Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,” died Monday. He was 82.

According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton’s publicist, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton wrote in a statement.

The family has asked for respect and privacy. No cause of death was announced.

Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.

“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” Parton described the meeting. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

They married two years later, on Memorial Day — May 30, 1966 — in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.

Dean was a businessman, having owned an asphalt-paving business in Nashville. His parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean, had three children. Parton referred to his mother as “Mama Dean.”

Source: AP

The BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard took place at The O2 this evening (1st March). The full list of winners and performances is here.

The ceremony, which was hosted by comedian and presenter Jack Whitehall, saw performances from Sam Fender, The Last Dinner Party, and Sabrina Carpenter, who opened the show with a tribute to the song Rule Britannia in the shape of her hit Espresso.

Charli XCX triumphed on the night, taking away five awards, including Album Of The Year, Artist Of The Year, and Song Of The Year for her collaboration with Billie Eilish, Guess.

The award for Best Alternative/Rock Act was presented by Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno and won by Sam Fender, who admitted: “I’m nowhere near as drunk as last time.” The musician thanked his band, claiming that without them “I’m just a mad person shouting at walls.”

Below is the full list of winners.

Global Success
Sabrina Carpenter – WINNER

Album of the Year
Charli XCX – Brat -WINNER
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy

Artist of the Year
Beabadoobee
Central Cee
Charli XCX – WINNER
Dua Lipa
Fred Again
Jamie xx
Michael Kiwanuka
Nia Archives
Rachel Chinouriri
Sam Fender

Group of the Year
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
The Cure
Ezra Collective – WINNER
The Last Dinner Party

Best New Artist
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party – WINNER
Myles Smith
Rachel Chinouriri

Song of the Year
Artemas – I like the way you kiss me
The Beatles – Now and Then
Bl3ss & Camrin Watson feat. Bbyclose – Kisses
Central Cee & Lil Baby – BAND4BAND
Charli XCX feat. Billie Eilish – Guess – WINNER
Chase & Status and Stormzy – Backbone
Coldplay – Feelslikeimfallinginlove
Dua Lipa – Training Season
Ella Henderson feat. Rudimantal – Alibi
Jade – Angel of My Dreams
Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
KSI feat. Trippie Red – Thick Of It
Myles Smith – Stargazing
Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me
Sonny Fodera, Jazzy & D.O.D – Somedays

Rising Star
Myles Smith

International Artist of the Year
Adrianne Lenker
Asake
Benson Boone
Beyonce
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Tyler the Creator

Who performed at The BRIT Awards 2025?

• Sabrina Carpenter
• Teddy Swims
• Myles Smith
• JADE
• The Last Dinner Party
• Lola Young
• Sam Fender
• Ezra Collective + special guest Jorja Smith

International Group of the Year
Amyl and the Sniffers
Confidence Man
Fontaines D.C. – WINNER
Future and Metro Boomin
Linkin Park

International Song of the Year
Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
Beyonce – Texas Hold ‘Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! – WINNER
DJO – End of Beginning
Eminem – Houdini
Hozier – Too Sweet
Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – Fortnight
Teddy Swims – Lose Control
Tommy Richman – Million Dollar Baby

Alternative/Rock Act
Beabadoobee
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Sam Fender – WINNER

Dance Act
Becky Hill
Charli XCX – WINNER
Chase and Status
Fred again..
Nia Archives

Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Central Cee
Dave
Ghetts
Little Simz
Stormzy – WINNER
Dance Act
Becky Hill
Charli XCX
Chase & Status
Fred Again
Nia Archives

Pop Act
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Jade – WINNER
Lola Young
Myles Smith

R&B Act
Cleo Sol
Flo
Jorja Smith
Michael Kiwanuka
Raye – WINNER

Drake has reached a settlement with Texas-based iHeartMedia in his ongoing legal dispute over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” according to court records.

