Entertainment
Sam Asghari files for divorce from Britney Spears after 14 months of marriage
Pop star Britney Spears and her husband Sam Asghari have split up after 14 months of marriage.
A divorce petition filed late on Wednesday, seen by BBC News, cites “irreconcilable differences” between Asghari, 29, and Spears, 41.
The couple got engaged in September 2021 and were married in a small but star-studded ceremony in June 2022.
But rumours of their marital struggles have been splashed across US tabloids this year.
Representatives for Spears and Asghari have not yet commented.
The musician did not address the divorce in a Wednesday night post to her 42 million Instagram followers, instead writing that she was “buying a horse soon”.
According to the dissolution of marriage petition filed by Asghari in Los Angeles County Superior Court, he asks that spousal support and attorneys’ fees be paid by Spears.
The Iranian-American actor, model and fitness trainer met Spears while she was shooting the video for her song, Slumber Party, in 2016.
He played a key role during her conservatorship fight with father Jamie, sporting a Free Britney T-shirt on Instagram before a crucial court hearing.
Their wedding, at the superstar’s home in Thousand Oaks, California last year, was an intimate and lavish affair attended by celebrities including Paris Hilton, Madonna and Drew Barrymore.
The two had recently been seen without their wedding rings in public.
The separation comes as Spears prepares to publish her memoir – The Woman in Me – this October.It marks the end of her third marriage.
In 2004, she married childhood friend Jason Alexander for 55 hours in Las Vegas, before she annulled the nuptials at the urging of her management team.
Mr Alexander, who was seen participating in the pro-Trump riot at the US Capitol in Washington DC in January 2021, attempted to crash Spears’ wedding to Asghari hours before they tied the knot.
He was charged with trespassing, vandalism and two counts of battery, and has been court ordered to stay away from her.
Spears’ second marriage – to rapper Kevin Federline – lasted from 2004 to 2007. Federline retains sole custody of their two children, Jayden James and Sean Preston.
Source: BBC
The biggest event on Ghana’s entertainment calendar is set for a night of honours, pomp, and pageantry.
It is a night where musicians who excelled during the year under review will be rewarded through the endorsement of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards Board, the Academy, and the general public.
The Grand Arena, the ideal venue for the 27th TGMA, will host a star-studded audience of musicians, media personalities, businessmen, politicians, actors, and footballers among others.
On this night, the most coveted prize is the Artiste of the Year (AOTY) category, which will see the crowning of a new king or queen of Ghana music.
Two heavyweights in the category, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie, have the opportunity to set an enviable record as the only artistes to win the coveted title for a third time.
Should they fall short, the opportunity shifts to Black Sherif and Diana Hamilton to equal the record of two wins, joining the elite ranks of past double-winners like VIP.
A win for Diana Hamilton, will set her up in a lonely journey at the top as the only gospel musician, to win the Artiste of the Year for the second time.
Alternatively, Wendy Shay could make her debut by winning the award for the first time. This would make her team up with Diana Hamilton as the only female artistes alive to hold the title. The late Ebony, won it posthumously in 2018.
If the title slips past them and falls to Medikal, he will also become a first-time winner, etching his name into the annals of Ghana music history.
Patrons can look forward to electrifying performances from a long list of confirmed artistes, including Black Sherif, Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, R2Bees, Medikal, Wendy Shay, Lasmid, Kofi Kinaata, Samini, and Fido, among others.
Beyond the ultimate prize, several other major categories are up for grabs, including Music Video of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The fourth edition of International AmoFest lived up to its promise on Saturday, May 2, delivering a vibrant “three-in-one” experience that left the audience at Alliance Française in Accra buzzing.
The night was a masterful blend of sound and stagecraft. Berima Amo, the visionary behind the festival, led an impressive lineup of performers, including Pedro Kastelijns, Martha Apini, Rudy Ray, and Lamisi.
Together, they showcased a fusion of global music and authentic Ghanaian Highlife, staying true to the festival’s mission of preserving Ghana’s original rhythmic soul.
Adding a unique layer to the evening, Uncle Ebo Whyte’s Roverman Productions took to the stage, blending theater with the night’s musical energy.
The experience concluded with a high-energy after-party, fulfilling Berima Amo’s goal of creating a truly immersive and memorable night.
Reflecting on the event’s purpose, Amo emphasised the need for intentionality in protecting Highlife.
He called on every Ghanaian, as well as government institutions, to actively foster an environment where the genre can thrive on the global stage.
The main event followed a successful educational outreach on April 24, where over 250 high school students participated in a Highlife workshop at the Centre for National Culture.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
