From the newest 'American Idol' to the end of a 'Bill & Ted's' hot spot, here are your top entertainment headlines.

IAM TONGI WINS AMERICAN IDOL

American Idol Season 21 concluded Sunday night with a new champion, Hawaii native Iam Tongi, and fans are itching to know what he's going to do next. He told E! News in an exclusive interview that he's ready to spend some time with his family. He also expressed gratitude for everyone who voted for him. The 18-year-old caught fire fairly early in the season when his audition tape, which featured him performing a version of James Blunt's "Monsters," went viral. It has since generated 16 million views on YouTube. Tongi's back story also captivated audiences. He told the show's judges that his family left Hawaii because they were “priced out of paradise.” Upon winning the championship, judge Katy Perry told him, "Welcome to paradise, my friend." 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MAesZsnMk[youtube]

DEF LEPPARD DRUMMER ATTACKED

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen talked for the first time publicly about surviving an attack after a concert in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. earlier this year. The assault took place while Allen was taking a smoke break back at the hotel. The drummer told ABC's Good Morning America that the man, a 19-year-old from Avon, Ohio, probably didn't know he was famous and only attacked him because he has one arm. The attacker is now in custody and has pleaded to two counts of battery and four counts of criminal mischief. 

SOUND OF SILENCE

Legendary folk singer Paul Simon said in an interview with The Sunday Times that he's lost hearing in his left ear. The 81-year-old reported that doctors are not yet sure what caused the issue, but for the moment he won't be doing any live performances. Simon also lamented the loss of other musicians of his generation, such as Gordon Lightfoot, who died earlier this month. 

ICONIC MALL SET FOR DEMOLITION

The iconic Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix, Ariz., which was featured in the 1989 movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, is set to be demolished this summer, and the surrounding community came together on Sunday for one last adventure of their own. Long-time patrons shared their memories of the mall, and there was even a screening of the movie that made it famous. The mall, which opened its doors in 1973, was once called the "crown jewel" of the desert.

Share:
More In Culture
Thanksgiving Manners and Etiquette
Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and friends, but it also comes with social obligations. Dr. Sheree Sekou, principal consultant at Sheree Sekou Consulting, joined Cheddar News to discuss how to navigate holiday etiquette and answered questions from Cheddar News staff.
Actress Garcelle Beauvais, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Partner for Haiti's Pockets of Hope Campaign
November is when Haiti commemorates becoming the first independent Black republic in the world. And 120 years later, the country's development continues. Haitian-American actress and humanitarian Garcelle Beauvais and Alex Cantave, senior program officer for Haiti at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation spoke with Cheddar News about their partnership to help the country's Pockets of Hope campaign, which looks to generate $90 million for education, health, and economic development initiatives in Haiti over the next three years.
Load More