance on Wednesday, a judge said Busfield will remain in custody in New Mexico with no bond.
