Poster for 'The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder' (Disney)
Mariah Carey is returning to The Proud Family, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
She is set to guest star in the fourth and final season of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, premiering July 29 on Disney+. Mariah previously appeared on season 3 of the original series, voicing an animated version of herself. Her character's pet monkey, Francois, is accidentally switched with Oscar's monkey, Mr. Chips, during a visit at Trudy's veterinarian office. Francois is then subjected to life at Proud Snacks, while Mr. Chips enjoys a life of luxury.
Mariah is one of several guest stars joining the reboot for the fourth season, including Chlöe Bailey, Kym Whitley and J.B. Smoove. Recurring guest stars Anthony Anderson and Tiffany Haddish will reprise their roles as Ray Ray and Ms. Hill, respectively.
According to a press release, the new season will find "the Proud family at a life-changing turning point," with Penny's courage and identity put to the test as the family navigates challenging and chaotic circumstances.
Halle Bailey poses for a portrait during the 86th Annual Peabody Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 31, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Halle Bailey, Ludacris and CeeLo Green have lent their voices to the upcoming animated feature Groove Tails.
They joined a cast that also includes J.B. Smoove, Ansel Elgort, Alan Ritchson and Agnez Mo.
Based on a screenplay by Johnny Mack, and written and directed by Bob Logan, Groove Tails follows a young mouse who dreams of becoming an internationally famous dancer but lacks support from his father. That struggle leads him to a group of fellow misfits who, together, "discover their own unique rhythms while fighting to save the only place they’ve ever truly called home," according to Variety.
“Groove Tails is a celebration of individuality, perseverance and the universal language of music,” Logan tells the outlet. “We’ve assembled an extraordinary cast that brings incredible energy, humor and heart to these characters. This is the kind of movie audiences of all ages can enjoy together."
Groove Tails is currently in production and is expected to complete animation later this year.
ussell Wilson and Ciara attend The One Party by Uber: New York City at Pier 36 on June 12, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Uber)
People often ask Ciara to share the prayer she used to find her husband, Russell Wilson, but what did Russell pray for when it came to finding his future wife? Speaking to Keke Palmer on her podcast, he revealed he had a very specific plan for his life after his previous marriage came to an end.
“I had a whole plan,” Wilson told Palmer. “I'ma be single for about 10 years. I'ma make some friends along the way and then you gon' marry your best friend, that whole thing, and sure enough, a year and half into my plan, I meet her, and I knew exactly when I met her, she was the one."
According to Russell, he had told a friend he could see himself with Ciara before they even met.
“Somebody asked me, ‘Who do you see yourself with?’” Wilson said. “I was like, ‘Ciara.’ They were like, ‘She ain't going to like you.’ I said, ‘She ain't met me yet.’”
Years after, he had a conversation with his pastor over dinner and wrote down his “five nonnegotiables” for a future partner: a woman of faith, a woman who would be faithful, a woman like his mother, a woman who was independent and "somebody that would tilt the room."
“Those five things, I wrote down, prayed over—we prayed over that night,” he told Keke. “Three days later, I met Ci for the first time.”
The full episode of Baby, This is Keke Palmer is available to watch on YouTube.
Lil Nas X attends the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton on March 27, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Lil Nas X says he is "doing much better" after receiving care for bipolar disorder at a mental health treatment facility following his arrest in Los Angeles last year.
The rapper, born Montero Lamar Hill, was arrested in August and taken to a hospital after he was seen roaming nearly naked down a street in Los Angeles. The 27-year-old was subsequently charged with three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In April, a Los Angeles judge granted the rapper mental health diversion, saying at the time that the charges against him could be dismissed if he completed a mental treatment program and didn't break the law for the next two years.
On Wednesday, Lil Nas X took to Instagram to share an update on his health.
"I've been in rehab for a few months, and since then, I've been back at home trying to ground myself back to earth and get out my head," the Grammy-winning artist said in a video.
He added that he had since received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and began seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist, who he said had been "really helpful."
"When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past few years, but I didn't want to admit to it, because I didn't want to have to take medication, and, I don't know, have people think different of me," he said. "I'm already Black and gay ... I'm, like, living life on 'extreme hard' mode."
Lil Nas X said he has been "doing much better" since receiving the diagnosis and undergoing treatment for it.
"I'm doing better. I'm feeling better. I'm creating freely, and there's less fear in my heart, and I'm just, like, smelling the roses. I'm smelling the roses, man," he said.
