Billy Joel became a father when he and his wife, model Christie Brinkley, welcomed their only child together, daughter Alexa Ray Joel.
Their daughter’s middle name was a tribute to legendary musician Ray Charles, with whom Billy collaborated on the 1987 song “Baby Grand.” Joel later wrote the 1993 song “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” for Alexa.
Alexa followed in her father’s footsteps as a musician and released the EP Sketches in 2006, along with several other singles. She is scheduled to perform at New York City entrepreneur Michael Dorf’s annual Music Of concert celebrating her father, which will take place March 12 at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Joel went on to welcome two more daughters with his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick. Della Rose Joel was born in August 2015 and Remy Anne Joel in October 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions during a statement to the media at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on December 22, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump said that the United States “knocked out” a “big facility” in Venezuela last week, in what appears to be a reference to a strike on a drug trafficking site in the country.
Trump, in a radio interview with on WABC’s “Cats and Cosby” on Friday, was discussing his administration’s effort to stop drug trafficking from the region, including strikes against alleged drug boats, when he made the comment.
“And we just knocked out, I don’t know if you read or you saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from. Two nights ago we knocked that out, so we hit them very hard,” Trump said in the interview.
The New York Times reported that American officials said that Trump was referring to a drug facility in Venezuela and that it was eliminated, but gave no further details.
If Trump’s comments are accurate, then it would mark the first known attack on land in Venezuela since the Trump administration began its campaign against the country.
ABC News has reached out to the Pentagon and the White House for comment; the Pentagon referred ABC News to the White House for comment. The CIA declined to comment on the matter.
Trump has teased land action in Venezuela for weeks, confirming in October that he authorized the CIA to operate inside the South American nation.
The U.S. has also built up its military presence in the region, with 15,000 U.S. troops and several warships standing ready in the Caribbean. Earlier this month, Trump ordered what he called a “complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, targeting the government’s main source of revenue.
“He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” Trump said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Authorities and investigators work the scene where police are securing wreckage following an inflight collision involving an Enstrom 280C helicopter and an Enstrom F-28A helicopter in Hammonton, New Jersey, United States on Sunday, December 28, 2025. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
(HAMMONTON, N.J.) — The second pilot has died after two helicopters collided midair and crashed in New Jersey on Sunday, authorities announced.
The pilot of the model 280C helicopter, identified as 71-year-old Michael Greenberg, of Sewell, New Jersey, died at the scene, according to the Hammonton Police Department.
The pilot of the model F-28A helicopter, 65-year-old Kenneth L. Kirsch of Carney’s Point, New Jersey, was rushed to a hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.
The crash occurred around 12:25 p.m. Sunday in Hammonton, about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter “collided in midair” near the Hammonton Municipal Airport.
After colliding, both helicopters plummeted to the ground, landing near the 100 block of Basin Road, according to police. One of the helicopters became “engulfed in flames,” according to the Hammonton Police Department.
Police officers and EMS workers extinguished the flames, authorities said.
Witness Brian Sherr said he was outside of a nearby store when he heard a woman nearby “screaming, ‘Oh my God, oh my God.'”
“I did hear a metal clank, but there’s a lot of vehicles around, so I didn’t really pay much attention,” Sherr told ABC News.
He said that as he looked up to the sky, he saw one of the helicopters “slowly descending in a rotating motion, almost as if the rudder and the tail had lost control.”
“I thought that was the only one at first, and then I see a second one come down with the same issue behind it,” Sherr said, adding he saw smoke rise after the second helicopter impacted the ground, prompting him to call 911.
Police said the helicopters were seen flying close together before the crash.
50 Cent shared an Instagram post on Sunday that some believe is his way of brushing off the diss track from the men of the Let’s Rap About It podcast. He writes, “Let’s toast to success, health, and prosperity. I’m planning my new year. When I’m done, I’ll come out to play. You know everyone who plays with me wishes they didn’t in the end.”
