Walter Koenig, best known for portraying Russian crewman Pavel Chekov on “Star Trek”, died Sunday of natural causes at his North Hollywood home. He was 90. He joined Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” at the start of its second season, appearing in 36 episodes and all seven original Paramount films released between 1979 and 1991.

 

Beyoncé is making it clear that her hair care company, Cécred, is built to succeed on its own and not just because of her fame. She wants the formulas to address actual hair concerns and deliver real results to people who might not even listen to her albums. Beyoncé joked that people who cannot stand her music still use Cécred, simply saying they use it “because it works.”

 

Paula Abdul reflects on her legendary career and expresses deep gratitude for her early work with Janet Jackson. The 64-year-old choreographed Janet’s music videos for her 1986 album “Control” and said she was blessed to have her as her first artist. Paula credited the collaboration for opening major doors in her life, saying the experience “superseded any of my aspirations.”

 

BTS has officially released the music video for “Merry Go Round” on YouTube, making it accessible after its initial launch as a Spotify-exclusive in June. The video showcases black-and-white visuals as the seven members traverse individual spaces before reuniting on a vertically suspended carousel. “Merry Go Round” is part of BTS’ fifth studio album, “ARIRANG” and explores themes of life’s repetitive cycles through the metaphor of a carousel.

 

Cardi B showed up to support KATSEYE at their New York concert, bringing her daughters Kulture and Blossom to join the fun. She was spotted dancing in a VIP suite, continuing her streak as one of the group’s biggest fans. Fans have jokingly dubbed her the unofficial 7th member of KATSEYE after she went viral earlier this year for lip-syncing to their song “Gabriela” at the Governors Ball.

 

MrBeast is returning to animation. Eight new episodes of the animated adventure series “MrBeast Lab” will premiere on YouTube starting in November. First released in 2025, “MrBeast Lab” began as a way for Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, and his company, Beast Industries, to test and learn about animation. The series’ first run of 10 three-minute shorts garnered more than 55 million views.

 

Drake earned 30 new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America. Among them: A 6x platinum award for “More Life”, “Certified Lover Boy” (5x), “Scorpion” (9x), “Care Package” (1x), “So Far Gone” (3x), and ICEMAN (1x). He’s the first artist to surpass 350 million RIAA-certified units, and extended his record with 18 diamond plaques, most of any artist.

 

A former employee of Eminem’s pleaded guilty to illegally selling his unreleased music online, netting an estimated $50,000. Joseph Strange had access to password-protected hard drives containing Eminem’s music that was still being developed.

 

U2’s Bono has revealed the unbroken promise they made to one another as schoolboys in Ireland 50 years ago. “We pledged to each other when we were 18, 17, 16, whatever, that we would never, ever walk onto a stage without it being everything. And we haven’t betrayed that yet.” He admitted that they’ve had physical fistfights on stage, and backstage, “but we’ve never betrayed that.”

 

Miranda Lambert will headline the Dallas Cowboys’ halftime show when the team plays the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day at AT&T Stadium. Last week it was announced that U2 will perform at the NFL’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve football game, when the Green Bay Packers play the LA Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood CA.

 

Taylor Swift is officially the youngest person to ever be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Lainey Wilson performed an acoustic cover of “Love Story” and Brad Paisley inducted her. Taylor joked that she was surprised to see Brad because they’ve been estranged since 2007 when he took a tour prank too far. He filled her tour bus with thousands of crickets. She said she couldn’t sleep for months because of the chirping, but that they’re all good now because of his introduction.

 

Tate McRae’s first single of 2026, “Housewife” debuted at Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100, earning 22.9 million streams, 12.7 million in airplay audience, and 4,000 units sold. The song marks her highest-charting single as a lead artist. Tate edged out Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan with Lana Del Rey in a tight five-way race for the second spot.

 

Keanu Reeves is attached to star in “Maelstrom”, a Netflix action film that was originally pitched in 1993. He replaces “Reacher” star Alan Ritchson, who dropped out. Director Jaume Collet-Serra, behind Netflix’s third most-viewed film ever, “Carry-On”, will helm the film. Keanu plays a Federal Marshall protecting an arms dealer’s fiancée during a hurricane.

 

Fox’s “Baywatch” reboot premieres January 6. Stephen Amell stars as a grown-up Hobie Buchannon, now a Baywatch Captain, whose world shifts when he discovers a daughter he never knew, played by Jessica Belkin. The 12-episode series also features Shay Mitchell, Livvy Dunne, Noah Beck, and a cameo from Megan Thee Stallion.

 

The star-studded Dolly Parton tribute special drew 4.74 million viewers on ABC and Disney+. The October 21 event featured performances from Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and others. The CMA, Belmont University, Disney, and Nashville tourism officials also announced a combined $1 million donation to Dolly’s Imagination Library.