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Sean “Diddy” Combs has tried to reach out to prospective witnesses and influence public opinion from jail in a bid to affect potential jurors for his upcoming sex trafficking trial, prosecutors claimed in a court filing urging a judge to reject his latest bail request.
The government accusations were made in a Manhattan federal court filing late Friday (Nov. 15) that opposes the music mogul’s latest $50 million bail proposal. A bail hearing is scheduled for next week.

Prosecutors wrote that a review of recorded jail calls made by Combs shows he has asked family members to reach out to potential victims and witnesses and has urged them to create “narratives” to influence the jury pool. They say he also has encouraged marketing strategies to sway public opinion.

“The defendant has shown repeatedly — even while in custody — that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions,” prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.

Prosecutors wrote that it could be inferred from his behavior that Combs wants to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence or into providing testimony helpful to his defense.

Lawyers for Combs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Prosecutors said Combs, 55, began breaking rules almost as soon as he was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after his September arrest.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

Two judges have concluded he is a danger to the community and a risk to flee.

His lawyers recently made a third request for bail after the rejection of two previous attempts, including a $50 million bail proposal.

In the request, they cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, which they said made it sensible to release Combs so he can better prepare for his May 5 trial.

But prosecutors said defense lawyers created their latest bail proposal using some evidence prosecutors turned over to them and the new material was already known to defense lawyers when they made previous bail applications.

In their submission to a judge, prosecutors said Combs’ behavior in jail shows he must remain locked up.

For instance, they said, Combs has enlisted family members to plan and carry out a social media campaign around his birthday “with the intention of influencing the potential jury in this criminal proceeding.”

He encouraged his children to post a video to their social media accounts showing them gathered to celebrate his birthday, they said.

Afterward, he monitored the analytics, including audience engagement, from the jail and “explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case,” they said.

The government also alleged Combs during other calls made clear his intention to anonymously publish information that he thought would help his defense against the charges.

“The defendant’s efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him,” prosecutors wrote.

Taylor Swift gave fans a sneak peek at the upcoming Target-exclusive, Black Friday version of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology on vinyl and CD, posting an image that shows what appears to be the back cover of the physical set on Instagram. Swift, whose official The Eras Tour Book is also coming to Target […]

Sundance Head, the 2016 winner of NBC’s The Voice, is in stable condition after accidentally shooting himself in a hunting accident near his Texas ranch.
The 46-year-old country singer (born Jason Head) was hospitalized on Friday (Nov. 15) after the firearm he was handling discharged and struck him in the stomach. The news was first reported by TMZ.

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The incident occurred when the singer’s firearm “slipped out of the holster, hit the side of the Jeep, and discharged into his stomach area,” a representative for Head told CBS News.

In a Facebook post through her husband’s account, Head’s wife, Misty, confirmed that the musician was in stable condition and clarified that the shooting was not the result of an intentional act or a hunting rifle.

“It was not his hunting rifle and no nobody shot him,” Misty Head wrote. “He was out of the vehicle reaching in to grab his 22 when he grabbed it the 22 came out of its holster and hit the exterior of the Jeep just right and went off. Sundance said it happened so fast and he could see the bullet dislodging.”

She explained that the bullet entered above Sundance’s navel and lodged into his abdominal wall, narrowly missing all vital organs.

“He will not require surgery as they are not removing the bullet,” Misty wrote. “Being on the bigger side was a good thing. The bullet is in his fatty tissue.”

At the time of the accident, Sundance did not have his cell phone with him, but a passing driver came to his aid and called 911, according to Misty. He was subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment.

Misty assured fans that her husband was in “good spirits” and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. “Kids are in with him now. Prayers answered as no internal damage was done by the bullet. Thank you all for the prayers,” she wrote on Facebook.