Last year, John Legend celebrated his birthday with his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and children at a bubble experience in London and a performance of the Devil Wears Prada musical. This year, the family marked his 47th lap around the sun at the Sloomoo Institute in New York. Chrissy shared an Instagram Reel capturing highlights from their day.
A$AP Rocky teamed with the rewards program Bilt for a limited-edition vinyl of his forthcoming Don’t Be Dumb album. The vinyl, which Rocky described to Peopleas his “love letter to New York,” is now available for preorder on Bilt’s app and website. Bilt is also covering January rent for tenants in Rocky’s old Harlem apartment building, which will also receive donations. Rocky also appears in Bilt’s game show Rent Free, where he offered free rent payments of up to $2,500 to Bilt Members. Ten winners will also get the exclusive vinyl, complete with Rocky’s signature. Don’t Be Dumb arrives on Jan. 16.
Billy Idol and The Warning perform at the CBS and the Recording Academy® present A GRAMMY® CELEBRATION OF LATIN MUSIC, airing Sunday, Dec. 28. (Gustavo Caballero/CBS)
The Warning performed alongside Billy Idol during a special called A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music, which aired Sunday.
The set began with the sister trio rocking out the iconic Mexican folk song “La Bamba” before Idol joined the stage alongside his guitarist Steve Stevens. Together, they transitioned into the song “Twist and Shout,” which has famously been performed by artists including The Beatles and The Isley Brothers.
“La Bamba” and “Twist and Shout” notably have a very similar chord progression, and have been previously mashed-up by Bruce Springsteen.
“The blend of these two songs and how they compliment each other in their history of how they were influenced in incredible,” The Warning said in a preshow interview. “For us, being Mexican, to be able to play ‘La Bamba’ is super, super incredible.”
You can watch footage of the performance via The Warning’s Instagram Story.
Jack Black attends the “Anaconda” London photocall at Claridge’s Hotel on December 19, 2025 in London, England. (Dave Benett/WireImage)
This is how we remind you of what it sounds like when the D meets the ‘Back.
Jack Black busted out a half-remembered rendition of the Nickelback hit “How You Remind Me” during an interview with IMDb about his latest film, Anaconda.
“What was Nickelback’s biggest hit?” Black asks aloud during the conversation. The interviewer starts to move onto the next question as the Tenacious D frontman remains deep in thought — until he finally remembers “How You Remind Me.”
Black then proceeds to sing the 2001 #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, adding a few lyrical and vocal improvisations, along with some extra profanity not heard in the original.
“I think, amazingly, I got every lyric right,” Black declared.
Anaconda is in theaters now. As far as we know, Nickelback is not involved at all.
Britney Spears walks the red carpet at the 2017 Pre-GRAMMY Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Britney Spears appeared to throw shade at her family with a Christmas tree post.
On Sunday, she posted a photo of a beautifully decorated tree and captioned it, “Merry late Christmas to my beautiful family who have never disrespected me, harmed me, ever done anything completely unacceptable or caused unbelievable trauma, the kind you can’t fix.”
She continued, “to my dear sweet innocent family … so so sorry I was busy this Christmas but I will definitely show up and surprise you soon …I can’t wait ….hello, beautiful Ivy … I just want to hold you, my love … Godspeed, friends.”
The photo appeared to be a response to a Christmas post from Britney’s sister Jamie Lynn Spears, which showed her posing at home in Louisiana with their mom Lynne Spears, husband Jamie Watson and their daughters Maddie and Ivey Watson, and Britney’s older son, Sean Preston Federline.
A source told People that Britney spent Christmas with her younger son, Jayden James Federline. There have been reports that Sean stayed in Louisiana due to “work obligations.”
Britney has been estranged from her family for several years and has blamed them for placing her under what she has described as an abusive 13-year conservatorship. She has also expressed displeasure with her sister’s 2022 book, Things I Should Have Said.
