“Even though he writes so many books, he’s still got more,” Patterson told the Deseret News.

So that’s where Patterson steps in.

When Sanderson — bestselling author of the fantasy series “Mistborn” and “The Stormlight Archive” — reached out to her several years ago to ask if she would be interested in collaborating on a series of novellas set in his sci-fi “Cytoverse” universe, she jumped right in. And now, the pair are embarking on a whole new trilogy, with their first full-length “Cytoverse” novel together, “Blightfall,” coming out on Tuesday.

Patterson, who’s written novels in a variety of genres from fantasy and science fiction to YA to romance, noted that co-writing with another author is a very different process from writing novels on her own, but said that she’s enjoyed writing in Sanderson’s sandbox.

“It feels to me kind of like I bring my bucket and I fill it up with his toys, and then I take them home to play with them,” she said. “It’s awesome.”

Ahead of the release of “Blightfall,” Patterson shared with the Deseret News what to expect from the new novel, as well as how she and Sanderson worked together to create it — and what’s coming next in the series.

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Jumping into the ‘Cytoverse’

Patterson isn’t a stranger to the world of science fiction, having previously written the YA sci-fi series “A Thousand Faces.” But she’s written in a number of other genres, too, because she likes trying new things.

“Right now, I’m in my science fiction era,” she said.

“It feels to me kind of like I bring my bucket and I fill it up with his toys, and then I take them home to play with them. It’s awesome.”

Janci Patterson

Though Sanderson is perhaps better known for his epic fantasy series, “Blightfall” is set in the sci-fi “Cytoverse,” which began with his 2018 novel “Skyward.” The “Skyward” series, which is marketed as young adult, follows a teenager named Spensa, who lives on a world that’s at war with an alien race and who dreams of becoming a pilot.

“With ‘Skyward’ specifically, he wrote himself into this corner because, in his words, he made the side characters too interesting,” Patterson said. “So he wanted somebody to take those side characters and give the readers experiences with them without him having to add more books to his plate.”

That was when Sanderson reached out to Patterson about the possibility of collaborating with him on novellas set in the “Skyward” universe.

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They ended up co-writing three novellas, collectively called “Skyward Flight,” with the first, “Sunreach,” released in 2021. It’s set in between the second and third books in the “Skyward” series and follows a secondary character of that series, FM, in an adventure of her own while Spensa is away. The next two novellas also follow more minor characters and slot in between the “Skyward” novels.

Patterson and Sanderson also collaborated on “Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians,” the final novel of his middle-grade series “Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians,” which came out in 2022.

But Patterson said that after the conclusion of the “Skyward” series and the series of novellas, it still felt like there was more to do in that universe — leading to “Blightfall.”

“Brandon, as he writes, he has just so many ideas,” she said. “The books just burst with ideas. You can’t follow up on all of them. So there’s still lots of threads and things to pick out of there and move forward with.”

Collaborating with Brandon Sanderson

“Blightfall” will follow two “Skyward” characters, Arturo and Sadie, in the years following the war. Arturo heads up a team escorting diplomats to a newly discovered planet, Blightfall; but they end up uncovering an old enemy and a new threat.

Patterson and Sanderson both remained involved throughout the book’s writing process. She said that they typically begin their collaborations with a brainstorming call, where they’ll bounce ideas off of each other. From those ideas, Patterson will create a story outline that she revises based on Sanderson’s feedback, and then delves into writing drafts that Sanderson reviews, critiques and gives suggestions to at every step of the process.

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Though Patterson said that it can sometimes be challenging to write in a world that Sanderson originally created, she said that she likes that it gives her “somewhere to start.”

“It’s really awesome to be able to dig in and be like, ‘What do I want to do with this? Well, what do we have that hasn’t been used yet that’s in the setting?’” Patterson said. “It’s kind of a menu of choices.”

Patterson’s collaborated with other authors as well as writing on her own, and she said that in many ways, she prefers collaboration.

“With my own stuff, I have writer friends who will like brainstorm back and forth or bounce ideas just because it helps inject some energy into a process that otherwise can be really draining and lonely sometimes,” she said.

“But there’s a different kind of magic when both people are equally invested. They care, they have a stake in it. And that energy of being able to work on it with somebody else is really fulfilling to me.”

What’s coming next for ‘Blightfall’ series?

“Blightfall” will be the first in a trilogy, the “Riftwake” trilogy, with the plan being for each book to be released a year apart from each other.

The second book, “Songrise,” is currently on track to be published next September, Patterson said.

“There’s a different kind of magic when both people are equally invested. They care, they have a stake in it. And that energy of being able to work on it with somebody else is really fulfilling to me.”

Janci Patterson

Although the “Riftwake” trilogy ties into the previous “Cytoverse” books, Patterson said they worked hard to make “Blightfall” accessible to both new and old readers.

“It will be just as accessible to somebody who read before and wants to see all their friends again,” Patterson said. But for new readers, “they can jump in here and be just as oriented as somebody who’s read before.”

And “Cytoverse” fans will have even more to look forward to soon, as it was announced earlier this year that “Skyward” will be adapted for a TV series, Deadline reported.

For Patterson, she hopes that “Skyward” fans enjoy returning to the characters and world that they loved in the novels and novellas.

“The novellas did very well, and people really love those stories,” she said. “And as I was writing these, my goal was to give the people who love them that experience again.”

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Brandon Sanderson’s fan convention is leaving Utah — at least temporarily

The immediate family of the country music superstar gathered at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday morning to pay tribute in a small funeral service for Parton, who died Tuesday after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”

Parton was buried alongside to her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. A bronze crypt plaque affixed to the mausoleum bears Parton’s name beside her husband’s, along with a depiction of her Tennessee home and their wedding date.

If you go to visit Dolly Parton’s final resting place, Woodlawn has done a great job setting up knowing many will be stopping by to pay their respects. She is inside the mausoleum to the right. They’ve got ropes up should a line form and a special book to leave your name, city… pic.twitter.com/PhPXztpZVn

— Vic1972 (@VicToriA19_72) August 30, 2026

Parton’s great-niece Lainey Parton shared an emotional tribute the day following the funeral, writing, “I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.”

“From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough,” she continued. “She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.”

“Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything.”

View this post on Instagram

Parton had faced various health challenges over the past two years. In a recent update to People, she said she was still “dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” referring to caring for her late husband Carl Thomas Dean.

Last spring, Parton postponed and later canceled her Las Vegas residency and said she still had a long road ahead before she could return to performing.

At the time, Parton told fans she was responding well to medication and treatment but said the process had left her feeling “a little swimmy-headed.”

Parton’s death was confirmed Tuesday by her nephew, Brian Seaver, who shared the news with an Instagram video.

“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” reads the family’s official obituary.

The obituary continues, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

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Parton worked up until the end of her life. Last week, her team confirmed that all the projects she was working on would still be brought to life, including a Broadway musical, a home decor collection and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum.

“Dolly worked up until the day she died,” Parton’s manager, Danny Nozell, in a press release. “As the leader of the team responsible for overseeing her legacy, we will ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfill are brought to life.”

Fans can celebrate at DollyFest

The Dolly Parton estate announced Monday an upcoming event for fans to honor her legacy.

“DollyFest: The Celebration of a Lifetime,” a two-day music festival Parton planned before her death, is set to be held in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027.

According to a press release, the festival was originally intended to take place in January 2026 — around Parton’s 80th birthday — and would feature her as a performer and host. It will now serve as a “global ... party of a lifetime” to celebrate her legacy.

“We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, Dollyfest is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!),” organizer Danny Nozell, founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises, said in a statement.

“This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”

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How the world continues to pay tribute to Parton

As news spread of Parton’s death, fans across the world — who remember the “Queen of Country” for her kindness, brilliant performances, philanthropic efforts and lasting impact on country music — paid tribute to the singer.

Fans flocked to Dollywood to lay flowers, handwritten letters and butterfly decorations at the theme park’s temporary memorial. Mourners also gathered at Parton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and outside the gates of her Nashville home to leave flowers and tearful messages.

There were also vigils, singalongs, tribute performances and a sold-out memorial concert at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Here is how fans and organizations across the world have paid tribute to Parton.

Tennessee airport to be renamed after Parton

More than 170,000 people, including singer Sheryl Crow among hordes of fans, have signed an online petition to re-name the Nashville International Airport after Parton, who was born in rural Tennessee and later moved to Nashville.

Now Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is backing the effort, announcing plans to name the airport after the country singer in honor of her “enduring legacy” and “immeasurable impact on Tennessee.”

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement.

“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her,” he continued. “At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”

At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that BNA would bear @DollyParton’s name.

Today, in partnership with @Fly_Nashville, we announced our intent to honor Tennessee’s favorite daughter and her indelible legacy.

Link: https://t.co/bGBXYqp0d1 pic.twitter.com/Jvf4Em9Amq

— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) August 28, 2026

Empire State Building sparkles pink

New York City’s Empire State Building was lit up with a dazzling pink sparkle at 9:25 pm on Tuesday night — a direct tribute to Parton’s hit song and movie “9 to 5.”

“Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans,” read a statement from the Empire State Building.

“Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide. At Nine-Two-Five tonight, we celebrate her and her legacy.”

Tonight, the Empire State Building tower lights will turn to a pink sparkle at 9:25 to honor the late Dolly Parton.

Dolly was a global cultural icon whose seven-decade career reached generations of fans. Beyond entertainment, Dolly leaves a significant philanthropic legacy… pic.twitter.com/Pu5rtdfe0r

— Empire State Building Observation Deck (@EmpireStateBldg) August 25, 2026

American flags lowered to half-staff

President Donald Trump ordered all American flags to be flown at half-staff at all state facilities for a weeklong period in honor of Parton.

