NBC News, Kelly finally separate
NBC News has reached its professional divorce agreement with anchor Megyn Kelly.
The network announced the deal Friday night after more than two months of negotiations, giving no details. The former Fox News Channel transplant has been off the air since late October after suggesting that it was OK for white people to wear blackface on Halloween. “The parties have resolved their differences, and Megyn Kelly is no longer an employee of NBC,” the network said. Kelly was in the second year of a three-year contract that reportedly paid her more than $20million a year.
Illinois refuses permit for R. Kelly concert
Illinois officials say a concert in Springfield that was to be hosted by R. Kelly cannot take place in the wake of new sexual misconduct allegations against the R&B star.
Illinois Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Denise Albert told the Chicago Tribune that the application for the Spring Break Jam in April was denied Thursday because of security concerns following protests outside Kelly’s Chicago studio last week. Kelly has been under fire since the recent airing of a Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.” He has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls. A tip that Kelly was holding two women against their will prompted Chicago police to visit his residence Friday in Chicago’s Trump Tower. Officers interviewed Kelly and the women but found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Songwriters Hall of Famers sets ’19 list
Missy Elliott is making history as the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, whose 2019class also includes legendary British singer and influential pop songwriter Cat Stevens and countryfolk icon John Prine.
The organization announced the new group of inductees Saturday. Other inductees are Tom T. Hall, whom Johnny Cash called his “all-time favorite songwriter”; Jack Tempchin, who co-wrote songs for the Eagles and Glenn Frey’s solo albums; and Dallas Austin, the songwriter behind radio hits for TLC, Monica, Pink, Boyz II Men, Madonna and more. Elliott is just the third rapper to enter the hall.