John Lydon of Public Image Ltd performs live on stage during their This Is Not The Last Tour at Parr Hall. (Andy Von Pip/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon says his former Sex Pistols bandmates didn’t reach out following the death of his wife, Nora Forster, in 2023.
“I expected some kind of connection when Nora died, but nothing,” Lydon tells the U.K.’s The Times.
Lydon has remained estranged from the rest of the Pistols — guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock and drummer Paul Cook — for some time; the band has since reformed with Frank Carter on vocals.
Lydon’s previously criticized the current iteration of the Pistols as “karaoke” and reiterates to The Times he has no interest in being part of the band.
“I still have a very great fondness for the chaps from that period,” Lydon says. “What they evolved — or devolved — into since is another consequence.”
Lydon is currently playing a run of U.K. dates with Public Image Ltd. The Carter-fronted Sex Pistols will launch a European tour in June.
Harry Styles in the stands during the Premier League match at Kenilworth Road, Luton, England, February 18, 2024. (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
Harry Styles has largely stayed out of the public eye since wrapping his Love On Tour trek in 2023, but he surprised fans by sharing new content Saturday.
He uploaded a video called “Forever, Forever” to his official YouTube channel. It opens with footage of fans waiting to see him perform in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in July 2023, the final stop on his two-year global tour. The video then cuts to Harry onstage, playing an extended instrumental piano piece.
Harry hasn’t released new music since his 2023 single, “Satellite,” so the video sparked speculation across social media. Fans debated whether it signaled a gradual return to the spotlight or was smply a reflective look back at the tour that defined his post-One Direction solo success.
One fan wrote, “I have a feeling this is a [subtle] way harry is reminding us he is still here, still loves his fandom and job and a thank you for us being patient.”
While Harry hasn’t released new music, he’s popped up in some unexpected places, such as attendingPope Leo XIV‘s debut in Vatican City after his election and running marathons in Tokyo and Berlin. He’s also been spotted in various cities walking hand-in-hand with actress Zoë Kravitz.
As always, Taylor Swift dominated the headlines in 2025, as she celebrated two major life-changing events and yet another career-based success.
–The first life-changing event? Buying back her master recordings of her first six albums, following her yearslong project of rerecording them. Taylor wrote in a letter on her website, “I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made … now belongs … to me.”
She paid an estimated nine figures for the rights to her music, videos, concert films, album art, photography and unreleased songs — what she described as “my entire life’s work.” She thanked her fans, writing, “Thanks to you and your goodwill, teamwork, and encouragement, the best things that have ever been mine … finally actually are.”
–The second life-changing event? Her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Travis Kelce, announced in an Aug. 26 Instagram post that read, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Travis actually popped the question around Aug. 10, the same day Taylor guested on Travis’ podcast New Heights. The earthshaking news prompted congratulations from fans, the NFL, random celebrities and multiple brands trying to cash in.
Taylor’s engagement was followed by endless speculation as to the wedding date, location and guest list; searches for “mine cut diamonds”; and the crowning of “parasocial” as Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year.
–In October, Taylor released the new album The Life of a Showgirl, just a year and a half after dropping The Tortured Poets Department. She promoted Showgirl with endless vinyl variations and a special limited-run theatrical event featuring, among other content, the premiere of the video for the album’s single, “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Upon its release on Oct. 3, The Life of a Showgirl sold just over 4 million equivalent album units in its first week, breaking the record set by Adele’s 2015 album, 25, which sold 3.482 million units. The album, with songs largely inspired by her relationship with Travis, spent has spent eleven non-consecutive weeks at #1 to date. The first single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” spent its first eight weeks on top, before being dethroned by Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
–Taylor closed out 2025 with two major streaming projects: A six-episode docuseries on the making of the Eras Tour and a concert film documenting the final show of said tour. Both dropped on Dec. 12 on Disney+, the day before Taylor’s 36th birthday.