“This is a true loss for millions of people,” wrote President Donald Trump. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”

pic.twitter.com/X00cxHvg0X

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2026

Buckingham Palace plays ‘9 to 5′

The Royal Family also paid tribute to Parton with a rendition of her hit “9 to 5,″ played at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning.

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always (love) you,” the Royal Family shared in a statement.

View this post on Instagram

Tennessee football adds season-long tribute sticker

The University of Tennessee football team will pay tribute to Parton by placing a commemorative orange butterfly sticker on the back of players’ helmets throughout the 2026 season.

“All that she’s meant across the world, this country, and certainly the Queen of East Tennessee,” coach Josh Heupel told reporters, per ESPN.

He added, “A lady that was extremely proud of her roots. You look at her impact, just her ability to give back, make an impact to people, certainly here in East Tennessee. She means a lot to people across this country, but certainly here inside the state of Tennessee, too.”

Parton had close ties to the University of Tennessee. She delivered the university’s commencement address in 2009 and received an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters. She also performed on campus in 2011 and 2014.

For Dolly. 🦋

A commemorative helmet sticker will be worn to honor Dolly Parton for every game this season. pic.twitter.com/A1mBw9ZqxZ

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 31, 2026

Concert tributes to Parton

A string of musicians paid tribute to Parton in concerts last week, including Harry Styles, John Mayer, Ella Langley and Jelly Roll, as well as Noah Kahan during his Tuesday concert in Sandy, Utah.

Styles led an emotional tribute to the singer at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night during his 30-concert residency in New York City, taking a moment of silence and playing Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” over the sound system.

“I just want to say a proper thank you to all the musicians over the years who have inspired me. Dolly, we love you. Thank you so much,” Styles said, per Variety.

@emilycschwartz

there are simply no words. dolly forever and ever and ever and ever. #dollyparton #harrystyles #togethertogether #msg #iwillalwaysloveyou

♬ original sound - Emily Schwartz

That momentum is expected to carry through the end of the year, with several major releases still on the horizon.

“This entire year will be studied for future strategy by studios,” predicts Rentrak’s head of marketplace trends Paul Dergarabedian, per Variety.

“Is the old-school thinking correct, that audiences just want known IP, big blockbusters, sequels, and franchises? Of course they do. But they also want challenging fare, unique and original stories.”

After several lackluster summers at the box office in the wake of Hollywood strikes and the post-COVID-19 era, a mix of reliable blockbuster franchises and low-budget breakout hits such as “Obsession” and “Backrooms” has fueled Hollywood’s strongest summer in seven years.

Theaters are poised for another strong stretch through the holiday season, with the domestic box office on track to surpass $10 billion in 2026 — a threshold it has not reached since the pandemic.

Another “Barbenheimer”-type opening weekend could provide the final push. “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three″ share a December release date, potentially giving the year-end box office the muscle it needs to cross the $10 billion mark.

Other highly-anticipated releases, including “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” and “Practical Magic 2,″ are also expected to keep audiences coming back to theaters throughout the season.

Here are 17 movies coming to theaters through the end of the year.

‘Finding Emily’

When a lovesick musician (Spike Fearn) realizes he was given the wrong number for his dream girl, Emily, he teams up with an ambitious psychology student (Angourie Rice) to find her. Their quest sparks a humorous campus-wide spectacle that forces them to confront unexpected feelings and the chaos of modern romance.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Aug. 28

‘Practical Magic 2′

Set roughly 25 years after its predecessor, Owens sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) reunite to break the centuries-old family curse that threatens to condemn them to a life without love.

As the curse begins to unravel the family of witches, the sisters must confront dark secrets and make sacrifices for each other.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Sept. 11

‘Forgotten Island’

Lifelong best friends Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) have their plans to go their separate ways after high school upended when they stumble upon a magical portal that takes them to a fantastical island that feeds on their memories.

Returning home might cost them the memories of their entire friendship.

Rating: PG

Release date: Sept. 25

‘The Social Reckoning’

After uncovering alarming secrets at Facebook, young engineer Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison) enlists Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horowitz (Jeremy Allen White) to help blow the whistle on the social network’s closely guarded secrets.

Rating: TBD

Release date: Oct. 9

‘Sense and Sensibility’

This fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel follows three sisters who, after being forced to leave their family estate with their widowed mother, begin a new life at a modest cottage.

There, they learn to navigate love, heartbreak and the pressures of societal expectations while discovering the enduring power of sisterhood.

Rating: PG

Release date: Oct. 16

‘Whalefall’

After his father’s (Josh Brolin) death, scuba diver Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) dives off the coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed by an 80-foot sperm whale. Trapped inside its belly, Jay relies on lessons about the ocean his father taught him to escape before his oxygen runs out.

Rating: TBD

Release date: Oct. 16

‘Wildwood’

When her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) ventures into the enchanted forest hidden just outside her neighborhood on a dangerous mission to recuse him.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Oct. 23

‘Klara and the Sun’

When Klara (Jenna Ortega), a robot girl designed to prevent loneliness, becomes part of Josie’s (Mia Tharia) fractured family, her unwavering devotion begins to change their lives.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Oct. 23

‘The Cat in the Hat’

As siblings Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez) reluctantly adjust to their new town, The Cat in the Hat (Bill Hader) arrives with a mission to cheer them up.

But when his mischief and wild antics quickly go too far, he risks losing his magical hat.

Rating: PG

Release date: Nov. 6

‘Godzilla Minus Zero’

Two years after surviving Godzilla’s previous rampage, the Shikishima family faces a new catastrophe when the legendary monster returns to wreak havoc.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Nov. 6

‘Ebenezer’

Set in Dickens’ London, stingy businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Johnny Depp) embarks on a supernatural journey through his past, present and future in search of redemption.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Nov. 13

‘Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’

Set 24 years before “The Hunger Games,” a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) is selected for the Second Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games, where the capitol doubles the number of tributes and sends him into its deadliest arena yet.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Nov. 20

‘Disney’s Hexed’

After discovering powerful magical abilities, an eccentric teenage girl (Hailee Steinfeld) is pulled into Hexe — a sprawling witch realm hidden from the human world.

Alongside her mother, she uncovers a mysterious family legacy that could change the world of witches forever.

Rating: PG

Release date: Nov. 25

‘Focker-in-Law’

Greg Focker’s (Ben Stiller) son, Henry Focker (Skyler Gisondo), brings home his girlfriend (Ariana Grande) — a highly trained FBI hostage negotiator — to meet his complicated family.

But when Henry reveals his plans to propose, Greg begins to worry his son doesn’t understand what he is getting himself into.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Nov. 25

‘Avengers: Doomsday’

When Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) threatens to destroy the multiverse, the Avengers unite with the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts and Earth’s strongest superheroes to stop his catastrophic threat.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Dec. 18

‘Dune: Part Three′

Emperor Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) reign begins to unravel as old allies return, new enemies emerge and a sweeping conspiracy puts Chani (Zendaya) at its center.

Haunted by visions of his empire’s collapse, Paul must confront the price of power and the fate of the ones he loves.

Rating: PG-13

Release date: Dec. 18

‘The Angry Birds Movie 3′

Red (Jason Sudeikis) must tackle his two greatest challenges yet — becoming a dad while also saving the world.

Rating: PG

Release date: Dec. 23

If you are looking for something new to watch — and possibly even binge — this fall, here is a look at eight new series that are coming to a variety of networks and streaming services.

These new shows include an expansion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sitcom about a vampire family, an adaptation of classic literature and a teen romance.

So whether you’re a big fan of comedies or dramas, or just looking for something easy to watch while unwinding from a long day, check out this list to find some new viewing options.

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8 new TV series premiering this fall

‘Crew Girl’

Release date: Sept. 10

Summary: “Thrown into a world of old money and ruthless competition, Teagan has to convince an entire team to trust her leadership — and each other. As she fights to reclaim her rowing dreams, manage the chaos of the crew, and navigate her family’s growing troubles, Teagan finds herself drawn into a rivalry of her own. She winds up caught between the arrogant team captain, Josh Regis, and Cam Dillinger, a quiet but fiercely determined local who refuses to be underestimated.”

Network/platform: Netflix

Starring: Miku Martineau, Jessica Paré, Samuel Braun, Kyle Clark and Thomas Cadrot

‘Line of Fire’

Release date: Sept. 21

Summary: “‘Line of Fire’ follows a family of law enforcement agents who bridge personal differences and cross professional boundaries as they tackle cases for the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service and Department of Justice. After a seemingly cut-and-dry case turns into a deadly conspiracy, they must use the expertise from a lifetime of protecting civilians and politicians to protect one another and bring the killer to justice … even if it means betraying their sworn code,” per Deadline.

Network/platform: NBC

Starring: Peter Krause, Hope Davis, Tommy O’Brien, Kat Cunning and Russ Hollingsworth

Elizabeth Smart ‘expands the true crime genre’ with new podcast

‘East of Eden’

Release date: Oct. 1

Summary: This adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel “follows the intertwining stories of two families, the Hamiltons (who emigrate from Ireland to Steinbeck’s beloved Salinas Valley) and the Trasks (who move to California from the East Coast), over the course of several generations. It’s also loosely inspired by the book of Genesis, featuring not one but two pairs of brothers whose stories echo the tale of Cain and Abel: Charles and Adam Trask, and Adam’s twins, Cal and Aron,” per Vanity Fair.

Zoe Kazan’s adaptation for Netflix centers on the perspective of the story’s primary antagonist, Cathy Ames, who is Cal and Aron’s mother.

