Aretha Franklin is reportedly "gravely ill," according to Showbiz 411 and a news anchor at her hometown of Detroit's Local 4 WVID station. "I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill," Evron Cassimy, the WVID anchor, wrote on Twitter before formally announcing the news this morning on WDIV. "I spoke with her family members this morning....

Spike Lee can only go big. There is no subtlety or secret message that flies over your head. It’s all right there, underlined and bolded. Blakkklansman, Lee’s latest film, doesn’t pretend to be about anything but the insidious and destructive nature of white supremacy. It’s a mess of a film that, at times, trades character development or storytelling for the larger message, which can be effective...

R. Kelly is scheduled to perform at the Hulu Theatre at New York City's Madison Square Garden next month, according to the venue's website, ticketing platforms, and Kelly's RCA Records artist page. The little-noticed September 15 booking is, paradoxically, the embattled singer's most high-profile gig in years. It comes amid ongoing public outcry over Kelly's history of alleged sexual abuse and...