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Taylor Swift

LOS ANGELES — Taylor Swift's long-awaited “Reputation” is already assured to be one of the best-selling album launches in recent history. Now the singer has a stadium tour to go with it.

Swift announced the first round of U.S. dates for her “Reputation” tour on Monday morning. It is set to begin May 9 in Arizona. It is scheduled to wrap up in Texas in October.

This tour will make use of Ticketmaster's Verified Fan program, the groundbreaking if controversial effort with which fans can boost their place in the ticket-buying line (and hopefully beat scalpers) by purchasing albums and merchandise and sharing Swift content on social media.

The effort already seems to have worked in one respect: Last week, “Reputation” sold an estimated 700,000 albums — that's sales alone, not even streaming equivalents — on its first day of release.

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NEW YORK — Sean Penn is writing a novel about a “divorced, disillusioned man.”

And, yes, he did once release an audiobook under the pseudonym “Pappy Pariah.”

Atria Books told The Associated Press on Monday that Penn's “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” will come out March 27. The novel builds upon an audiobook from 2016, narrated by one Pappy Pariah and promoted by the usually press-shy actor. During an appearance last fall at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Penn acknowledged a close bond with Pariah, while also referring to him as a sociopath.

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LONDON — The creator of the hit musical “Hamilton” plans to use the show's international debut in London next month to raise money to combat climate change.

Writer, composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda and his wife, Vanessa Nadal, said Monday that donors to two environmental charities will be eligible to win the chance to accompany the couple to “Hamilton's” London premiere.

Miranda told The Associated Press they chose the Natural Resources Defense Council and Britain-based charity 10:10 as the fundraiser's beneficiaries because of their commitment to combating climate change.

Miranda said: “With 'Hamilton's' first international production, we think it is appropriate to tackle an issue that affects the international community.”

Refurbishment work at the Victoria Palace Theatre has delayed the musical's debut in London. It now is set for early December.

From wire reports

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