Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards, winning album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first all-Spanish-language project to earn the top prize, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA captured record of the year for “luther.” Lamar also became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 wins, and British singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist as the ceremony highlighted both musical achievement and social commentary.
Category: !Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Posted inArts & Culture
Baltimore August Wilson Celebration continues with ‘Fences’
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will produce August Wilson’s “Fences” as part of the citywide Baltimore August Wilson Celebration. The production is the sixth of 10 plays in Wilson’s American Century Cycle, being staged as part of the celebration, and will run Feb. 6–March 1. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, “Fences” centers on […]
Posted inObituaries
Richard Smallwood, gospel icon, to be honored at Jan. 24 celebration of life
The celebration of life for legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood will take place Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Md. Smallwood, 77, died of complications from kidney failure on Dec. 30, 2025.
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Crypto firms: Wolves in banks’ clothing
n this commentary, attorney and educator Alice T. Crowe warns that major cryptocurrency firms are positioning themselves as banks without being subject to the same consumer protections, posing heightened risks for Black communities. She argues that crypto companies deliberately target Black consumers—through celebrity endorsements, Bitcoin ATMs in Black neighborhoods, and promises of liberation from racist banking systems—while offering little recourse against fraud, volatility, or loss, potentially deepening existing racial wealth gaps rather than closing them.
Posted inTV and Film
‘Sinners’ wins two Golden Globes; loses out on Best Motion Picture
By Itoro N. Umontuen “One Battle After Another” emerged as a major winner, taking home the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The film continued its strong showing by earning three additional honors, including Best Supporting Actress for Teyana Taylor, along with Best Director and Best Screenplay awarded to Paul Thomas […]
Posted inDMV News
D.C.’s ‘Black Broadway’ comes alive as fans celebrate 50 years of go-go music
By D. Kevin McNeirSpecial to the AFRO The old magic of “Chocolate City” returned on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. The theatre, located in the U Street corridor known as “Black Broadway,” is where legendary entertainers musicians like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong once showcased their musical prowess […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Beyoncé enters billionaire ranks few Black Americans have reached
By Stacy M. Brown Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has joined the small and closely watched group of Black American billionaires, a milestone that places her alongside a handful of individuals who built vast wealth in a country where Black ownership has long been restricted, delayed or denied. According to Forbes, Beyoncé is now worth at least $1 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Winners announced for the 17th Annual AAFCA Awards presented by the African American Film Critics Association
The African American Film Critics Association announced the winners of its 17th Annual AAFCA Awards, with “Sinners” emerging as the top honoree, earning multiple awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Best Director and Writing for Ryan Coogler. The winners, selected by more than 100 AAFCA members, will be celebrated Feb. 8 at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, honoring films and artists whose work reflects bold storytelling and cultural impact.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Recording Academy® Honors presented by the Black Music Collective returns, celebrating Grammy® Award-winning icons Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin
The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective will host the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors on Jan. 29, 2026, during GRAMMY® Week, celebrating the enduring impact of Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin. The event will recognize their genre-defying artistry, cultural influence and commitment to advancing Black excellence in music and beyond.
Posted inBlack History
Jordan Peele’s ‘High Horse: The Black Cowboy’ doc sheds light on an erased part of history
Jordan Peele’s docuseries “High Horse: The Black Cowboy” explores the often-erased history of Black cowboys, revealing their central role in shaping the American West and challenging long-held pop culture myths. Through archival footage and contemporary voices, the series reframes cowboy culture as a shared American story rather than a narrowly defined tradition.
Posted inArts & Culture
From the streets to the stage: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ channels Alicia Keys’ roots into a Broadway triumph
Inspired by Alicia Keys’ life and music, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Hell’s Kitchen” follows 17-year-old Ali’s coming-of-age journey through family, first love and finding her voice, anchored by powerful performances and reimagined songs. Led by Jade Milan and featuring rotating turns by Ne-Yo, Tank and Christopher Jackson as Ali’s father, the musical blends raw storytelling with electrifying choreography and soul-stirring vocals.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Is Black America reckoning with the end of hip-hop’s ‘Diddy Era’?
Despite Sean Combs’ long status as a controversial public figure, the Netflix documentary “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” has struck a nerve across Black America, dominating conversations about power, violence, and abuse in hip-hop. The series is prompting broader soul-searching about the culture that enabled Combs’ rise and the limits of accountability in the music industry.