He added, "I want to let you guys know that there is new music on the way, and I'm not getting completely into that just yet, but I'm excited to do that, and I'm excited to go on this journey with you guys, this next chapter."
Lil Nas X ended his video with a message to his fans and supporters, whom he called his "Montourage."
"We've been through so much together. Thank you guys for holding me down," he said. "I love you, and all I wanna do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud. So, let's go, dreamboy, let's go."
The rapper's debut studio album, Montero, was released in September 2021. His second studio album, Dreamboy, has not yet been released; however, he has released several singles and promotional singles teasing the project.
Doechii during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's largest music festival, drawing over 200,000 fans to enjoy performances across more than 100 stages. In 2026, the festival will take a fallow year, a planned pause to allow the Worthy Farm site time to rest and recover. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The BET Awards wouldn't be a show without the artists taking the stage. Among those set to perform at the 2026 show are Cardi B, Common, Doechi, French Montana and Max B, and Jill Scott, who is currently on her To Whom This May Concern tour.
Queen Latifah, who will be inducted at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November, will also be in attendance, along with Rick Ross, Kehlani, Tems, The War and Treaty, kwn on the BET Amplified stage and T.I., who is releasing his final album, Kill the King, on June 26.
"BET Awards has always been a celebration of the artists, visionaries, and cultural moments that shape our community and move culture forward," BET's Connie Orlando said in a statement. "This year's show brings together an extraordinary mix of legends, superstars, and emerging talent whose influence continues to resonate across generations. From powerful performances to historic tributes, we're creating the kind of unforgettable moments that define the BET Awards. And we're only getting started."
More stars who will be attending and surprise moments will be announced ahead of the show, which will be hosted by Druski, with MC Lyte returning as an announcer.
BET Awards 2026 is scheduled for June 28. It will air live on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET and reair at 8 p.m. PT.
Alicia Keys performs on 'American Idol' season 24 finale (Disney/Eric McCandless)
Since the Empire State is in celebration mode following the New York Knicks' championship, who better to perform at the parade than Alicia Keys? The singer has been tapped to take the stage at City Hall, where she will perform her song "Empire State of Mind" on Thursday.
Alicia posted a video of her FaceTime chat with OG Anunoby, who asked whether she would be attending the festivities. "The city's been asking for you. Are you pulling up?" he asks, to which her son Egypt responds, "I'll make sure she gets there."
"I just feel like if there's a time for you to smile, it's right now," Alicia said.
"How could I not? This is my city, and the city's on fire, like there's so much love in the city. It's crazy, like imagine y'all brought all that energy, like everybody just united, feeling amazing, so I'm excited," she continued. "We're proud of you, we're excited. ... We'll see you there."
Alicia wrote in the caption, "New York, we’ve been waiting for this one!!! My brother @oanunoby said the city is calling….. Meet me tomorrow at City Hall to celebrate our World Champion @nyknicks!!!!!! Don’t worry @egyptdean_ wouldn’t let me miss this."
Alicia's performance, celebrating the Knicks' first championship win in 53 years, is scheduled to take place at approximately 1 p.m. ET.
T.I. has announced the release date for his final album, Kill the King. "The wait is over!!!! 6-26-26 'Kill The King' It’s TIME!!!" he wrote on X. The album is now available for presave.
Fivio Foreign wants to perform at the New York Knicks championship parade on Thursday. "Idk who need to hear this but I better b performing in that parade in NY on Thursday!!" he wrote on X Tuesday. This post comes days after he released the "GCB Freestyle (Game 4)." "The Knicks made Fivio Foreign drop!" he wrote. "OMG We needed this."
Common, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marsai Martin, Stevie Wonder, The Roots and Tems are all set to perform at the grand opening ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center. The event will be livestreamed globally at 11 a.m. CT on Thursday. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will be giving speeches.
Akon and Ne-Yo have been on the road together as part of their Nights Like This tour, a collaboration Akon says has been a long time coming.
"Meand Ne-Yo go back 20 years," he tells ABC Audio. "We always wanted to do something together eventually ... but our careers always took us in two different directions."
This time, however, their schedules and goals aligned, allowing them to finally bring the idea to life. "It just so happened that we were in a cycle to both go out on our own tour. And we just had so much in common as to what we wanted to do, all the way down to the timeline," Akon says. "So it was like, yo, this could be the perfect time for us to come together and really do this big tour."
