Entertainment

Musician Tyler Joe Miller. (File photo)

‘Holy smokes!’: B.C. musician reacts after winning $25K ‘Top of the Country Contest’

Tyler Joe Miller’s bio and song video are posted to topcountry.siriusxm.ca

FILE - Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim poses after being awarded the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony at the Guildhall in London, on Sept. 27, 2018. Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century, has died at age 91. Sondheim’s death was announced by his Texas-based attorney, Rick Pappas, who told The New York Times the composer died Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at his home in Roxbury, Conn. Pappas did not return calls and messages to The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Towering musical theater master Stephen Sondheim dies at 91

Tributes quickly flooded social media as performers and writers alike saluted a giant of the theatre

Jennifer Lopez posted to Instagram that she is finished her part of filming in Smithers. (Screenshot)

VIDEO: Jennifer Lopez wraps up filming in Smithers

In an Instagram post, the star of The Mother tells her family she is on her way home

Two teenagers attempt to trap and kill a monster in an “iconic” scene from the Netflix program ‘Stranger Things’ recreated by Nanaimo man Todd Cameron using vintage toys . (Photo courtesy Todd Cameron)

Netflix enlists B.C. man to recreate ‘Stranger Things’ scenes with vintage toys

Nanaimo’s Todd Cameron replicates ‘iconic scenes’ from TV series using figurines, Lite-Brite

Two teenagers attempt to trap and kill a monster in an “iconic” scene from the Netflix program ‘Stranger Things’ recreated by Nanaimo man Todd Cameron using vintage toys . (Photo courtesy Todd Cameron)
Justin Bieber is leading the Canadian nominees at the Grammy Awards with a little help from his megahit “Peaches.” Bieber attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on September 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Evan Agostini

Justin Bieber’s hit ‘Peaches’ helps pop star lead crop of Canadian Grammy nominees

Bieber’s 8 nominations topped an eclectic group that included Drake and the Weeknd

Justin Bieber is leading the Canadian nominees at the Grammy Awards with a little help from his megahit “Peaches.” Bieber attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on September 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Invision - Evan Agostini
FILE - Actor Kevin Spacey arrives at district court on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Nantucket, Mass., to be arraigned on a charge of indecent assault and battery. Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio behind “House of Cards” more than $30 million because of losses due to his firing from the show for sexual misconduct. That’s according to an arbitration decision issued Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31M for ‘House of Cards’ losses

MRC, the studio behind “House of Cards,” fired Spacey and halted production of the show’s sixth season

FILE - Actor Kevin Spacey arrives at district court on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Nantucket, Mass., to be arraigned on a charge of indecent assault and battery. Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio behind “House of Cards” more than $30 million because of losses due to his firing from the show for sexual misconduct. That’s according to an arbitration decision issued Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
This image released by Disney shows Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, in a scene from the animated film “Encanto.” (Disney via AP)

Review: Disney’s animated ‘Encanto’ effortlessly enchants

Instead of few magical people amid a sea of ordinary, in this film, the ordinary is, well, weird

This image released by Disney shows Mirabel, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, in a scene from the animated film “Encanto.” (Disney via AP)
FILE - The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Weeknd is nominated for six American Music Awards, including one for artist of the year. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Hitmakers BTS stamp their authority on American Music Awards

Artist of the Year also named favorite pop duo or group and got the favorite pop song award

FILE - The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Weeknd is nominated for six American Music Awards, including one for artist of the year. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
A vinyl record by The Verve plays on a turntable, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Falmouth, Maine. The COVID-19 pandemic benefitted record store owners who saw a surge in sales. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Not just Adele: Surging vinyl sales amid supply squeeze derail some artists’ plans

Vinyl sales in Canada up an astounding 53 per cent, but shippers and manufacturers can’t keep up

A vinyl record by The Verve plays on a turntable, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Falmouth, Maine. The COVID-19 pandemic benefitted record store owners who saw a surge in sales. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
This image released by GAC Family shows Jennie Garth, left, and Cameron Mathison in "A Kindhearted Christmas," premiering Nov. 20. (Eric Milner/GAC Family via AP)

Michael Bublé, Charlie Brown among TV’s holiday headliners

The holidays are coming and here are some shows to get you in the mood

This image released by GAC Family shows Jennie Garth, left, and Cameron Mathison in "A Kindhearted Christmas," premiering Nov. 20. (Eric Milner/GAC Family via AP)
FILE - This Nov. 24, 2019 file photo shows Taylor Swift at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Taylor Swift short film has fans excited for her ‘Red’ redo

Short film going deeper into her romantic life on a fan favorite song

FILE - This Nov. 24, 2019 file photo shows Taylor Swift at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
ARCHIVO - La admiradora de Britney Spears Kiki Norberto, con el abanico, se manifiesta afuera de la corte durante una audiencia sobre la tutela de la estrella pop el 17 de marzo de 2021 en Los Ángeles. (AP Foto/Chris Pizzello, Archivo)