Network/platform: Netflix

Starring: Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott, Ciaran Hinds and Martha Plimpton

‘Eternally Yours’

Release date: Oct. 8

Summary: “‘Eternally Yours’ is a family comedy centered around Charles and Liz — a vampire couple whose once-passionate romance has devolved into a pulseless marriage after 500 years together. Living in present-day Seattle with their oddball coven, they’ve settled into an eternal rut — until their daughter’s earnest human boyfriend unexpectedly enters their lives and forces them to confront whether their love can survive forever … or if forever is a life sentence.”

Network/platform: NBC

Starring: Ed Weeks, Allegra Edwards, Helen J. Shen, Parker Young and Jaren Lewison

‘Cupertino’

Release date: Oct. 8

Summary: “‘Cupertino’ is a David vs. Goliath legal drama set in the heart of Silicon Valley that follows a lawyer who is being cheated out of his stock options by his former employer, a tech startup. Refusing to back down, he joins forces with another recently fired attorney to represent those taken advantage of by the tech elite and help them fight back in a high-stakes battle against the Goliaths controlling Silicon Valley.”

Network/platform: CBS

Starring: Mike Colter, Rachel Keller, Ella Stiller, Nik Dodani, Busy Philipps and Renée Elise Goldsberry

‘VisionQuest’

Release date: Oct. 14

Summary: “When ‘VisionQuest’ begins, Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron. His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron’s influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive.”

Network/platform: Disney+

Starring: Paul Bettany, James Spader, Diane Morgan, Emily Hampshire and Ruaridh Mollica

Disney’s sequel factory just got busier

‘Newlyweds’

Release date: Oct. 23

Summary: “Newlyweds” tells a “later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship.”

It features “James, a recently divorced man who asks Jeanie to dinner the moment they meet, kicking off an opposites attract marriage that will challenge them both in likely hilarious ways.”

Network/platform: NBC

Starring: Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Emma Meisel and Bill O’Neill

Téa Leoni and Tim Daly open up about reuniting onscreen for their new NBC comedy 'Newlyweds'. The real-life spouses also get candid about their multi-camera past. https://t.co/rthDhEDfUr

— TV Insider (@TVInsider) August 11, 2026

‘Dig’

Release date: Nov. 23

Summary: “‘Dig’ centers a team of dedicated archaeologists (and some less-dedicated college students) who spend their summer working on a dig site in Greece, where they discover a rare artifact that prompts the adventure of a lifetime. The long-buried secret also grants them the potential to rewrite history as they find themselves at the heart of a high-stakes international conspiracy.”

Network/platform: Peacock

Starring: Hugh Laurie, Amy Poehler, Geraldine Viswanathan, Antonia Thomas and Fina Strazza

Almost time to get our hands dirty 🪏#DIG arrives November 23 on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/wBbzJ36Udw

— Peacock (@peacock) August 10, 2026

When he made his debut on the show at the age of 15, he was breezing through obstacles that even professional athletes and longtime competitors on the show struggled to complete.

“He’s making this course look like child’s play!” one of the show’s announcers said at the time.

And that has remained the case throughout Beckstrand’s four seasons on “ANW.”

Over the years, the part-time firefighter from St. George, Utah, has solidified his place as one of the most formidable ninjas in the show’s history. Throughout the seasons, he’s raced against and eliminated several competitors — including his younger brother.

But recently Beckstrand, the defending champion this season, faced perhaps one of his biggest challenges to date on the show as he had to race against the speedy teenager Jackson Erdos.

For the first time in 10 years, a Utahn has won ‘American Ninja Warrior’

“I’m more nervous about this race than any other in my entire ninja career,” Beckstrand told producers before going up against Erdos.

The nerves were warranted. At one point, in a truly rare moment for Beckstrand, he was actually trailing Erdos. The two remained neck-and-neck until near the end, when Erdos slipped on the final obstacle and splashed down into the water.

Beckstrand dismounted and hit the buzzer. It had taken just under 50 seconds, and the Utah competitor was visibly worn out.

“I’ve never seen Kai Beckstrand bend over after a race,” “ANW” co-host Akbar Gbajabiamila said.

With that fight to the buzzer, Beckstrand earned his spot in the round of 16.

Now, on Monday night, he has the chance to secure back-to-back wins on “American Ninja Warrior.”

But to achieve that, he could potentially have to eliminate his younger brother, Luke — who isn’t going to let his older brother off the hook that easy.

“I just want to beat him,” Luke Beckstrand recently told the Deseret News. “He had his turn, and now it’s mine.”

Rooting for — and competing against — each other

Last season on “ANW,” as Kai Beckstrand fell to the stage after hitting the winning buzzer, his younger brother was the first one to reach him, hug him and cheer him on in his victory.

“He was on the stage before I had even comprehended that I just finished the race,” Beckstrand told the Deseret News last year. “I hit the buzzer, I was diving for it. So I fell down to that stage, and before I even knew it, I was already getting picked up by Luke.”

Luke Beckstrand is one of Kai’s biggest supporters. But he’s also one of Kai’s toughest competitors.

The brothers consistently clock some of the fastest times of each round, and are always trying to outdo each other.

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“In training, we’re always pushing each other,” Kai Beckstrand previously told the Deseret News. “If he gets a faster time than me, I’ll run that course again, beat his time. He’ll go back, beat my time again. So it just goes back and forth.”

Last season, the brothers went head-to-head for the first time on the show. Competing in the round of eight, Luke Beckstrand actually held the lead for most of the race. But when he stalled a little on the second-to-last obstacle, his older brother was able to pull ahead and hit the buzzer first, as the Deseret News reported.

Now, Luke has the chance to get some redemption this season.

Since the brothers are simultaneously rooting for and competing against each other, they’re hoping to make it all the way to the end and face each other in the final round of the competition.

“Ideally you want to meet in that final round so that win or lose, we were able to go as far as possible,” Kai Beckstrand recently told the Deseret News.

“It would be super unfortunate knocking him out of the competition because I know that he’s worked hard, and I’ve worked hard,” Luke Beckstrand added. “So meeting in that final round would be awesome.”

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A potential rematch between brothers

It would likely be a tight race.

Determined to become a two-time “ANW” champ, Kai Beckstrand didn’t let up in his training. Looking for redemption, Luke Beckstrand got even more motivated after his elimination.

But throughout Season 18, Kai Beckstrand has been especially speedy.

Earlier this season, during his set of races in the national finals, Beckstrand somehow kept getting faster and faster — even as he stumbled.

His first two races during the national finals came in at just under 48 seconds and under 46 seconds. With those speedy wins, he’d already secured his spot in the round of 32 (where he would face Erdos). So for his third and final race of the round, he decided to go all out — and maybe be a little more careless to see just how fast he could go.

Beckstrand cruised across the course. But when he was about to dismount and hit the buzzer, he had a rare stumble. His feet slipped out from under him and he fell back.

For a moment, it looked like he was going to splash down in the water for the first time this season. But Beckstrand was able to make a quick save and get a hand on the wall. He pulled himself up and made it to the buzzer in a staggering 43 seconds.

It ended up being his fastest time of the season — and the fastest time out of all the competitors.

“That was some Cobra Kai magic!” Gbajabiamila said.

Now, as he faces the round of 16 and perhaps beyond during the Monday night season finale, Beckstrand could potentially go up against the competitor who knows him best — and who’s been training for this moment.

At the heart of the friendly sibling competition, though, is a deep love and admiration.

“If I were to lose to anyone, I would want it to be to Kai,” Luke Beckstrand said.

The new movie from writer and director David Robert Mitchell is a fun mashup of all of my childhood favorites — one part “Jumanji,” one part “Signs,” one part “Back To The Future,” and a lot of parts “Jurassic Park” — but in a way that feels like an homage, not a rip-off.

These were films I watched over and over as a kid, because 1. I had cool parents who showed me the best movies, and 2. I found them thrilling but not terrifying. While these movies were at times incredibly intense, there was in each of them an underlying hope that, even when things seemed really, really bad, in the end the human spirit would persevere and the protagonists would survive their home being transformed into a jungle, an alien attack, a harrowing time travel journey, or a dinosaur theme park during a power outage.

I felt that same warm and familiar sense of thrill combined with hope while watching “The End of Oak Street,” which hearkens to those treasured films, both in its early ’80s aesthetic and in its very fun and exciting content.

The film stars Ewan McGregor — who is doing an atrocious American accent — and Anne Hathaway as a suburban husband and wife in 1982 named Greg and Denise Platt, parents to Audrey and Brian Platt. The Platts are in a failing marriage, a fact that they’re hiding from their children and neighbors. But just before things come to a head in their personal lives, their home and surrounding neighborhood are transported back in time through a cosmic wormhole. Back to the prehistoric era when dinosaurs roamed the earth — and ate anything that moved.

In the 1982 neighborhood, anything that moves happens to be people and pets. And the dinosaurs are hungry. So most of the viewing experience is spent watching the Platt family trying to survive both inside their home and outside it, while many of their neighbors are gobbled by giant reptiles lurking around every corner. Which sounds terrifying.

But it isn’t, really. It’s thrilling and it’s hopeful. And sometimes funny.

I mean, there are a couple of bloody images that I would hesitate to let my children see, one violent kill that made me gasp in surprise, and a couple of intense near-attacks, but most of the dinosaur-eating-people scenes are sillier than serious. The movie is able to pull this off, I believe, because the stakes never actually feel very high. It shares so much DNA with the films from my childhood that I never had any doubt that our characters would survive, because other characters I loved have survived a board-game-turned-jungle-survival, an alien attack, a trip back in time, and a dinosaur theme park during a power outage.

So with the stakes feeling as low as they did, I was able to have a downright hoot watching the Platt family navigate their prehistoric neighborhood, and enjoy Mitchell’s creative choices. Choices like giving the dinosaurs feathers, which, according to my very limited paleontologic knowledge, is historically accurate. And like giving Anne Hathaway bangs, which I do not know the historical accuracy of, but appreciated all the same.

