NEW YORK — Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting after a diagnosis of aphasia, a condition that causes loss of the ability to understand or express speech, his family announced Wednesday.

In a statement posted on Willis' Instagram page, the 67-year-old actor's family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities.

“As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him," read the statement signed by Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn.

“We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him,” they said. “As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”

Aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or head injury, but can also develop gradually due to a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes degenerative damage. It is treated primarily with speech therapy and learning non-verbal means of communication.

The news about Willis, one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, immediately spread online as fans reacted. His four-decade career has amassed more than $5 billion in box office worldwide,

Willis had been working steadily and frequently. Renowned for films like “Die Hard," “Pulp Fiction" and “The Sixth Sense,” Willis has in recent years churned out straight-to-video thrillers. Last year, he starred in a staggering eight films.

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NEW YORK — Katy Perry is getting into the podcast business, narrating a series about another superstar, Elizabeth Taylor.

“Elizabeth The First,” produced by Perry, House of Taylor and Imperative, is a 10-episode series about Taylor as the original influencer.

Topics include how Taylor negotiated the first $1M salary to star in 1963's “Cleopatra," and the creation of a fragrance empire when celebrity-endorsed productions was not common or popular. Thirty years since its launch, White Diamonds remains a top global fragrance brand.

The podcast will also discuss how Taylor used her celebrity to call attention to HIV/AIDS and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and include rare stories from people who knew her best.

In a statement, Perry says of Taylor, “like most people, I was attracted to her glamour... I’m inspired by her bold activism, her constant boss moves in business, and through it all, an unapologetic way of loving – all things I try to live in my own life. It’s an honor to be able to share her story in this way.”

Adds the House of Taylor, "We believe wholeheartedly that this take on Elizabeth will resonate with audiences. Her story is timely. And, we’re excited for people to hear about her in a different light and see her the way we do.”

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"Bad Reputation" is off to a slow start.

Kid Rock's latest album missed the Billboard 200 albums chart during its first week of eligibility, according to chart data released this week.

It's a notable fall for an artist whose last seven studio albums all debuted inside the chart's top 10. Rock's previous set, "Sweet Southern Sugar," hit the Billboard 200 at No. 8 in 2017.

"Bad Reputation," which was released independently on Rock's own Top Dog Records on March 21, did have several factors working against it. It arrived on a Monday, rather than a traditional Friday release, meaning it missed out on three days of activity in its initial chart frame.

And the 18-track set — which marks Rock's 12th studio effort — was released exclusively to streaming services. Physical copies won't be available until April 6.

"Bad Reputation" did impact several smaller charts. It lands on Billboard's Independent Albums chart at No. 31, the Top Rock Albums chart at No. 39, the Top Current Album Sales chart at No. 9 and the Top Album Sales chart at No. 15.

Still, its absence from the Billboard 200 — the main tally which ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. — marks a tumble for the 51-year-old Michigan-reared rocker, who in January bragged about the album's profane single "We the People" topping the iTunes sales charts. "Suck on that you trolls, critics and haters!" he tweeted at the time.

According to Spotify data, "We the People" has been streamed 2.3 million times since its Jan. 25 release, while "Bad Reputation's" lead offering "Don't Tell Me How to Live," which was released in November, has been streamed 2.2 million times. The other songs on "Bad Reputation" have received between 757,000 and 53,000 Spotify streams, and have collectively amassed 1.93 million plays on the streaming service.

The seven songs on the week's No. 1 album, K-Pop group Stray Kids' "Oddinary," have been streamed a total of 45.7 million times on Spotify, according to data from the streamer. The album sold 110,000 equivalent album units its first week, according to Luminate, which collects sales figures and industry data which is used by Billboard to compile its charts.

Rock topped the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2007 with "Rock N Roll Jesus," his only album to reach the chart's zenith. "First Kiss," in 2015, started at No. 2, as did his 2000 compilation album, "The History of Rock."

From combined wire services