Texas blues legend Johnny Winter emblazoned himself into the world's consciousness with his tattooed arms churning out lightning-fast guitar riffs and his striking long white hair flowing from under his cowboy hat.

His contrasting appearance and devotion to the blues pioneers of the 20th century turbo-charged a career in which he emulated and, ultimately, championed, his childhood hero Muddy Waters and other icons. Winters carved out a wide niche — and became an icon himself — starting in the late 1960s and 1970s with a sound that blues and country singer Tracy Nelson, prominent during the same era with her band Mother Earth, described as "Texas second generation."

Elaine Stritch, the brash theater performer whose gravelly, gin-laced voice and impeccable comic timing made her a Broadway legend, has died. She was 89.

Joseph Rosenthal, Stritch's longtime attorney, said the actress died Thursday of natural causes at her home in Birmingham, Michigan.

VMAs voters seemed drunk in love for Beyoncé.

The nominations for for the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards were announced Thursday morning and Mrs. Carter leads the field with eight nods — including Video of the Year for her collaboration with husband Jay Z, “Drunk in Love.”

An Italian director best known for telling complex on-screen love stories will begin shooting the first film about Pope Francis in Argentina later this year, Italian radio reported on Thursday.

Daniele Luchetti said he would start filming the biopic in October, after he had become fascinated by the pontiff's openness on various issues.

A man accused of breaking into a home in the Kennedy compound and telling authorities he was looking for singer Katy Perry has been sent to a mental health facility for evaluation.

James Lacroix, 53, appeared in court Wednesday on a breaking and entering charge. A not guilty plea was entered for him, but a formal arraignment was delayed until Aug. 13.

Oscar-winning director Ron Howard will make a new authorized documentary about the Beatles' touring years, with the backing of the Fab Four's music label Apple Corps, they said Wednesday.

The two surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are giving their "full cooperation" to the movie, as are John Lennon and George Harrison's widows, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the filmmakers said.

A production company is suing US comic Seth MacFarlane for breach of copyright, claiming he based his foul-mouthed character in hit movie "Ted" on an abusive teddy bear created years before.

Bengal Mangle Productions say MacFarlane's Ted, who drinks, takes drugs and likes prostitutes, is based on the title character in "Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear," an online show dating from 2009.

Ioan Gruffudd is used to playing extraordinary characters, but his latest comes with a special challenge.

In the "Fantastic Four" movies, he was the brainy shapeshifter Mister Fantastic. In ABC's upcoming series "Forever," the Welsh actor plays a man who is fated to die and be reborn over and over — and each time he comes back, he's naked.

A hearing will be held to determine whether Justin Bieber will be tried on charges of driving under the influence and resisting arrest.

The hearing Wednesday in Miami is meant for prosecutors and Bieber's lawyers to tell a judge if they're ready for trial, or if there is a plea deal in the works. Trial for the 20-year-old pop star is currently set for July 28.

He is famed as the God of Thunder, but Thor is to change sex, launching an "all-new era" for the comic book icon, its publishers said Tuesday. 

Marvel Comics will introduce the female Thor in its latest comic series in October, it announced, stressing that the new Thor is not "She-Thor" or "Thorita."