The movie is not perfect. Anne Hathaway, who yes, is in every movie this summer, is excellent, per usual, but her onscreen family lacked luster. As previously mentioned, Ewan McGregor’s American accent is pretty bad, And I’m starting to wonder if he’s just not really a great actor, based on this performance. The characters make some idiotic choices, like leaving their secure, boarded-up home to search for the family dog, and forgetting to look behind them when THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IS LITERALLY INFESTED WITH TYRANNOSAURUS REXES. And the time travel is only barely, sort of explained through some sloppy exposition that vaguely references Carl Sagan and his theory on wormholes.

But honestly, who cares? It’s a 90-minute movie about dinosaurs. No one needs to give an Oscar-worthy performance or an in-depth lecture on theories of the universe in a movie about dinosaurs. Anyone buying a ticket to “The End of Oak Street” just wants to have fun, and “The End of Oak Street” provides a whole lot of it. Right up until the final few minutes, when the movie elevates itself from silly fun to a time jump that poses some fascinating philosophical questions about individuality, family and survival.

I left the movie entertained, thrilled and hopeful, which is exactly what I would want from a film that pays its respects to some of the greatest movies that came before.

“I was about 10 when I started obsessively thinking about and planning how I would be able to make music for the rest of my life,” Swift said.

In a special interview with the Recording Academy’s Songwriters and Composers Wing for the Grammy Museum, Swift talked about her experiences writing songs and being a woman in the music industry, and shared advice on how to trust your instincts.

Taylor Swift’s songwriting history

When Swift started writing her feelings and experiences into music, she started by studying the greats, like Faith Hill and other musicians she loved, to see how they structured their songs.

“I never turned to music to forget my human experience,” Swift said. “I turned to music to remember it.”

Swift was 16 years old when she was signed to Big Machine Records, and at the time, there were major concerns about demographics.

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Some at the label were worried the country demographic wouldn’t relate to a young writer such as Swift, but the music artist trusted her instincts and kept creating music.

“If I were to look back and say, ‘Whoa, that’s crazy. This is why this all worked,’ it was because I didn’t listen to the people who said that I didn’t have a valid perspective on life because I didn’t fit into a certain demographic that they had studied because of the analytics of a certain genre and how people experience music,” Swift said.

Swift’s first song, “Tim McGraw,” was a commercial success, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reaching No. 40 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, according to Billboard.

The song and her self-titled debut album launched Swift into the country music stratosphere. Her second album, “Fearless,” earned a Grammy award for album of the year and also spent 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, per Billboard.

“I realized that I’m making music because I’m playing for the fans,” Swift said. “I’m putting this out for people who care about it and who look to music as a way to cope with their life in the way that I did.”

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After “Fearless,” Swift completely self-wrote her third album, “Speak Now,” which debuted in 2010. While writing that album, Swift said she really learned how to build a world around a song.

She talked about how she wrote “Never Grow Up” to sound like a lullaby. Critics claimed she wasn’t “country enough,” so with her song “Mean,” she called out her critics — she said she tried to use “as much banjo as possible” in the song to make it even more country.

“Sometimes when people are mocking me, it’s really fun to mock them back,” Swift said.

Next, Swift released her fourth album, “Red,” in which she started to lean more into the pop sound, and said that’s when she really started “exploring her edges.”

“When you get visited by the idea fairy and you trust where that’s going to take you based on your thousands of hours of doing this, you can enter sort of a flow state.”

Taylor Swift on trusting your collaborators

The music artist revealed that she originally wrote her pop hit “I Knew You Were Trouble” to be a sad piano ballad, but Max Martin, one of the producers she was working with at the time, suggested they make the song dubstep and more upbeat. The song was another success story.

“It ended up being the best thing for it,” Swift said. “As a collaborator, the best people to be in the room are ‘yes, and’ people.”

After “Red” came her fifth album, “1989,” where Swift made the full transition into the pop scene.

“Enthusiasm in the studio can make or break what you end up creating,” Swift said.

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Following the major success of “1989,” Swift released “reputation” — an album that arrived at a time when Swift was receiving a wave of backlash for her choices in friendships and relationships, and her “reputation” was under constant scrutiny.

“As a writer, it gave me this gnarled bite when I would write my lyrics,” Swift said.

Swift channeled her anger into a dark, broody album — though still with some tender and emotional songs — to enter her next era.

“When you use art and music as a way to barrel roll out of that, those are the moments I’m the most proud of,” Swift said.

Next, she released “Lover,” the first album under a new label, one in which she owned all of her own songs from the album for the first time.

Looking back over her discography is almost like a timeline of what exactly she was going through at the time.

“I look back on songs about gut-wrenching heartbreak,” Swift said. “And I look back and I’m like, that is a good lesson I learned.”

As a self-described “confessional songwriter,” for Swift’s eighth album, she pivoted to character writing and crafting songs about people “from her imagination.”

Swift has continued to blend both confessional songwriting and character songwriting with the rest of her work.

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Taylor Swift on reclaiming your work

Around the same time as she released her eighth album, “folklore,” and ninth album, “evermore,” Swift began rerecording her first six albums, in order to rerelease them so that she would own all the rights to the entire catalog of her work.

Critics worried the rerecorded songs wouldn’t resonate the same way and that fans wouldn’t care about the songs.

They couldn’t have been more wrong.

The rollout of Swift’s rerecordings, dubbed “Taylor’s Version,” reached massive success, with the fan-favorite song “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” becoming a major flashpoint for the fandom.

“When they love something that passionately, I’m going to listen to that,” Swift said about the song.

The rerecordings “achieved billions of streams, broke major sales records, and eventually allowed her to buy back her original catalog,” Rolling Stone reported.

“I got to a place where it felt like defiant reclamation of what was always mine to begin with,” Swift said.

In 2025, Swift was able to buy her entire catalog and now owns all of the music, artwork and concert films she ever created.

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Swift’s most recent project was a song for the “Toy Story 5″ movie about the character Jessie, titled “I Knew It, I Knew You.”

The song has a familiar country lilt and leans back into those country roots that Swift’s original fans are familiar with.

“I love my country roots more and more the further along this path I get,” Swift said. “And I want to honor them more and more. And I feel more tied and more loyal to them — the people that shaped and honored me as a writer, that all happened in Nashville.”

In a letter to the fans in 2025 about owning all of her work, Swift revealed that she had completely rerecorded her entire debut album.

Fans are speculating that she might release “Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version),” along with never-before-heard “From the Vault” tracks, around the same time as the 20th anniversary of her debut album, which was released on Oct. 24, 2006.

Whatever comes next for Swift, it seems she will have the fans in mind, as well as trusting her own instincts continuing to do what she loves — making music.

“In the music industry, as wild and ever-changing as it is, enthusiasm can protect you from anything. I would know,” Swift said.

Harald was immediately succeeded by his son, King Haakon VIII. Haakon’s eldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is now heir to the throne.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University hospital on Friday 28 August at 6.35am,” the Oslo palace said in a statement.

The king’s health had deteriorated significantly over the last week after he was admitted to the hospital to be treated over complications with a rare blood disorder, haemolytic anaemia. He later developed an infection and was in “extremely serious” condition, per the BBC.

Crowds of mourners gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo to pay their respects, laying flowers and flags at the palace gates. The royal flag on the roof of the palace was lowered to half-staff and a period of national mourning was declared leading up to the funeral.

Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said he received the news “with great sorrow.”

“A whole nation is in mourning and the people of Norway are left with a deep sense of gratitude for a long life in the service of Norway,” Støre continued. “Harald V demonstrated an unwavering faith in the Norwegian people. He helped us to see the best in ourselves — and in one another.”

Royalty across Europe also shared their condolences.

King Charles III sent his “most heartfelt condolences” to the family of his “dear cousin” — Harald and Charles are second cousins once removed.

Charles’ statement continued, “As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.”

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Carl XVI Gustaf, king of Sweden, wrote, “Throughout the years, King Harald has been a good friend to me, my family, and to Sweden. King Harald is now mourned by many in our ​country.”

Spain’s royal household shared their “respect and admiration for his legacy,” adding that he was “an example of responsibility, dignity, humility and tireless dedication to the service of Norway and its people.”

And Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde remembered Harald for his “humour, humanity and sincerity,” and said they would “cherish the memory of the moments we shared with him.”

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Norwegian Guard

Born in 1937, Harald was 3 years old when the Nazis occupied Norway at the start of World War II, forcing him to flee with his mother and sisters to Sweden and later to the U.S. to avoid capture.

During their time in the U.S., the royal Norwegian family stayed in Washington, D.C., and were frequent guests at the White House, per NPR. Harald was 8 years old at the end of the German occupation, and his family was reunited in Norway.

He later married Sonja Haraldsen in a lavish ceremony at the Oslo Cathedral in August 1968. They celebrated their union with three days of festivities.

Harry and Meghan’s official return to the U.K. was reported by the BBC. Though a spokesperson for Harry told the outlet the arrival “is not something we would comment on” — a notably quiet response from the couple, which perhaps suggests a shift away from the celebrity spotlight they embraced in America toward a quieter, more private life.

News of the couple’s decision to jump back across the pond was met with surprise, though Harry has been gently laying groundwork for reconciliation in the 2½ years since his father, King Charles III, was diagnosed with cancer.

“There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has,” Harry said during a candid 2025 interview with the BBC.

Months later, Harry briefly reconnected with Charles after the pair had gone 19 months without meeting in person. He has since met with his father periodically, while he and his older brother, Prince William, remain estranged.

Then, in their most significant step toward reconciliation since their royal departure, Harry, Meghan and their two children reunited with Charles and Queen Camilla during a July visit to the U.K. — marking the first time the couple had been in Britain together since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.