He adds that if they had gone on separate tours first, their schedules wouldn't have allowed for them to collaborate in this way, which is why they decided to put things in motion.
"This is our moment, you know what I mean? So we was like, let's do it, man, share the same stage, go back and forth with our hit records and just throw the biggest party everybody's ever seen for our culture around the time that we was coming up and doing music," Akon explains.
After performing in Europe and the U.K., the North American leg of the Nights Like This tour begins Wednesday in Vancouver. Asked what fans can expect from the show, which supports his latest album, Beautiful Day, Akon kept the details under wraps.
"You gotta ... buy the ticket and find out," he teases.
Teyana Taylor on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (Disney/Randy Holmes)
Teyana Taylor wants to set the record straight: She says she was not prevented from joining the New York Knicks on the court following the team's championship win.
A video of the moment surfed online with the caption, "They wasn't tryna let Teyana Taylor on the court. San Antonio Trippin!"
"A few things here," Taylor wrote in the comments. "I was minding my business on FaceTime then I start walking towards the proper entrance and was actually stopped by the first young lady you see talking to me."
"Thennnn KAT's dad and a few others told me to come in right there where they seen me," she continued. "Then the other lady came over."
"I think she was just a little overwhelmed, lol. It was a lot happening," Teyana went on. "She was def over doing her job but at least she was doing it!"
Teyana added that it was difficult for anyone to access the court that night and clarified she had the credentials necessary to be there but wasn't "willing to rush or trample my way in." According to Teyana, she made it onto the court about a minute after the video was recorded.
"I was perfectly fine," she said. "I had an absolute blast."
Teyana has postedphotos of her from the celebration. She reflected on the Knicks' championship run and described the team's journey as one of resilience, much like her own.
Grammy trophies sit in the press room during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (David Becker/Getty Images)
The 2027 Grammy Awards will feature five new categories, including best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance. The new category will recognize artistic excellence in contemporary R&B performances from duos, groups or collaborations between solo artists and other performers.
The addition also comes with a related change: the best R&B performance category has been renamed best R&B solo performance.
The other four new categories announced Tuesday are best Latin song, best traditional pop vocal performance, best Asian pop music performance and best traditional folk album.
"2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we're seeing across music," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. "The changes advanced by our Academy members speak to the breadth of today's music industry and the many genres, crafts and creators shaping it."
The Academy also announced several changes to its voting and eligibility rules ahead of the 69th Grammy Awards.
Eligibility requirements for best new artist have been revised to provide greater flexibility, increasing the maximum number of times an artist may be submitted for consideration from three to four.
In another notable change, the percentage of new recordings required for an album to qualify for Grammy consideration has been lowered from 75% to 66%. The Academy also expanded recognition for songwriters and composers.
The 69th Grammy Awards will air live on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on Feb. 7, 2027.
Disney is the parent company of ABC News, ABC and Hulu.
Alicia Keys attends the 'Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen' Premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Alicia Keys had the honor of closing New York's Tribeca Festival Saturday night with the premiere of her new documentary Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen. The film is both an examination of her life and career, and a look at how she put together her hit musical Hell's Kitchen, loosely based on her own experiences.
With the musical, the film and a 25th anniversary edition of her debut album Songs in A Minor, Alicia's spent a lot of time looking back lately. On the red carpet ahead of the film's premiere, she shared with ABC Audio what all that looking back tells her about her future.
"It tells me that there is such a consistency, actually, between who I have always been and the growth is continuous. It never ends, it never stops," said Alicia, who posed on the red carpet with her mother, Terria Joseph. Her mother's own story is a major part of the film, as is Alicia's relationship with her father, Craig Cook.
"I feel really grateful every step along the way," Alicia continued. "I'm learning more and I'm becoming more brave and courageous. So, I mean, I'm really just getting started."
Following the screening, Alicia and the film's director, One 9, sat for a Q&A in which they discussed how, above all, the film was inspired by "the spirit of each of us as dreamers." They also talked about how important it was to show the "diversity and the danger" of Hell's Kitchen, the area of New York where she grew up, which shaped and continues to shape her music.
Alicia also headlined the Festival's closing night party, playing an hour-long set featuring surprise guest Nas, and ending -- fittingly, on the night the Knicks won the NBA Finals -- with "Empire State of Mind."
Blxst attends the 6th Annual Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards at The Beverly Hilton on June 05, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for 6th Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards)
Blxst is out with a new album, Labor of Love, the first he's ever produced entirely on his own. Speaking to Essence, he explains that he made the decision to take on production after feeling like he was losing touch with himself.
