Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, best known for her role in the iconic 2001 drama Meteor Garden, has passed away at the age of 48 due to pneumonia, local media report.

Hsu, one of the most recognized stars in the Mandarin-speaking entertainment industry, gained widespread fame across Asia, with Meteor Garden captivating audiences in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, where it was dubbed into local languages.

The news of her passing has left fans devastated, with millions expressing their shock online. “I can’t believe it,” wrote one Weibo user, echoing the sentiments of many.

Hsu reportedly fell ill while visiting Japan, where she was vacationing with her family during Lunar New Year. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the news to Taiwan’s TVBS News on Monday.

“During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza,” Dee Hsu shared in a statement through her manager.

Barbie Hsu had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, and she had been hospitalized previously due to seizures.

She leaves behind her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, as well as two children from her previous marriage to Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, whom she divorced in 2021 after ten years of marriage.

Hsu’s passing marks a heartbreaking loss for the Asian entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues mourning the end of an era for a star who helped define a generation of television romance.

Beyoncé has finally secured the coveted Album of the Year award at the 67th Grammy Awards, correcting what many saw as a long-standing injustice. The singer was honored for Cowboy Carter, her groundbreaking album that explores the Black roots of country music.

Having been passed over for the Grammys’ top prize four times before, Beyoncé’s moment of triumph was met with a standing ovation. She embraced her daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay-Z before taking the stage in a gold paisley dress.

“I just feel very full and very honored,” she said. “It’s been many, many years.”

She dedicated the win to Linda Martell, a trailblazing Black country artist and the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry. Martell’s influence is deeply woven into Cowboy Carter, with her voice appearing throughout the album.

Beyoncé’s victory comes 25 years after her first Grammy nomination with Destiny’s Child. Despite becoming the most-awarded artist in Grammys history—with a record 35 wins—she had never won Album of the Year until now.

The Texas-born artist’s genre shift proved historic. Cowboy Carter, the second in a trilogy exploring America’s musical heritage, has been praised for reshaping the narrative around country and Americana.

Beyoncé also becomes the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999, marking a milestone moment in Grammy history.

Emily in Paris star Lily Collins and her husband, Charlie McDowell, have joyfully welcomed their first child, a daughter named Tove Jane McDowell. The couple shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, expressing their deep gratitude to their surrogate and everyone who supported them on their journey to parenthood.

Collins, 35, posted a touching photo of her newborn sleeping beside a blanket embroidered with her name. In the caption, the actress and her film director husband wrote:
“Welcome to the centre of our world, Tove Jane McDowell. Words will never express our endless gratitude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way.”

The couple closed their message with a sweet note: “We love you to the moon and back again.

The announcement follows another sentimental post from Collins, who had just shared a birthday tribute to her father, musician Phil Collins. Posting childhood photos of the two together, she reflected on their bond, saying she was grateful for his support and love over the years.

Born in Guildford, UK, and raised in Los Angeles, Collins has been acting since childhood. She skyrocketed to international fame in 2020 with her role in Netflix’s romantic comedy Emily in Paris, which follows an American marketing executive adjusting to life in France.

The show, recently renewed for a fifth season, has yet to confirm its next filming location. Meanwhile, Collins has also expanded her career to the West End, making her stage debut in Barcelona, a romantic thriller alongside Álvaro Morte from Money Heist.