The couple announced their plans to relocate their family back to the U.K. just weeks later.

Both Charles and Camilla as well as William and Catherine were privately informed of the decision. Charles reportedly welcomes the opportunity to spend more time with Harry and his family, while William, the heir to the throne, has yet to comment on the news.

Why did Harry and Meghan move to the U.S.?

When stepping away from their roles as senior members of the royal family in January 2020, the couple announced that, following “months of reflection,” they would “carve out a progressive new role within (the royal) institution.”

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” their statement continued.

The couple moved to California later that year and spent the following years explaining their decision to step back from royal life through high-profile interviews, a Netflix docuseries and a memoir, in which they made allegations of bullying, racism against Meghan and a lack of support for her mental health struggles.

Buckingham Palace responded at the time, saying in a statement that “some recollections may vary” but that the accusations were being “taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

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The couple’s decision to publicly air their grievances fueled further fallout with the royal family. And when the revelations eventually quieted, they were left to prove that their life in America could stand on more than royal drama.

Several high-profile ventures — including massive deals with Spotify and Netflix — failed to deliver the success they sought, leaving their both their financial and professional ambitions seemingly unfulfilled, while their family relationships remained fractured.

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Harry and Meghan’s American venture started off strong.

The couple’s explosive two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey drew an audience of more than 49.1 million worldwide, per Reuters. They maintained global attention while adding to the conversation surrounding their decision to leave behind their royal roles.

Shortly after stepping down from royal duties, the couple signed a $100 million deal with Netflix to produce an undisclosed number of TV series, documentaries, children’s programs and other content.

Their debut project with the mega-streamer, the bombshell docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” reached 28 million households during its first four days, becoming Netflix’s most-watched documentary debut at the time, per CNN.

Harry’s memoir “Spare,” which arrived on the heels of the docuseries, offered another tell-all account of the challenges of life as a working royal, including details about his strained family relationships. The memoir also drew enormous interest and enjoyed record-breaking sales.

But when the couple moved away from tell-all projects, public interest began to wane.

None of the couple’s subsequent Netflix projects matched the success of their debut docuseries. “With Love, Meghan,” “Heart of Invictus,” “Polo” and “Live to Lead” attracted modest viewership, leading the streamer to shift its arrangement with the couple to a reduced “first look” deal in March.

And their $25 million multiyear Spotify deal was abruptly severed in 2023 after the couple produced relatively little content and Meghan’s podcast “Archetypes” proved to be a commercial disappointment.

After the deal fell apart, Bill Simmons, a Spotify executive and prominent podcaster, bluntly dismissed the couple as “the grifters.”

Meghan tried again with a second podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” produced by podcast network Lemonada Media, but it too failed to gain significant traction. Meanwhile, Harry’s own podcast ideas — including one focused on childhood trauma and controversial figures — never came to fruition.

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Other projects from the couple suffered a similar fate.

Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which she later rebranded as As Ever, failed to make a significant mark on the zeitgeist and faced lackluster reviews for its products.

Her most recent project, “Cookie Queens,” a documentary about Girl Scouts and their ambitions to sell cookies, fell short at the box office after it premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January.

The couple fell into a Hollywood pitfall that has caught countless others before them, explained Leo Braudy, a Los Angeles cultural historian and the author of “The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and Its History,” per The New York Times.

“There has always been this aura here, this magical thinking,” said Braudy. “Everybody thinks, ‘I’m beautiful,’ or ‘I’m handsome.’ Everybody thinks, ‘If those people can make it in Hollywood, so can I.’”

“If there was an easy path to success in show business,” Braudy continued, “there would be a lot fewer flops in Hollywood.”

For Harry and Meghan, Hollywood proved a tough formula to crack. The enormous commercial and cultural success during their first few years eventually lost momentum, sending them back to the U.K. in search of fresh opportunity — and perhaps a greater chance to mend their fractured family ties.

Maxim, affectionately nicknamed Max, is a 14-year-old Amur tiger who was brought to Utah’s Hogle Zoo from the Saint Louis Zoo. Max can now be seen by zoo guests in the Asian Highlands portion of the park.

“Max tends to be a very laid-back and good-natured tiger. He’s been enjoying time in the water, a good cardboard box (or any enrichment he can shred), and other enrichment toys like large tiger-sized boomer balls,” Asian Highlands supervisor Brittany Dowdell said. “He has been very willing to train with keepers, which helps us get to know him and builds trust. He is very vocal with keepers, chuffing and chatting when he sees them and loves to do the tiger long call.”

Max came to the Hogle Zoo on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. He joins resident female tiger Sasha, who is 7 years old.

Sasha used to be paired with Nik, a 15-year-old tiger who unexpectedly developed urinary and bladder issues last fall that caused a sudden decline in his health and led to his passing in November.

Tigers are generally solitary animals except during breeding season, which typically lasts from January to March or April. While they are in separate, adjacent habitats, Max and Sasha may see each other through their shared mesh fence line, the zoo said.

“In the future, Max and Sasha’s care team will help the pair get to know each other more in controlled settings before they prepare for a structured introduction process known as a ‘howdy.’ This gradual approach helps ensure both tigers are comfortable before fully sharing space,” the zoo said in a statement.

Both Max and Sasha are very vocal tigers, meaning guests are likely to hear roars, chuffs and long calls that are natural for communication, territorial behavior and potential mate interaction.

“Although they may not always be calling for each other, Max’s arrival may encourage more vocalization from Sasha,” the zoo said.

Amur tigers are classified as endangered and face threats from poaching, habitat loss and declining prey populations.

That led her to postpone, and then eventually cancel, her Las Vegas residency.

In a lengthy video posted a few months ago, Parton used her signature wit to assure fans her health conditions were treatable and that she hoped to be “up to snuff” soon, as the Deseret News reported.

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She possessed that same optimism in her health update to People magazine on Aug. 21.

“Even though I’m still healin,’ I’m still workin’!” she said. “You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

The country music superstar died four days later.

As the world mourns the death of Parton, who died on Tuesday at the age of 80, fans can take comfort in her extensive catalog of songs and the many tributes online celebrating her warmth and wit.

But since Parton was actively working all the way up to her death, fans will also still be able to hear and learn from the legendary singer-songwriter — including through a new Broadway musical that will soon make its debut.

Dolly Parton’s Broadway musical is still a go

One of Parton’s biggest dreams was to launch a Broadway musical about her life — she’d been talking about it since at least 2016, per The New York Times.

“All my spare time, I’m spending on that,” Parton told USA Today in a 2023 interview. “That’s been a dream of mine for years and years — at least 20 years I’ve been trying to put that together.”

After delays and name changes — and a successful run in Nashville last year — Parton finally announced in July that “Dolly: A True Original Musical” would be heading to Broadway.

She called it “a dream come true.”

“Just like the title says, I mean ‘true’ in every sense of the word,” she said in a video message. “Now this isn’t about a story about sparkle and shine on the outside — it’s about where I really come from, what I’ve lived, what I’ve lost, what I’ve loved and how I found my way.”

Parton was a lead producer on the musical, co-wrote the book and also wrote new music for the production.

She won’t see it come to life on the Broadway stage, but per her wishes, the show will go on.

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“Dolly: A True Original Musical” will begin preview performances on Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre. The musical will have its official opening night on Jan. 19 — which would’ve marked the singer’s 81st birthday.

“My whole life has been a musical. A grand ole opera, really, and I can’t wait to present it to you on Broadway,” she said in a statement on the musical’s website. “I hope you enjoy watching as much as I’ve enjoyed livin’ it.”

The musical comes about 15 years after Parton made her Broadway debut as a composer for the stage adaptation of “9 to 5,” which earned her a Tony nomination for best score, per The New York Times.

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The Broadway musical isn’t the last fans will hear from Parton.

The singer’s team has revealed that Parton had a lot in the works at the time of her death — and they plan to bring them to life.

“Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come,” her longtime manager Danny Nozell said in a statement to Deadline.

Some of Parton’s other projects include a Parton musical documentary, a biopic, docuseries and scripted series.

“If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it,” Nozell said.

Parton also wrote a song over a decade ago that has been stored in a chestnut box at Dollywood’s DreamMore resort in Tennessee, per The Washington Post.

The song, called “My Place in History,” will remain sealed until Jan. 19, 2046 — which would’ve been Parton’s 100th birthday.

Curry died peacefully at his Toluca Lake home on Wednesday, his longtime manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz confirmed. No cause of death was disclosed. Curry suffered a paralyzing stroke in 2012 that put him in a wheelchair, from which he said last year, “I’ve been recovering for quite a long time.”

Celebrated for his versatility, cartoonish expressions and flamboyant style — all paired with a distinctly wry sense of humor — Curry soared to fame for his portrayal of the androgynous mad-scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the midnight movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

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Curry originated Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the London stage musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 1973. He then starred in the role in the American premiere of the production in Los Angeles in 1974 and later on Broadway in 1975, before the movie was released later that year.

He went on to play a wealth of sneering-yet-lovable villains, from the snooty concierge in “Home Alone 2” and the slick con artist Rooster in the original screen adaptation of “Annie” to the frantic butler Wadsworth in “Clue” and swashbuckling pirate Long John Silver in “Muppets Treasure Island,” among several others.

“I like playing the more curious corners of the human mind and human behavior, partly because they’re a tad more interesting,” Curry told The Associated Press in 1993.

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Curry kept closely tied to theater throughout his career, moving seamlessly between the stage and the screen. He took on a broad range of stage roles, including King Arthur in “Spamalot,” Mozart’s rival in “Amadeus,” a Hollywood movie star in “My Favorite Year” and the Pirate King in “Pirates of Penzance.”