"So, when I first came into the game, a lot of people started knowing me for the Sixtape series and my first project, No Love Lost, which I produced heavily on. And people start getting familiar with my sound," he says, noting he later worked with different producers on his second project and then solely SoundWave on his album I'll Always Come Find You.
"So I pretty much felt like I was just going through the [wringer] of meeting different people and...got a little lost in the sauce, just working and being disconnected from me," he tells Essence. "So for this one, I wanted to dive into myself, and lock myself in a room."
Blxst describes Labor of Love as "a true piece of who I am."
"I think the biggest part of this album is no filters, it's no characters. It's strictly me and it's coming from a real place," he explains. "I represent real people, I come from a real city and I just want to put it out in the right way with integrity and do something that makes my kids proud when they come of age too."
His idea of success is "actually making an impact within my community."
"A lot of times we get distracted from social media until you go on tour and then people tell you certain stories that connect to your album. And it could be like, 'Yo, your music got me through college,'" he says in the Essence article. "Little moments like that mean more than any number or any comment or any like could ever mean."
Jimmy Jam attends the Songwriters Hall of Fame 55th Annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 11, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Michael Jackson's music has seen a resurgence thanks to renewed interest generated by the Michael biopic, and Jimmy Jam is thrilled about it. Speaking to ABC Audio on the red carpet of the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, he shared his excitement about seeing MJ's music return to the Billboard charts.
"Great music has no expiration date," he says, noting Michael worked with "a dream team of great collaborators," including Quincy Jones, Benjamin Wright and Rod Temperton.
"It was just the best musicians, the best arrangers, the best producer all coming together for some musical moments that we'll never forget," he adds. "I'm happy that young people are embracing it and realizing almost what they're not hearing in music is exactly what existed on those albums."
Michael's Thriller currently sits at #6 on the Billboard 200, followed by his Number Ones compilation at #7.
Toosii looks back in the new song "Yesterday," reflecting "on distance, longing, and the desire to reconnect with someone who continues to occupy his thoughts," according to a press release. The song, produced by Ant Chamberlain and Bino Beats, is now streaming on digital platforms.
Erick the Architect has released his debut single for Mass Appeal, “No Doubt (I'm In Love),” as well as a visualizer. "This song is about being unapologetically in love with someone. It’s about the honesty and vulnerability it takes to let a woman know exactly how you feel, all while having a good time. It’s the small details that make her who she is, and the lengths I’m willing to go to keep her in my life," he says in a statement.
Salt-N-Pepa's Salt teams with Erica Campbell for "Overcomers," described in a press release as "equal parts celebration and conviction." In it, she discusses setting standards, protecting your peace and more. It's the fourth release in her solo rollout, following "Diamond in the Light," "Kings & Queens" and "Chosen."
The-Dream has released "Tampa," a preview of his upcoming album, Love/Hate II, set to arrive on July 10. The song is now available on digital platforms, and the album is available for preorder.
Kodak Black released his Kodak the Blessingmixtape a day after his 29th birthday. It features Rylo Rodriguez, Fridayy and others, along with a music video for “Nunchucks." The video, which he directed, shows him in a club with a lot going on, including karate fights and twerking.
Babyface attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Babyface is paying tribute to his former collaborator Whitney Houston at a gala celebrating her life and legacy. He's been tapped as the headlining performer for The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta. The event, themed “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” is scheduled for Aug. 8, the day before Whitney would have turned 63.
Babyface and Whitney collaborated multiple times, including on “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” the CeCe Winans-assisted “Count on Me” and “Why Does It Hurt So Bad."
Babyface is also set to perform at Essence Festival in July and has additional shows booked throughout the summer. More information can be found on his official website.
Power Book III: Raising Kanan begins its countdown to the end on Friday, when the first episode of its fifth and final season premieres on Starz. For Mekai Curtis, the final season marks the culmination of his journey bringing his title character, Kanan Stark, to life on screen.
"I'm extremely blessed that I got to take a character [through] five seasons, that I get to tell this story and represent so many different walks of life, and then so many different understandings and viewpoints and approaches to life," Mekai tells ABC Audio. "This is something that every actor dreams of, is to have a role that has not just layers on screen, but off the screen as well."
