NFL star J.J. Watt, NBA player Chris Paul and country singer Brad Paisley will appear in an Amazon series that highlights everyday people who are supporting their community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Paul will make a guest appearance on the fifth episode of “Regular Heroes” on Friday. He has been outspoken on social issues and vocal during the pandemic as the president of the NBA players’ union president.
Paisley and Watt are expected to take part in separate episodes the following two weeks of the docuseries.
The eight-episode series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 8 with new episodes available every Friday through July 3.
Friday’s episode will feature Dr. Nana B. Afoh-Manin in Los Angeles, drive-in theater owner Andrew Thomas in Houston and animal rescue worker Jessica Vaccaro in New Orleans.
Afoh-Manin is an emergency room physician who co-founded a company that offers free testing and telehealth to underinsured people. Vaccaro’s shelter has taken in triple the amount of animals since the pandemic began. Thomas hosted high school graduations at his drive-in theater.
Watt is known for his community efforts in Houston, raising more than $41 million to rebuild the Texas Gulf Coast after Hurricane Harvey. Paisley and his wife opened a free grocery store that has made deliveries to older adults in Nashville during the pandemic.
Alicia Keys, Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas and Kelly Rowland have also appeared on the series.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Here’s a guide that tells you what you need to know about the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It’s the 24th and final round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and a three-way title decider between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
— In the U.S., on ESPN.
— Other countries are listed here.
Friday: First and second practice.
Saturday: Third practice and qualifying.
Sunday: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 58 laps of the 5.28-kilometer (3.28-mile) Yas Marina Circuit. It starts at 5 p.m. local time (8 a.m. EST / 1300 GMT).
The final race of every F1 season since 2009 has been held under lights on the seafront in Abu Dhabi, including the controversial finish which saw Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 title on the final lap. Overtaking is difficult and the race has been won by the driver on pole position every year since 2015, including Norris last year.
Norris had the chance to wrap up the title at last week's Qatar Grand Prix but a pit strategy blunder by McLaren handed Verstappen the win to boost his title defense chances, with Piastri second and Norris fourth in Qatar. That means that Norris will still win the title if he's on the podium in Abu Dhabi. Even if Verstappen wins the race, he needs to hope Norris is fourth or lower. Even if Piastri wins the race, he still requires Norris to finish outside the top five.
— Norris says he won’t ask Piastri to move over if needed in F1 title decider
— McLaren’s botched strategy call helps Verstappen win Qatar GP as F1 title fight goes to final race
— Red Bull voices regret after Kimi Antonelli is threatened online over Lando Norris incident
— Hadjar to partner Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026 as Tsunoda loses F1 seat
— Toyota deepens connections in F1 by sponsoring Haas team in 2026
11 — Norris can become the 11th different British driver to win the title. Verstappen is the only Dutch champion and Piastri could become Australia's first champion in 45 years.
5 — Verstappen has the chance to win the F1 title five years running, a feat only achieved by Michael Schumacher in 2004.
34 — Piastri led Norris by 34 points and Verstappen by a vast 104 points following the Dutch GP in August, but hasn't won a Grand Prix since then and is now 16 points off the lead. Norris leads overall with 408 points, Verstappen has 396 and Piastri 392.
“Honestly, I mean I would love it but I don’t think I would ask it because it’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.” — Norris on whether he'd like Piastri to help him out if Verstappen is on course to win the title decider.
“I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose, you know?” — Verstappen.
“Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion, but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.” — Piastri.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Winner Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, centre, second placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, and third placed Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain celebrate on the podium after the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Cars exit the pitlane during a safety car session at the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, Pool)
