Entertainment Roundup: GOT in April; Aretha Franklin concert; Spotify in Africa

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

The final season of 'Game of Thrones' to premiere in April

HBO's hit Emmy-winning drama "Game of Thrones" will debut its eighth and final season starting in April, the network announced in a trailer released online on Tuesday. The video featured footage from previous seasons of the costly battles that preceded the coming showdown for control of the fictional kingdom of Westeros. The network did not reveal a specific date for the final season's premiere, which will run for six episodes.

Carrie, Chris and Keith steal the show at the Country Music Awards

Chris Stapleton was the big winner but Carrie Underwood and her unborn baby stole the limelight at the Country Music Association (CMA) awards on Wednesday. A heavily pregnant Underwood, one of country music's biggest celebrities, chose the live televised show in Nashville to reveal for the first time that the second child she is expecting is a boy.

'Spinal Tap' creators, Vivendi to mediate $400 million U.S. fraud lawsuit

The creators of "This Is Spinal Tap" have agreed to put their fraud lawsuit against Vivendi SA on hold while a mediator tries to resolve they're $400 million cases over the 1984 cult film. In a court filing on Tuesday, lawyers for Vivendi and for the plaintiffs Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner and Harry Shearer said they have chosen a mediator who will "attempt to resolve or narrow" the lawsuit.

Amazon India says comic embroiled in #Metoo no longer involved in the new show

An Indian comic embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct will no longer be the showrunner for an original series on Amazon.com Inc's video streaming service, a top Amazon executive said on Wednesday. Gursimran Khamba, a co-founder of popular comedy collective All India Bakchod (AIB), was accused of sexual misconduct by an anonymous woman on social media last month. She accused him of "emotional blackmail" and of trying to force himself on her. Khamba has denied any wrongdoing.

Dark, new 'Fantastic Beasts' movie grounded in the real world

Albus Dumbledore is a young professor at Hogwarts School; the charismatic but evil Gellert Grindelwald is determined to manipulate the world for his own ends; and Newt Scamander, with his magical suitcase of strange creatures, is trying to stop him. The wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling returns to the big screen this week with "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," and its dark themes are grounded firmly in the real world.

Aretha Franklin's 'Amazing Grace' concert film finally debuts

Three months after her death and 46 years after she first recorded it, Aretha Franklin's live gospel concert is coming to the big screen. "Amazing Grace," filmed in January 1972 when the Queen of Soul was just 29 years old, follows Franklin over two nights giving a concert at the New Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Beyoncé buys out clothing venture from UK's Philip Green

U.S. singer Beyoncé has bought the Ivy Park fitness clothing brand launched two years ago with British retail tycoon Philip Green, who has faced allegations of sexual harassment. "After discussions of almost a year, (Beyoncé's) Parkwood has acquired 100 per cent of the Ivy Park brand," Ivy Park said in a statement.

Spotify launches in the Middle East and North Africa

Spotify, the world's most popular paid music streaming service, officially launched in the Middle East and North Africa on Tuesday. The company said services would now be available in 13 Arab markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Morocco but not Libya, Iraq, Syria, or Yemen.