In the latter half of his six-decade career, Curry brought his mischievous lilt to a stretch of voice-acting roles, including “The Wild Thornberrys,” “Over The Garden Wall,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.”

Still, it was Curry’s breakout performance in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” that colored his career.

“Playing somebody like that wakes you up to new dimensions of human nature,” Curry said of playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in his 2025 memoir, “Vagabond.”

“I can’t imagine a better role to enable me to embrace my contradictions and see them through,” he continued. “I learned not to limit myself — artistically, professionally, sexually or mentally.”

The nation mourns Tim Curry

As news of his death spreads, tributes to Curry are pouring in from Hollywood stars — who remembered the actor for his electrifying performances, wit, versatility and enduring impact on comedy, theater and pop culture.

Here is how some friends and Hollywood stars have paid tribute to Curry.

Rob Schneider

“Gutted. The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage,” wrote actor Rob Schneider, who acted alongside Curry in “Home Alone 2.”

“A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies,” he continued. “I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”

Gutted. The sensational character actor, Tim Curry has left the stage.
A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies.
I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him. pic.twitter.com/9QGkmhUmSC

— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) August 26, 2026

Michael McKean

Michael McKean, who worked alongside Curry in “Clue,” reflected on a final conversation he had with Curry “about life and love and laughter.”

“The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing,” he added. “Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives.”

My last conversation with Tim Curry was about life and love and laughter. The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.

— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) August 26, 2026

Eric Idle

“Very sad to see the passing of Tim Curry, our first King Arthur,” wrote comedian Eric Idle, who worked with Curry on comedy projects such as “Spamalot.”

He added, “A fine man, singer, actor, host and gardener. He will be missed.”

Very sad to see the passing of Tim Curry, our first King Arthur.
A fine man, singer, actor, host and gardener. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/tkdAr6FkOh

— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) August 26, 2026

The Muppets

The Muppets also paid tribute to Curry, who starred as the charming villain Long John Silver in the film “Muppet Treasure Island.”

“Few humans have earned the title of honorary Muppet more than the legendary Tim Curry. As a performer, he was unparalleled — witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny,” the statement said.

“We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew. Thank you for everything, Tim.”

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Rosie O’Donnell

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell wrote, “Sweetest man.”

View this post on Instagram

Guillermo del Toro

“Goodnight sweet myth,” wrote director Guillermo del Toro.

Goodnight Sweet Myth... https://t.co/yJNnTWIehH

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 26, 2026

Carol Burnett

“We had such a wonderful time working together on ‘Annie,’” actress Carol Burnett wrote in a tribute. “Nobody could play lovable villains better than he could. He was a dear friend.”

“I was blessed to know him.”

View this post on Instagram

Lesley Ann Warren

“My dear companion in crime, the brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry has left us,” wrote Lesley Ann Warren, who co-starred with Curry in “Clue.”

“What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent. I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul. Love you Tim.”

It was confirmed by his manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz that Curry died peacefully at his Toluca Lake home. He was 80 years old.

Curry’s filmography spanned across a wide range of movie and television roles, including media for more mature audiences as well as movies perfect for entertaining kids and families.

The actor was known for his versatility across a variety of roles and his cartoonish expressions.

As the world pays tribute to the beloved and iconic actor, here is a look at five of Curry’s best roles in family-friendly movies.

Tim Curry, who made a career of kooky and menacing, dies at 80

‘Clue’ (1985)

Summary: “Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.”

Curry’s role: Curry plays Wadsworth, the energetic and fast-talking butler.

Where to watch: Streaming on YouTube and Paramount+; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ (1992)

Summary: “Kevin McCallister is in New York City with enough money to turn the Big Apple into his own playground! But Kevin won’t be alone for long. The notorious Wet Bandits, Harry and Marv, still smarting from their last encounter with Kevin, are bound for New York too, plotting a huge holiday heist. Kevin’s ready to welcome them with a battery of booby traps the bumbling bandits will never forget.”

Curry’s role: Curry plays Mr. Hector, the concierge at the Plaza Hotel who is trying to catch Kevin McCallister, who is staying at the hotel without his parents.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

‘Annie’ (1982)

Summary: “‘Annie’ is the story of a plucky, red-haired girl who dreams of life outside her dreary orphanage. One day, Annie is chosen to stay for one week with the famous billionaire ‘Daddy’ Warbucks. One week turns into many and the only person standing in the way of Annie’s fun is Miss Hannigan, the gin-soaked ruler of the orphanage. Will Miss Hannigan’s zany attempts to kidnap the irrepressible Annie succeed?”

Curry’s role: Curry plays Miss Hannigan’s con-man brother Rooster, who teams up with his girlfriend to pose as Annie’s long-lost parents and claim a $50,000 reward.

Where to watch: Streaming on YouTube; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

The world mourns Dolly Parton: Donny Osmond, Miley Cyrus, Buckingham Palace

‘Muppet Treasure Island’ (1996)

Summary: “Get ready for hilarity on the high seas with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the Muppets in this exciting first-ever action-adventure, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate tale. When young Jim Hawkins inherits a long-lost treasure map, he hires the great ship Hispaniola to seek his fortune. With the good Captain Smollet at the helm — and greedy Long John Silver at the heart of a dastardly plot — they set sail for adventure only to discover danger at every turn.”

Curry’s role: Curry plays the pirate Long John Silver.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu; available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

‘Barbie in the Nutcracker’ (2001)

Summary: “Barbie gives life to the plucky young girl, Clara, as she narrates the fascinating story of the Nutcracker to her younger sister, Kelly. When Clara receives a lustrous wooden nutcracker from Aunt Elizabeth Drosselmeyer as a Christmas present, that same night, the magical toy comes to life to protect her from the army of the evil Mouse King. However, the invader manages to shrink her to toy size. Now, Clara and her defender, the brave Nutcracker, embark on a marvelous adventure, in search of the beautiful Sugarplum Princess — the only one capable of breaking the spell.”

Curry’s role: Curry voices the Mouse King. He is also in “Barbie and the Three Musketeers” as the voice of Philippe, the main villain.

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

Why Simon Cowell isn’t on ‘America’s Got Talent’

The Utah woman has loved movies her entire life, but her fascination was likely different than it is for most kids. Olson was enamored by the behind-the-scenes mechanics, particularly the magic of the stunt team. As a child, she spent afternoons recreating action sequences from her favorite films, often jumping off the roof of her home to practice dive rolls — much to the dismay of her mother, Juli Olson, over potential roof damage and potential hospital bills.

Today, those hours of backyard practice and years of persistence are finally paying off. But as Olson told the Deseret News, the road to Hollywood has been anything but a smooth ride.

Olson grew up in the small town of Kamas, Summit County, spending summers working on her family’s ranch. Despite financial struggles, she dreamed of breaking into the movie business, though she did not receive the validation she hoped for. To those around her, Hollywood was an impractical, far-fetched fantasy.

“I always wanted to be in movies and I especially loved the art of action. I love action sequences.”

Katelynn Olson

So, Olson leaned into her identity as an athlete. After high school, she had her vision set on becoming a goalkeeper for Utah Valley University’s women’s soccer team before an injury derailed her tryout.

Instead of devastating her, the setback brought her an unexpected sense of relief. Olson was now free to pursue her true passion.

Realizing she was a college dropout with nothing to lose, Olson, armed with nothing but a stubborn refusal to give up, decided it was the perfect time to risk everything for Hollywood.

“The bar was low,” Olson joked.

She quickly learned the film industry is exactly the high-stakes hustle portrayed in cinema. Breaking in required an “in,” which she found through her local church congregation.

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The trail to ‘Marshals’

While living at home and working two jobs at the Tanger Outlets in Park City, Olson met Chet Thomas, a writer and producer who had moved into her neighborhood. Through church service, Olson developed a relationship with Thomas’ family. After learning of her cinematic ambitions, Thomas helped her land her first set gig as an unpaid camera intern. Olson hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since.

From camera intern on one set she moved to camera assistant on another, then pivoted to craft services, working as a self-described “glorified pack mule.”

Olson’s stubborn streak kept her moving forward as she took out trash bags dripping with lobster juice and coffee, doing whatever odd jobs it took just to be on set, learn, network and make enough to scrape by.

Driven by her passion for stunts, Olson applied to the renowned Stunt Performers Academy in Los Angeles to train under veteran coordinator Banzai Vitale. There, she learned the physical and mental foundations of the craft, earning certifications in fire burns, high falls and other stunt performance basics.

When she returned to Utah, the daily grind intensified. Olson balanced production gigs and any other work she could find with stunt training, routinely starting her day at 4:30 a.m. and going to bed at 12:30 a.m.

“I came back and as a stunt performer, you are an athlete so every day you’re training, every day you’re doing something to perfect your craft. So I took up a lot of martial art classes like jujitsu, muay thai, boxing. I’d go and practice parkour. I was basically just training my guts out as much as I could.”

Katelynn Olson

One of those gigs brought her to BYUtv’s “Studio C,” a hub for Utah’s film community and great for on-set experience. For local creators trying to break out, the recurring show was both a blessing and a holding pattern.

At the end of each season, she and her colleagues would share their ambitions for the offseason, hoping to land a larger role or a different set. Inevitably, they all ended back on the same set the next season. “It’s like ‘Groundhog Day,’” Olson recalled.

But “Studio C” ultimately became the bridge to Olson’s first stunt role.

One night, while telling a friend about a big new show filming in town, Olson got a call from a “Studio C” colleague. The crew of that very show needed immediate help with craft services. The production was “Marshals,” the spinoff of the hit series “Yellowstone.”

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The show staff said they needed Olson on set at 7 a.m. the next morning at a ranch located just minutes from her hometown.

Olson was ready.