In November, Drake filed a legal petition in Bexar County, Texas, where San Antonio is located, alleging that iHeartMedia had received illegal payments from Universal Music Group to boost radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” UMG is the parent record label for both Drake and Lamar.

The petition, a precursor to a potential lawsuit, had sought depositions from corporate representatives of both companies.

In a court document filed Thursday, attorneys for Drake said the rapper and iHeartMedia had “reached an amicable resolution of the dispute” but did not offer any other information.

“We are pleased that the parties were able to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides, and have no further comment on this matter,” Drake’s legal team said in a statement.

In an email Friday, iHeartMedia declined to comment on the settlement.

The claims against UMG remain active, and a hearing on a motion by UMG’s lawyers to dismiss the petition was scheduled for Wednesday in a San Antonio courtroom.

Ource: AP News

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, police have said.

Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office said: “We do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths; however, the exact cause of death has not been determined at this time.”

In a career that spanned more than six decades, Hackman, 95, received two Academy Awards, two Baftas, four Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Hackman won the best actor Oscar for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 thriller The French Connection, and another for best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western film Unforgiven in 1992.

His other Oscar-nominated roles were in 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde, as Buck Barrow, 1970’s I Never Sang for My Father, and as the agent in Mississippi Burning (1988).

Much celebrated actor Hackman played more than 100 rules including Lex Luthor in Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s.

He also starred in the hit movies Runaway Jury and The Conservation, as well as Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums.

His last big screen appearance came as Monroe Cole in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004.

The second edition of Trace Awards took place at the Mora Resort, Zanzibar, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

The event celebrated Africa’s top artists and spotlighted the rich cultural stories that shape their artistry.

Over the past three years, Afro-centric  music has steadily dominated global charts, spanning genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, dancehall, Afropop, Zouk, Kizomba, genge, coupé décalé, bongo flava, gospel, hip hop, kompa, R&B, and rumba.

Artists from over 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe are competing in 24 categories.

Below is the full list of nominees and announced winners:

Global Awards

Song of the Year

• Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa) *WINNER
• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
• Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
• Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
• Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz – ‘Komasawa’ (Tanzania)

Album of the Year

• Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
• Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
• Rema – Heis (Nigeria) *WINNER
• Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
• Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
• King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
• Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
• Toofan – Stamina (Togo)

Best Collaboration

• Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
• Neyna & MC Acondize – ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ (Cape Verde)
• Kocee ft. Patoranking – ‘Credit Alert’ (Cameroon/Nigeria)
• Asake & Wizkid – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
• Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
• Odumodublvck & Black Sherif – ‘Woto Woto Seasoning’ (Ghana)
• Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast) *WINNER

Best  Music Video

• Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria) *WINNER
• TG Omori – Kizz Daniel & Davido ‘Twe Twe’ (Nigeria)
• Director Folex – Zuchu feat Innoss’ B ‘Nani’ (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC)
• Nabil Elderkin – Tyla ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
• Kmane – Ayra Starr ‘Commas’ (Nigeria)
• Seoute Emmanuel – Toofan ‘C Pas Normal’ (Togo)
• Ach’B – Innoss’ B ‘Sete’ (DRC)
• Edgar Esteves – Asake & Wizkid ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)

Best Dancer

• Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
• Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
• Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
• Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
• Telminho (Angola)
• Makhadzi (South Africa) *WINNER
• Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)
• Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Best DJ

• Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles – ‘Wadibusa’ (South Africa)
• DJ Tunez – ‘Apala Disco Remix’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Nelasta – ‘Eros’ (Angola)
• DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay – ‘One Call’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi – ‘Honest’ (Nigeria)
• DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria) *WINNER
• DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop Artist (Sponsored by Hot 97)

• Nasty C (South Africa),
• Didi B (Ivory Coast) *WINNER
• Odumodublvck (Nigeria), Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Young Lunya (Tanzania)
• Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)