Sundance Head, the son of country singer Roy Head, rose to fame as the season 11 winner of The Voice in 2016, where he was a member of Blake Shelton’s team. The Texas native also competed on the sixth season of American Idol. Since his victory on The Voice, Sundance has released two albums, including his most recent, Starting Again, in 2022.

The first day of the 2024 Corona Capital festival on Friday (Nov. 15) celebrated the grand return of Green Day to Mexico after a seven-year absence with a performance that marked the American rock band’s last show of the year. As part of this exciting day, multiple sounds — from punk rock and progressive rock to indie, blues, funk, soul, pop and jazz — were heard in the voices of some of its most representative acts.

On its first day, the festival brought together over 74,000 attendees — according to the promoter Ocesa — who enjoyed shows by The Mars Volta, Warpaint, Cage The Elephant, The Vaccines, BadBadNotGood, Twin Shadow, David Kushner, Clairo, Zedd, French 79, Honne and others, who pleased even the most demanding music lovers gathered at the Curva 4, former headquarters of F1, in Mexico City.

One of the surprises that the festival brought this year was veteran rock band Toto, which attracted thousands of attendees from various generations to one of the main stages to sing at the top of their lungs classics such as “Africa,” “Hold The Line,” “Rossana” and “I’ll Be Over You.” Another of the highlights was the debut of the British singer Raye, whose charisma made her one of the most applauded acts.

The festival continues on Saturday (Nov. 16) with performances by Shawn Mendes, Travis, New Order, Melanie Martinez, Primal Scream, Explosions In The Sky, Black Pumas, Jessie Reyez, Del Water Gap, Michelle, and St. Vincent, who the day before released the Spanish version of her four-time Grammy-nominated album All Born Screaming — Todos Nacen Gritando — as a tribute to her Hispanic followers.

Below, five of our favorite moments from day one of the 2024 Corona Capital festival in Mexico City.

Green Day Rescues Fan in Epic Show

The United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month’s election: It’s releasing a Betty White stamp.
The beloved actor known for roles in The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Boston Legal, and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced Friday (Nov. 15).

White died in late December 2021, less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn’t announced a release date for the stamp.

“An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston. “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.”

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Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston’s photo.

“I’d love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK,” Stephanos posted on Facebook.

Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media.

“Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White,” one Trump supporter posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” posted a pro-Harris X account.

White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes. Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged.

“The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party,” Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. “A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.”

Dolly Parton‘s older brother David Wilburn Parton has passed away at the age of 82.
The news was shared by the 78-year-old country music icon’s sister, Stella Parton, on social media Friday (Nov. 15). The cause of death has not been disclosed.

“My brother David passed away peacefully this morning,” Stella wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s never easy to say goodbye to a loved one, but he got his angel wings and is now at peace.”

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In a Facebook post on Saturday, Stella added, “It’s never easy to lose a loved one,” and mentioned that David died “in the early hours of the morning.”

On Threads, Stella wrote, “My brother David left us this morning. He finally got his angel wings. RIP dear soul. Love you forever.”

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Dolly Parton had not publicly commented on her brother’s death at press time.

An obituary on the Farrar Funeral Home website confirmed that David Parton (referred to as David W. Parton) passed away on Nov. 15 at his home in White Pine, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Donnie; his parents, Robert Lee and Avie Lee Owens Parton; and his brothers Larry, Floyd, and Randy Parton. David was retired from his role as a bridge builder superintendent at Simpson Construction.

David was one of Dolly’s 11 siblings. The Parton family has faced other recent losses, including the death of Randy in 2021 following a battle with cancer at the age of 67. Floyd Parton also passed away in December 2018 at 61.

At the time of Randy’s death, Dolly shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, saying, “My brother Randy has lost his battle with cancer. The family and I are grieving his loss, but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time. We are a family of faith, and we believe that he is safe with God and that he is joined by members of the family who have gone on before and have welcomed him with joy and open arms.”