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‘Local girl’ finds home in stunts

On the set of “Marshals,” Olson worked tirelessly, averaging nearly 40,000 steps a day. She strategically wore her hat featuring “JAM” the logo of her Los Angeles stunt gym, hoping coordinators and performers on set would notice and strike up a conversation. She wanted to shoot her shot while avoiding the faux pas of openly fishing for a job while employed in a different department.

Olson formed a quick friendship with Ash Santos, who plays Amber Cruz on the show. After learning Olson was bouncing between living in her car and couch surfing, Santos invited her to stay in an extra bedroom at her home in Park City.

When a stunt role opened up, Santos advocated for Olson. It was a small part, but it was the golden ticket Olson needed to secure her SAG-AFTRA union eligibility.

The turnaround time for the audition was immediate; Olson had to record and submit a self-tape audition on the spot.

“I thought I was going to throw up; I was so nervous,” Olson said.

Her tape ended up beating out Hollywood talent. “They had L.A. actresses submit for this role, so it was kind of mind-boggling I was chosen over a vast group of people,” she said.

Later, when she stepped onto the set to film, the nerves she felt recording her audition, vanished.

“You would think I’d be nervous,” Olson said, “but it was so weird. I was just like, ‘This is what I do. This is what I’ve been wanting to do since I was a kid.’ I just performed and luckily it was very well received.”

Her performance caught the attention of the director who remarked that “she’s got it.” Along with the stunt coordinator, she was put into the show’s regular rotation. In the credits, her character is listed simply as “Local Girl” — an inside joke among the crew since Olson was quite literally a local on the set location.

Her milestone moment was made even sweeter because her “film family” was there to witness it.

“It was super cool because a lot of people that were on the crew were people that I’ve worked with for years,” Olson said.

“Michelle has been my lead man on ‘Studio C’ for the last three years. She was doing props (on ‘Marshals). She normally doesn’t hand the actors their props, but this time because it was me, she was the one that handed me my cattle prod. It was a big moment because she has been there this entire time. So it was pretty cool because in that moment, film family was all around to see me finally get my shot.”

Olson said her first day as a stunt performer she “felt at home.”

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The physical toll

Stunt performers are professional athletes, and the job requires keeping their bodies conditioned to absorb repeated physical blows.

“I am stubborn,” Olson admitted. “There have been moments on set where they’re like, ‘You good?’ and you give the thumbs-up — that’s a very real thing we do, letting them know that stunts is good,” Olson said.

She detailed there have been times where she may have been hurting but when asked if she was OK, she responded: “Yep, going again, yep. Why not?”

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Olson chalked that mentality up to being a young performer trying to prove herself, but admitted her natural stubbornness plays a part.

The stunt world has one golden rule: You can work hurt, but you can’t work injured.

That means stunt methods focus on injury prevention. A standard day on the job might include flipping over furniture or taking simulated punches to the face dozens of times. Success relies on doing those things safely.

“Stunts are very intensive on your body. Sports are hard on your body anyway, but especially stunts because you’re doing stuff that normally, nobody would be doing. Like getting hit by a car.”

Katelynn Olson

Olson notes that she carries more muscle mass than the typical female stunt performer, an attribute she uses to her advantage.

“I like it because it protects my joints,” Olson said. That extra mass provides stronger tendons and natural skeletal padding, preventing an awkward fall from turning into a career-halting injury. “It’s like preventative maintenance.”

The road to her SAG-AFTRA card, was anything but easy. Olson compared her journey to Tobey Maguire’s arc in “Spider-Man 2.”

Olson described that for the majority of that movie, audiences are thinking, “Man, his life sucks,” and “Why do you want to be Spider-Man?” and at the same time he is questioning his decision himself.

“That’s how it felt with stunts. Nothing went your way, everything was against you, you’re fighting an uphill battle. You’re getting kicked down and punched in the face, just one after another — until you finally get progress.”

Olson noted she still has a long way to go, but she is happy to have at least one major chapter in her stunt career under her belt.

Parton died Tuesday in Nashville after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.” She was 80.

The Country Music Hall of Famer and 11-time Grammy winner touched fans with her 3,000-strong discography, which included autobiographical songs like “Coat of Many Colors” and heartbreak hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.”

In addition to releasing 49 albums, Parton channeled her major success into philanthropy, launching a library program which has provided over 300 million books to children around the world.

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Her nephew, Brian Seaver, confirmed the news in an Instagram video message shared Tuesday.

“My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” Seaver said.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father, Larry, held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it till now.”

“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” reads the family’s official obituary.

The obituary continues, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”

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Parton had faced various health challenges during the past two years. In an update with People last week, she said she was still “dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” referring to care for her late husband Carl Thomas Dean, who died in March 2025.

She added, “But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!”

In May, Parton canceled her Las Vegas residency and said she still had a long road ahead before she could return to performing.

At the time, Parton told fans she was responding well to medication and treatment but said the process had left her feeling “a little swimmy-headed.”

“The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day,” Parton added, noting that she could not perform at her usual level yet because she shouldn’t be “dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on 5-inch heels.”

Here is how friends, politicians and Hollywood stars have paid tribute to Parton.

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Buckingham Palace

The Royal Family paid tribute to Parton with a rendition of her hit “9 to 5″ played at Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning.

“Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always (love) you,” the Royal Family shared in a statement.

Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always ❤️ you. pic.twitter.com/wdKHKGALlH

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) August 26, 2026

Gov. Spencer Cox

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox ordered all American and Utah State flags to be flown at half-staff at all state facilities in honor of Dolly Parton, from now through Sept. 1.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus, who was Parton’s honorary goddaughter, wrote, “So many evil people in this world and we had to lose a pure heart like Dolly Parton.”

She added, “Devastating day for humanity.”

In a second statement, Cyrus wrote, “I can’t believe we just lost the purest soul. Rest in Glory, Dolly. My heart aches.”

So many evil people in this world and we had to lose a pure heart like Dolly Parton. Devastating day for humanity. pic.twitter.com/HKJdqjZCiY

— Miley Official (@MileyCyrusBz) August 25, 2026

I can't believe we just lost the purest soul. Rest in Glory, Dolly. My heart aches. pic.twitter.com/EXLcyB0AJn

— Miley Official (@MileyCyrusBz) August 25, 2026

Kacey Musgraves

“This really hurts,” wrote Kacey Musgraves, an eight-time Grammy winning country musician.

Dolly. 💔 This really really hurts.

— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) August 25, 2026

Sen. Bernie Sanders

“Dolly Parton was one of the greatest entertainers of our era,” wrote Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vermont. “Her music and humanity touched millions. She will be sorely missed.”

Dolly Parton was one of the great entertainers of our era. She was not only a talented musician & songwriter, but a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for literacy, education, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare and disaster relief.

Her music and humanity touched millions. She will be…

— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 25, 2026

Donald Trump

“This is a true loss for millions of people,” wrote President Donald Trump. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”

“In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period.”

pic.twitter.com/X00cxHvg0X

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2026

Megyn Kelly

Political commenter Megyn Kelly wrote, “Dolly Parton seemed as close to total goodness as any mere mortal could come. She united us all in our love and admiration for her and, now, in mourning her.”

Dolly Parton seemed as close to total goodness as any mere mortal could come. She united us all in our love and admiration for her and, now, in mourning her.
God bless you Dolly. R.I.P.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 25, 2026

Colman Domingo

“Dolly taught us that you can be anything and do anything and to do it with kindness,” wrote actor Colman Domingo. “What a light. We are all grateful that we lived in a time of Dolly Parton.”

Dolly taught us that you can be anything and do anything and to do it with kindness. What a light. We are all grateful that we lived in a time of Dolly Parton. We will always love her. pic.twitter.com/kKOuTrcFo9

— Colman Domingo (@colmandomingo) August 25, 2026

James Dreyfus

“What a lady,” wrote English actor James Dreyfus. “Goodnight Dolly. Thanks for everything.”

The late, great Dolly Parton, Bette Midler (& me pretending to play the piano…)

What a lady…

Goodnight Dolly. Thanks for everything….❤️💔 pic.twitter.com/BtqPJwN4el

— James Dreyfus (@DreyfusJames) August 25, 2026

Meghan McCain

“Dolly Parton was an absolute American icon and legend,” wrote television personality and columnist Meghan McCain. “Singular in her impact, love, talent, music, kindness, passion and strength. There never was nor ever will be another like her.”

She added, “On a personal note she is hands down the kindest, warmest, friendliest celebrity I had the pleasure of ever meeting. When people ask me the highlight of working at The View, I always say meeting Dolly Parton.”

Dolly Parton was an absolute American icon and legend. Singular in her impact, love, talent, music, kindness, passion and strength. There never was nor ever will be another like her.

There are almost no words to express what a loss this is for America, she was one of the few… pic.twitter.com/rZYWUCMJop

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 25, 2026

Spencer Pratt

“God bless Dolly Parton,” wrote reality television star Spencer Pratt. “She is a national treasure.”

God bless Dolly Parton. She is a national treasure.

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) August 25, 2026

Rob Schneider

“A giant talent,” wrote actor and comedian Rob Schneider. “One of the best song writers ever!”

“A gigantic influence and genius of popular music,” he continued. “One of the greatest entertainers of all time.But most importantly, a generous, kind and loving human being. Blessed to be alive at the same time as Dolly Parton.”

A giant talent.
One of the best song writers ever!
A gigantic influence and genius of popular music.
One of the greatest entertainers of all time.
But most importantly, a generous, kind and loving human being.
Blessed to be alive at the same time as Dolly Parton.
God bless YOU! pic.twitter.com/63eWPlDSJr

— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) August 25, 2026

Blake Shelton

“I can say with absolute certainty that we are all feeling the same heart brokenness today,” wrote country musician Blake Shelton, who worked alongside Dolly Parton during her appearances on “The Voice.”