Pan-African Awards

Best Global African Artist

• Tyla (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU (South Africa)
• Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Asake (Nigeria/USA)
• Rema (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) *WINNER

Best Male Artist

• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Rema (Nigeria) *WINNER
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Stonebwoy (Ghana)

Best Female Artist

• Tyla (South Africa) *WINNER
• Makhadzi (South Africa)
• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Newcomer (sponsored by Johnnie Walker)

• Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
• Himra (Ivory Coast)
• Sabrina (Cameroon)
• Mia Guissé (Senegal)
• Shallipopi (Nigeria)
• Qing Madi (Nigeria)
• Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

Best Live Performance

• Fally Ipupa (DRC) *WINNER
• Ayra Starr – 21: The World Tour (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Yemi Alade – African Rebel Tour (Nigeria)
• Didi B – Mojo Trone Tour (Ivory Coast)
• Diamond Platnumz – Wasafi Festival (Tanzania)

Best Producer

• Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)
• P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria) *WINNER
• DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
• Tam Sir – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
• Sarz – ‘Happiness’ (Nigeria)
• Jae 5 – ‘Perfect Combi’ (Ghana)
• KDDO – ‘For Certain’ (Party Next Door) (Nigeria)
• London – ‘Ozeba’ (Nigeria)
• Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)

Best Gospel Artist

• Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
• KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
• Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria) *WINNER
• Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
• Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
• Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)

Regional Awards

Best Artist Eastern Africa

• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Bien (Kenya) *WINNER
• Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
• Harmonize (Tanzania)
• Rophnan (Ethiopia)
• Marioo (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Nandy (Tanzania)

Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)

• Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
• Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria) *WINNER
• Tems (Nigeria)
• Chike (Nigeria)
• Simi (Nigeria)
• KiDi (Ghana)

Best Artist (Southern Africa)

• Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
• De Mthuda (South Africa)
• Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
• Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
• Tyla (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
• Tyler ICU (South Africa) *WINNER

Best Artist Francophone Africa

• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• Josey (Ivory Coast) *WINNER
• Tidiane Mario (Congo)
• Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
• PhillBill (Cameroon)

Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)

• Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
• Landrick (Angola)
• Chelsea Dinorath (Angola) *WINNER
• Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
• Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artist (Tanzania)

• Mbosso (Tanzania)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Zanzibar)
• Marioo (Tanzania)
• Nandy (Tanzania) *WINNER
• Alikiba (Tanzania)
• Jux (Tanzania)
• Harmonize (Tanzania)

International and Diaspora Awards

Best Artist (Europe)

• Central Cee (United Kingdom)
• Kalash (France/Martinique)
• Darkoo (United Kingdom)
• Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti) *WINNER
• Jungeli (France)
• Franglish (France)
• Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)

Best Artist (Brazil)

• Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
• MC IG (Brazil)
• Péricles (Brazil)
• Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
• Ludmilla (Brazil)
• Duquesa (Brazil) *WINNER

Best Artist (Caribbean)

• Venssy (French Guiana)
• Lea Churro (Reunion Island) *WINNER
• Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
• Meryl (Martinique)
• Nesly (French Guiana)
• Shenseea (Jamaica)
• Kenny Haiti (Haiti)

Ghanaian rapper and entrepreneur Okyeame Kwame has endorsed King Paluta as Artiste of the Year.

In a Facebook post, Okyeame wrote: “Artiste of the year. Signed sealed delivered. And he is wearing the love equation by ok. Medaase.”

Although he didn’t add any award scheme to the post, it has stoked conversations about who deserves to win the Artiste of the Year slot in the forthcoming Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

Some people have argued that King Paluta’s visibility and hard work in the year under review (2024) towers over any other musician in Ghana. Their argument is premised on the fact that he released three smash hit songs: Aseda, Makoma, Pop Champagne, an album and appeared on many high profile concerts in Ghana and abroad.