Sabrina Carpenter was joined by Christina Aguilera for an unforgettable moment during her Short n’ Sweet Tour stop in Los Angeles on Friday (Nov. 15). The 25-year-old “Espresso” singer surprised fans at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena when she welcomed the iconic pop star, 43, on stage for a pair of duets. Together, they performed Aguilera’s classic […]

Zach Bryan has completed his deferred prosecution agreement connected to his 2023 arrest in Oklahoma, People confirmed with the Craig County, Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office. Per the publication, since he completed the six-month agreement, the criminal case against him has been closed. “He admitted responsibility and followed all of the rules and conditions of probation,” […]

Hulu’s new docuseries It’s All Country takes fans behind the scenes with some of their favorite acts.
Hosted and co-created by Luke Bryan, the series — which premiered Friday (Nov. 15) — features the country superstar going deep with his fellow artists, revealing the stories behind the songs, their hidden inspirations and how their lives inform their music.

The series, executive produced by Bryan’s CMA Awards co-host Peyton Manning’s Omaha production company, features Kane Brown, Lady A, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd and Mickey Guyton.  Guest musicians appearing in the series include Julie Williams, Cash Cortes, Jimbo Mathus, Tenille Arts, Jaimee Harris, Shaboozey, Benjamin Tod and Sierra Ferrell. In addition to Manning, Bryan, his manager Kerri Edwards and Grant Kahler serve as executive producers.

In the trailer, Bryan is seen playing music with his guests and interviewing them. “Behind every country song is a human story, an untold story, and I’m here to find those stories,” he says in the trailer.

The series was Manning’s idea. “When Peyton first came to me about doing this show in our country music space, I loved the idea,” Bryan tells Billboard. “I had seen his previous work in the NFL space and knew this could really be special for our fans. It really became such a conversational piece that I don’t always have the opportunity to do with my peers.”

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For Bryan, getting to spend in-depth time with his fellow artists yielded far more rewards than he could have ever hoped. “It was honestly so much more than I envisioned going into the filming,” he says. “Each one gave us pieces of their stories that I had never heard before, and I think the audiences will also feel the same.”

Manning calls himself a “lifelong” fan of country music, “but co-hosting the CMA Awards has made me a lot more knowledgeable in the space,” he tells Billboard.

“A few years ago, the team at Omaha asked me what some of my passions and interests were outside of sports,” Manning continues. “I’ve always been a huge country music fan. I’ve had the chance to host the CMA Awards the last few years and I go to as many country concerts as I can, so it was a natural fit to expand into this space and take a swing at producing a show that celebrates country music, like we’ve done in sports.”

It’s All Country

Courtesy of Disney/Hulu

In his role as executive producer, Manning says, “I just wanted to give a platform to artists to tell their stories. I enjoy watching the rough cuts and giving my two cents or suggestions and seeing the episodes come to life.” He opened up his rolodex when it came to booking the series. “Early on in production, the producers gave me a target guest list, and I went through and said, ‘I can text Luke Combs’ or ‘I’m a fan of Sheryl Crow,’ and we went from there,” Manning says. “I’m proud of all the different artists featured in the show – they’ve all had their own unique experiences and made an impact on country music.”

Manning admits he had a soft spot for Lady A, the only group featured in the first season. “Coming from a team sports background, the episode with Lady A resonated with me in particular,” the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback says. “I can understand how critical that relationship with your bandmates or teammates is. The viewer gets a taste of how they’ve navigated all their success as a group, supporting each other like teammates in a locker room.”

As far as other series he may want to be involved in, Bryan isn’t limiting himself. “Oh gosh, you never know with me,” he says. “I’m the type that stuff is constantly popping in my head. It comes down to weeding through the ideas that people around me feel best serve our industry and fit my overall brand.  Very thankful to have this opportunity.”

Bryan and Manning will be joined by Lainey Wilson as co-hosts of the CMA Awards, airing Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

11/15/2024

All 16 performances shined, but there were standouts. Here, we rank them from 16 to 1.

11/15/2024