Updated: Wed, May 22, 2013

BERLIN (AP) — Germany on Wednesday celebrated the 200th birthday of Richard Wagner, the 19th-century composer whose music has been hailed as sublime art at the height of Western culture even as he remains tainted by his visceral anti-Semitic views, which later found favor with the Nazis....

Updated: Wed, May 22, 2013

CANNES, France (AP) — Associated Press journalists open their notebooks at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. ___ DAMIAN LEWIS: FROM HOMELAND TO SCOTLAND "Homeland" without Sgt. Nicholas Brody? Damian Lewis says it's possible. The British actor has become an American television star playing...

Updated: 10 min ago

HIBBING, Minn. (AP) — The northeastern Minnesota city of Hibbing kicks off its annual celebration of native son Bob Dylan this week. Dylan Days 2013 features music, poetry and a singer-songwriter contest. The three-day festival opens on Friday, the day Dylan turns 72. On Saturday there will...

Updated: 2 hr ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Khaled Hosseini, whose novels have sold more than 38 million copies worldwide, knows what a lucky man he is. "What separates me from someone in the streets of Kabul is such a thin line," says the Afghan-American author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns."...

Updated: 5 hr ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kellie Pickler came into the final "Dancing With the Stars" episode in second place but finished in first. The 26-year-old country singer won the show's mirror ball trophy Tuesday. "This is amazing!" she beamed to her professional partner, Derek Hough. The pair earned two...

Updated: 5 hr ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aretha Franklin is taking off the month of June. A spokesman for the 71-year-old singer says Franklin will reschedule two shows and resume her touring schedule in July. Publicist David Brokaw provided no other details Tuesday. Franklin announced earlier this month that...

Updated: 7 hr ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Carole King isn't done with music — not yet anyway. The 71-year-old singer-songwriter known for such hits as "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "You've Got A Friend" was awarded the nation's highest prize for popular music in a concert Tuesday. She received the...

Updated: 8 hr ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Burt Bacharach knew writing a memoir would be emotional — not because of his never-heard backstage tales or his tumultuous marriages. He knew that being honest would force him to come to terms with the death of his daughter. "It was very tough because I had to revisit what...

Updated: 9 hr ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant will be hosted by a Jonas brother and an E! News personality. Pageant officials announced Tuesday that Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers pop act and Giuliana Rancic, co-anchor of "E! News," will host the June 16 pageant. The winner of the 62nd...

Updated: 9 hr ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — AEG Live LLC did not conduct any background checks or supervise the doctor who was later convicted of killing Michael Jackson, a corporate attorney testified Tuesday in a lawsuit claiming the concert promoter was negligent in hiring the physician. AEG Live General Counsel...