UPDATE: Britney freed: Judge dissolves Spears’ conservatorship

Move by Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny was expected in face of lack of opposition

ARCHIVO - La admiradora de Britney Spears Kiki Norberto, con el abanico, se manifiesta afuera de la corte durante una audiencia sobre la tutela de la estrella pop el 17 de marzo de 2021 en Los Ángeles. (AP Foto/Chris Pizzello, Archivo)
This undated photo released by Netflix shows South Korean cast members, from left, Park Hae-soo, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon in a scene from “Squid Game.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Youngkyu Park/Netflix via AP

Get ready for more games: ‘Squid Game’ readies for Season 2

Netflix hit getting a second season despite the fact that’s rare for Korean shows

This undated photo released by Netflix shows South Korean cast members, from left, Park Hae-soo, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon in a scene from “Squid Game.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Youngkyu Park/Netflix via AP
Kaya Usher smiles in this undated handout photo. More than four years after the death of her husband Gord Downie, Kaya Usher is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her debut album “All This Is.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Richard Briant *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Kaya Usher, widow of Gord Downie, on ‘healing journey’ of her debut album

Mostly instrumental record is shaped by her spiritual recovery

Kaya Usher smiles in this undated handout photo. More than four years after the death of her husband Gord Downie, Kaya Usher is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her debut album “All This Is.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Richard Briant *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Guitarist Brian “Smitty” Smith and singer Ra McGuire on stage with Trooper. (Photo: Stan Pietrusik/trooper.com)

Rock band Trooper to carry on without founding members McGuire, Smith

‘They are both healthy and happy, they’ve just decided that this is the best time to step back from the road and enjoy the life that this unplanned time-off has dropped them into’

Guitarist Brian “Smitty” Smith and singer Ra McGuire on stage with Trooper. (Photo: Stan Pietrusik/trooper.com)
Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, arrives at the Giller Prize Awards ceremony in Toronto on Monday, November 20, 2017. It’s the coronation many artists spend their careers striving for: taking to the stage in full dress, taking in the applause of their peers, and accepting an award for mastery of their craft.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Scotiabank Giller Prize gala ushers in the return of in-person awards glamour

Attendees will be asked to show proof of vaccination and photo ID to enter the cocktail area

Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, arrives at the Giller Prize Awards ceremony in Toronto on Monday, November 20, 2017. It’s the coronation many artists spend their careers striving for: taking to the stage in full dress, taking in the applause of their peers, and accepting an award for mastery of their craft.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Gord Bamford poses on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. Bamford says he will give unvaccinated fans COVID-19 rapid antigen tests before they attend his concerts and set up mobile testing sites in communities the day before his shows. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian singer Bamford to supply rapid tests to unvaccinated fans before concerts

Fans can register for an antigen test, paid for by Bamford, when purchasing tickets online

Gord Bamford poses on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. Bamford says he will give unvaccinated fans COVID-19 rapid antigen tests before they attend his concerts and set up mobile testing sites in communities the day before his shows. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
This cover image released by Capitol shows “Voyage” by ABBA. (Capitol via AP)

VIDEO: A glimpse inside the recording as ballads dominate on ABBA’s comeback album

“Voyage” does nothing to tarnish Swedish pop legend’s legacy as global hitmakers

This cover image released by Capitol shows “Voyage” by ABBA. (Capitol via AP)
FILE - Jon Bon Jovi performs at the fifth annual Love Rocks NYC concert to benefit God’s Love We Deliver at the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, June 3, 2021, in New York. Bon Jovi tested positive for COVID-19 during a rapid test just before he was set to perform a concert in Miami Beach. An announcer took to the stage to give the crowd the bad news just before Saturday, Oct. 30 concert at Loews South Beach was set to begin. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams test positive for COVID-19

Bon Jovi cancels concert, Adams ducks out of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance

FILE - Jon Bon Jovi performs at the fifth annual Love Rocks NYC concert to benefit God’s Love We Deliver at the Beacon Theatre on Thursday, June 3, 2021, in New York. Bon Jovi tested positive for COVID-19 during a rapid test just before he was set to perform a concert in Miami Beach. An announcer took to the stage to give the crowd the bad news just before Saturday, Oct. 30 concert at Loews South Beach was set to begin. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
This image released by Focus Features shows Thomasin McKenzie in Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho.” (Parisa Taghizadeh/Focus Features via AP)

In 2nd weekend, ‘Dune’ bests ‘Last Night in Soho,’ ‘Antlers’

‘Dune’ has now grossed $69.4 million in North America and $292.1 million globally

This image released by Focus Features shows Thomasin McKenzie in Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho.” (Parisa Taghizadeh/Focus Features via AP)