Meanwhile, a section of music lovers are also rooting for King Promise, who was a huge contender for the slot last year.

Apart from these two artistes, Stonebwoy’s work in 2024 has been acknowledged by some music stakeholders as impressive. They believe that the Bhim Nation President deserves to win Artiste of the Year award again.

Telecel Ghana Music Awards’ Artiste of the Year category, is defined as the “Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the year under review. The artiste must have released a hit Single/EP/Album, and must be one of the artistes with the highest nominations in the year under review.”

In the meantime, the organisers of the TGMA are yet to release the nominations for this year’s awards.

Source: JoyOnline

Ghanaian actor Martha Ankomah and Kwadwo Nkansah Lilwin have reached an agreement in the GH₵5 million defamation lawsuit brought against the latter by the former.

According to reliable information available to us, the parties reached a settlement agreement following an in-camera hearing on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

The parties have since agreed on a three hundred thousand (GH₵ 300,000) settlement.

In a video shared on Facebook, a seemingly excited Martha Ankomah is seen walking out of the court with her lawyers.

In December 2024, Martha Ankomah turned down actor Lilwin’s public apology, deeming it insufficient in resolving the defamation suit she filed against him.

Background to the Case

The defamation suit arose from a viral video in which Lilwin allegedly insulted Martha Ankomah, undermining her prominence in the film industry. Ankomah claimed that the statements were reckless and malicious, causing significant damage to her reputation. In her lawsuit, Ankomah was seeking:

• • GH₵5 million in damages for the defamatory statements.
  • Compensatory damages for harm to her reputation.
  • Aggravated damages for the malicious publication of the defamatory words.
  • A court order compelling Lilwin to publish a formal apology and retraction with equal prominence.

Controversial social media personality Albert Nathaniel Hyde, widely known as Bongo Ideas, has found himself in legal trouble following a defamation lawsuit filed by Kojo Onipayede, also known as Kojo Forex.

On May 17, 2023, Kojo Forex filed an amended statement of claim with the court, accusing Bongo Ideas of libel. In the suit, Kojo Forex sought damages totalling one million Ghana cedis (GH₵1,000,000).

After reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Forson Agyapong Baah of the Accra High Court Jurisdiction 2 delivered a ruling on January 28, 2025.

The court awarded Kojo Forex general damages of GH₵100,000, along with an additional GH₵50,000 for aggravated, exemplary, and compensatory damages. Furthermore, the defendant was ordered to pay GH₵20,000 in legal costs.

In addition to the financial awards, the court granted several other reliefs to the plaintiff.

Bongo Ideas was ordered to publicly apologize for the defamatory statements made and to retract them on his Twitter page within 21 days of the judgment. The court also issued a permanent injunction preventing Bongo Ideas from making or publishing any further defamatory statements regarding Kojo Forex.

This ruling marks a significant legal setback for Bongo Ideas, who has often been a figure of controversy on social media.

Westline Entertainment, organizers of the prestigious Western Music Awards have opened nominations for the 9th edition.

This year’s scheme has a total of 31 categories including new category, Best Female Artiste of The Year.

According to the organizers, the works of artistes and other stakeholders from February 2024 to January 2025 are considered eligible for this year’s Western Music Awards.

“The deadline for nominations is March 17, 2025,” Nana Kwesi Coomson, the Head of Public Relations department of the organizers announced, adding that, the theme for this year’s edition is ‘Rhythm of Success.’

“This year’s submissions are entirely electronic via http://www.wmagh.com/submission. The deadline for submission is March 17, 2025,” Mr. Coomson added.

The Western Music Awards is the region’s flagship awards ceremony that has projected many Artistes for their works in a review year.

Amongst the notable Artistes who have received the awards include the reigning Artiste of the year, SK. Frimpong, Kofi Kinaata, Fameye, Dopenation, C.K. Mann, Jewel Ackah, Paapa Yankson and many more.