Over the years Mekai has helped audiences understand the origin story of Kanan, a character first introduced as an adult in the original Power, where he was portrayed by 50 Cent. However, Mekai avoided studying 50's performance so he could deliver his own interpretation of the character.
"I kind of wanted to keep things organic, but I also didn't want to rigidly start moving toward what that character is," he says. "I wanted every scene, every reaction to be something that was new to Mekai and also new to Kanan."
As the series reaches its end, Mekai says there isn't a single moment that transforms Kanan into the man viewers met in Power. Instead, he says fans see his evolution throughout the entire show.
"I think that was the story of why Raising Kanan is a thing, is we all as people have events that we can remember that shaped how we present or move ourselves throughout the world, but it's a culmination of all of those things ... that make you who you are."
Alicia Keys performs during as Tiffany & Co. celebrates the launch of Blue Book 2025: Sea of Wonder at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 25, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.)
The 25th annual Tribeca Festival is set to come to a close over the weekend, beginning with the world premiere of Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen. According to the festival's website, the documentary is about her journey to global stardrom from the Manhattan neighborhood that inspired the name of her Broadway musical.
Alicia is then scheduled to perform, alongside special guests, at the official Closing Night party.
“Alicia Keys has been a friend to the Tribeca family and to me for years. We’re New York’s festival, and she’s one of New York’s most iconic artists,” Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal said in a statement. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we can’t imagine a more fitting way to close the Festival than with Alicia returning home to share this special night with our community… because big lights will inspire you, let's hear it for New York!”
“We’re honored to be able to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Tribeca with the incomparable Alicia Keys,” added 10 Lives Studios founder and CEO Daniel E. Catullo III. “Alicia is quintessential New York. I have personally known her for more than a decade and she embodies the talent and creativity of this festival. We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the end of the fest with all of New York.”
The official Closing Night celebration takes place on Saturday. A final screening of Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen will be held Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
Jazmine Sullivan performs onstage during Day 2 of the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 05, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Jazmine Sullivan teamed up with Philadelphia High School For Creative & Performing Arts for a magical prom transformation, gifting a custom prom gown to a student named Raigen and a tuxedo to her date.
In a video posted on social media, Jazmine returned to her alma mater to surprise students with the announcement.
"What’s up, CAPA?" she asks. “I want to give away a free prom dress."
Jazmine explained that her good friend Marquette, known as designer Tyron Perrin on Instagram, would create the custom look, adding, "We’re gonna give a student a moment to remember."
The clip then follows Raigen as she's fitted for a pink strapless gown and as Jazmine, along with Raigen's family and friends, attended the prom send-off to celebrate Raigen.
"Every young person deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and special which is why I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with my alma mater, @capaphilly , & @marquette21 to gift a prom gown & tux to one lucky winner," Jazmine wrote on Instagram, along with footage of the preparation.
"Raigen, you looked beeautiful sweetie. I hope you felt that way too!" she continued. "#TheBaddest Thank you for helping me go back in time and be a part of your special day."
She also thanked Marquette and "all of the participants, CAPA staff, and everyone who helped make this happen," before signing off, "I love you Philly."
A trailer for Fightland, an upcoming family crime drama on Starz, has been released.
The show, which a press release describes as "a gripping story of redemption, betrayal and brutal ambition - in and out of the ring," is set against the backdrop of London and centered on heavyweight championship boxer Duke Kilroy.
After his brother is brutally assaulted, Duke is consumed by the aftermath and ultimately serves an eight-year prison sentence. Upon his release, he sets out to exact revenge on the man responsible, according to the release.
"Amidst a volatile criminal landscape and competing influences threatening to pull him off course, Duke will need to channel everything that made him a champion fighter into his bloody pursuit to win the ultimate victory — revenge for his brother," the series synopsis says.
Fightland stars Howard Charles, Nicholas Pinnock, Deborah Ayorinde, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Charles Babalola, Tahirah Sharif, Tyler Conti and Richard Pepple. It is the first wholly owned original series for Starz, and the first internationally produced show from 50 Cent and G-Unit Film & Television.
Singer Joe attends the 2016 Trumpet Awards on January 23, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
NPR's Tiny Desk is back with another Black Music Month performance, this time from R&B star Joe Thomas.
He performed songs "Good Girls," "Faded Pictures" with Case, "More & More," "The Love Scene," "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" and "I Wanna Know," with vocal assistance from background singers, including his daughter Kayla Thomas.
Other artists scheduled to appear in June are Eve, 8 Ball & MJG, Shaboozey and Bow Wow.
