Ariana's departure from AHS13, Blue Ivy's piano skills, Trump threatens Iran

Ariana Grande withdraws from ‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 cast

Fans hoping to see Ariana Grande enter the world of American Horror Story will have to wait a little longer.

The singer and actress has officially exited the upcoming 13th season of Ryan Murphy's long-running anthology series after production dates clashed with her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which is currently taking her across North America and Europe through late August.

Grande had been announced as one of the season's new faces alongside a lineup of franchise favorites, with filming already underway in New York City. The new installment also reunites several cast members from the beloved Coven season, including Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Emma Roberts.

While the scheduling conflict prevents Grande from joining the horror series, her acting career continues to gain momentum. After earning widespread acclaim—and an Academy Award nomination—for her performance in Wicked, she reprised the role in Wicked: For Good, further establishing herself as one of Hollywood's rising musical stars.

She also has a busy slate ahead, with roles in the upcoming comedy Focker In-Law opposite Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, as well as Jon M. Chu's animated adaptation of Oh, the Places You'll Go!.

Although her American Horror Story debut is on hold, Grande's expanding film career and successful return to touring continue to keep her schedule packed.

Blue Ivy showcases piano skills at Jay-Z’s concert

Jay-Z gave fans more than a celebration of Reasonable Doubt's 30th anniversary when he welcomed Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy Carter to the stage during the opening night of his concert series at New York's Yankee Stadium.

The surprise began during a performance of "Can't Knock the Hustle," as Beyoncé emerged to sing portions of the song originally recorded with Mary J. Blige. The crowd erupted as the couple shared the stage, prompting Jay-Z to joke, "Oh, she can sing." Beyoncé returned the affection, telling the audience, "Give it up for my baby."

The family-filled evening continued when the rapper invited 14-year-old Blue Ivy to join him for "Feelin' It." Blue Ivy impressed concertgoers by performing the song's piano solo, earning loud cheers from the crowd. Jay-Z proudly introduced her as "the legendary Blue Ivy Carter."

The performance marked Blue Ivy's first public piano appearance, adding another milestone to her growing list of talents. Earlier this year, Jay-Z revealed that his daughter has perfect pitch and prefers teaching herself rather than taking formal lessons.

Already known for dancing alongside Beyoncé during the Renaissance and Cowboy Carter tours, Blue Ivy's latest appearance showcased her musical abilities, making the anniversary concert a memorable celebration for both the Carter family and fans alike.

Donald Trump threatens Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, saying the country would face overwhelming military retaliation if it attempted to carry out any plot against him.

In a post on The Truth Social late Friday, Trump claimed the U.S. was fully prepared to respond, writing that “1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded” and warning that Iran would be “completely decimate[d] and destroy[ed]” if it acted on alleged assassination threats targeting the sitting American president.

The remarks came as the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions against an alleged Iranian financier, a move Tehran criticized as a violation of the preliminary agreement reached between the two countries last month. Iranian officials reportedly raised the issue as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman for another round of diplomatic talks.

Trump’s comments followed reports from U.S. media, including The Wall Street Journal, claiming Israel had shared intelligence regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the president.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high after the recent conflict that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S. airstrike. During funeral processions held Thursday, some mourners were seen carrying banners calling for Trump’s death, further escalating already fraught relations between the longtime adversaries.

ICYMI:

• Daniella Monet has revealed the plot of the upcoming Hollywood Arts, a spin-off of Victorious centered on Trina Vega. The series follows Trina as she lands a job as a substitute teacher at Hollywood Arts in hopes of finding students with famous parents she can use to launch her own career, only to unexpectedly discover a genuine passion for teaching along the way.

• ROLE MODEL surprised fans at his Chuck Truck pop-up in Los Angeles today, where he personally served “Sweet Thing” slushies inspired by the new music video for his latest single, “Joy.” The unexpected appearance delighted attendees, with fans lining up to meet the artist and celebrate the release of his new visual.

— Bea Bertuldo

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