He continued, “I want everyone to know that she was the EXACT person that you think she is. It was like being with the funnest, most loving, most caring and closest member of your family. Truly a loss for the entire world. We love you Dolly.”

I can say with absolute certainty that we are all feeling the same heart brokenness today. I only got to spend any real time with Dolly when Gwen and I got to work with her on The Voice. I want everyone to know that she was the EXACT person that you think she is. It was like… pic.twitter.com/9ycD4lSpO9

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) August 25, 2026

Kelly Clarkson

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson wrote, “Dolly Parton had a way of making everyone feel special, and seen, and welcomed, and as if you were old friends.”

“I will miss her heart and her voice as I am sure millions will,” Clarkson continued. “What an incredible gift and talent she was and still is with an amazing catalogue of art she has left behind for all of us.”

Dolly Parton had a way of making everyone feel special, and seen, and welcomed, and as if you were old friends. I will miss her heart and her voice as I am sure millions will. What an incredible gift and talent she was and still is with an amazing catalogue of art she has left… pic.twitter.com/swUmwRG0XJ

— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) August 25, 2026

Mick Jagger

“What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was,” wrote Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. “She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much.”

What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was. She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much. pic.twitter.com/DJ394Y2n91

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) August 25, 2026

J.K. Rowling

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity,” author of the “Harry Potter” series J.K. Rowling wrote.

“Our paths crossed once, in the 90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck,” she continued. “You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the 90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 25, 2026

Seth MacFarlane

Actor Seth MacFarlane, who worked alongside Parton on an episode of “The Orville,” called news of the musician’s death “devastating.”

“Her kindness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment one, and the benign yet assured command she maintained over her empire was obvious from the genuine love and trust you could see from everyone who worked for her,” MacFarlane wrote.

“The world is a dimmer place today without her.”

The news of Dolly Parton’s passing is devastating. I had the extraordinary experience of working with her on The Orville, and it was a joy to discover that she really was exactly the person we all hoped she was. Her kindness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment… pic.twitter.com/xVf2ZokZLO

— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) August 25, 2026

Henry Winkler

“What a sad day for America what a sad day for the world what a sad day for the (Parton) family,” wrote actor Henry Winkler. “Dolly! We will miss you in more ways than one can say you were a treasure on this earth.”

What a sad day for America what a sad day for the world what a sad day for the pardon family. Dolly! We will miss you in more ways than one can say you were a treasure on this earth.

— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) August 25, 2026

Paris Hilton

Media personality Paris Hilton said she was “heartbroken.”

“She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me,” Hilton continued. “Her talent, heart and kindness touched so many lives, and she truly left this world better than she found it.”

Heartbroken to hear about Queen @DollyParton’s passing 😭💔 She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me. Her talent, heart and kindness touched so many lives, and she truly left this world better than she found it 🥹✨ Sending all my love to her family, friends and everyone… pic.twitter.com/FdKC6sPTGf

— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) August 25, 2026

Jeff Bezos

“Dolly spent her whole life showing us what it means to lead with love,” wrote Jeff Bezos. “She lifted everyone with her music, her generosity, and her joy.”

Dolly spent her whole life showing us what it means to lead with love. Lauren and I are so grateful to have known her. She lifted everyone with her music, her generosity, and her joy. Sending our sincere condolences to her family and everyone she touched. pic.twitter.com/rgt9rpY5Jy

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) August 25, 2026

Bill Clinton

Former president Bill Clinton described Parton as “a great songwriter and performer who told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart.”

“She always believed in giving back, especially in her efforts to promote literacy,” he continued. “Hillary and I were big fans and first saw her in 1974, and will always be grateful for the music and the memories.”

Dolly Parton was one of a kind—a great songwriter and performer who told the stories of everyday Americans with honesty, humility, and heart. She rose high from her East Tennessee roots and never forgot where she came from. And she always believed in giving back, especially in…

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 25, 2026

Donny Osmond

“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton. She has a heart of gold and a spirit that touched so many lives,” wrote Donny Osmond. “She was a true woman of God, an incredible entertainer, and of course, one of the pillars of country music.”

“She had the most amazing way of making everyone in that studio feel like they were her best friend,” he continued. “I think it was that sweet Southern hospitality in her.”

I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton. She has a heart of gold and a spirit that touched so many lives. She was a true woman of God, an incredible entertainer, and of course, one of the pillars of country music.

Marie and I had the pleasure of having Dolly on our… pic.twitter.com/zdzPoG6Mit

— Donny Osmond (@donnyosmond) August 25, 2026

Brooke Shields

“The world will forever be indebted to the good you’ve done and the legacy you’ve left,” wrote actress Brooke Shields. “The equilibrium of the earth feels off. Thank you for everything.”

Dolly, there will never be anyone else like you. I am gutted to hear the news. The world will forever be indebted to the good you’ve done and the legacy you’ve left. The equilibrium of the earth feels off. Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/ZLkJj7r8th

— Brooke Shields (@BrookeShields) August 25, 2026

Pat Sajak

Former “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak recalled a flight seated next to Parton.

“When I was hired to join KNBC in Los Angeles, I was flown out from my home in Nashville,” Sajak wrote. “The coach section was overbooked, and I was fortunate to be moved to first class, where my seat mate turned out to be Dolly Parton. Sure was a nice flight.”

When I was hired to join KNBC in Los Angeles, I was flown out from my home in Nashville. The coach section was overbooked, and I was fortunate to be moved to first class, where my seat mate turned out to be Dolly Parton. Sure was a nice flight. Rest in peace, Miss Dolly.

— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) August 25, 2026

Russell Crowe

“There’s only ever going to be one Dolly Parton,” wrote actor Russell Crowe. “What a soul she carried.”

There’s only ever going to be one Dolly Parton.
What a soul she carried.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2026

Shaboozey

Shaboozey, a Grammy-nominated singer, wrote, “I wish I had the honor of meeting you. You were everyone’s favorite artist.”

“Thank you for giving us some of the greatest music we’ll ever know,” he added.

Rest in peace Dolly Parton, I wish I had the honor of meeting you. You were everyone’s favorite artist. Thank you for giving us some of the greatest music we’ll ever know.

— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) August 25, 2026

Dr. Mehmet Oz

“I adored my friend Dolly Parton for her massive heart,” Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote in a tribute. “The world knew her extraordinary voice, her wit, her sparkle and her unmistakable presence.”

“But I was blessed to see another side of Dolly—the woman behind the cameras, when there was no audience and nothing to gain except the chance to bring someone else a little hope,” he continued.

“We toured pediatric cancer facilities together, and I will never forget watching the children light up when Dolly walked into the room.

“She patiently sat with children struggling with cancer. She listened to them, laughed with them, held their hands and somehow gave them a little more energy and courage to fight the battles ahead. That was Dolly. Her greatest gift wasn’t the music. It was her heart.”

I adored my friend Dolly Parton for her massive heart. The world knew her extraordinary voice, her wit, her sparkle and her unmistakable presence. But I was blessed to see another side of Dolly—the woman behind the cameras, when there was no audience and nothing to gain except… pic.twitter.com/VZ0LGfrsOP

— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) August 25, 2026

Usha Vance

“As four-time subscribers to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and lifelong fans of her music, our family knows that Dolly Parton loved a good story,” Second Lady Usha Vance wrote.

“I hope that you’ll pick up a book and celebrate the magic of storytelling in her honor today.”

As four-time subscribers to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and lifelong fans of her music, our family knows that Dolly Parton loved a good story. I hope that you’ll pick up a book and celebrate the magic of storytelling in her honor today.

— Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) August 25, 2026

Mike Lee

“Heaven received an angelic musical phenomenon today with the passing of Dolly Parton,” wrote Utah Sen. Mike Lee. “Earth’s loss is heaven’s gain.”

Heaven received an angelic musical phenomenon today with the passing of Dolly Parton.

Earth’s loss is heaven’s gain.

May she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/HsR8zRqB5F

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) August 25, 2026

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“Dolly Parton was a good woman and one of the greatest artists of true country soul,” wrote musician Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

Dolly Parton was a good woman and one of the greatest artists of true country soul. God bless her pic.twitter.com/5V1RYFnqX5

— Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) August 25, 2026

Billy Ray Cyrus

“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms,” country musician Billy Ray Cyrus wrote in a statement shared with the Deseret News.

He continued, “Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will.”

Chris Isaak

“I’m saddened to hear Dolly’s gone. Every time I saw her she seemed so positive and full of energy,” wrote musician Chris Isaak. “In person she was gracious and gorgeous.”

“I remember doing a Kenny Rogers special with Dolly. There was a moment when she and I were backstage. I asked her if she could tell me if a story I heard was true and she said OK. I said I’d heard that she once bought Porter Wagoner‘s song catalog when he was on hard times and a few years later, Porter asked if he could buy his songs back. She said no, she wouldn’t sell him back his songs but would give him back his songs,” he continued.

“I asked if that was true. She said yes and nothing more. I think she didn’t like to speak of her good deeds, but being a songwriter, knowing how much songs mean to a writer, it made me have great respect for her. God bless her.”

I’m saddened to hear Dolly’s gone. Every time I saw her she seemed so positive and full of energy. In person she was gracious and gorgeous. I remember doing a Kenny Rogers special with Dolly. There was a moment when she and I were backstage. I asked her if she could tell me if a… pic.twitter.com/oBsFFiUWWE

— Chris Isaak (@ChrisIsaak) August 26, 2026

Pitbull

Pitbull wrote, “Tonight we celebrate Dolly Parton…the living legend, or should I say the legend that lives forever."

Tonight we celebrate Dolly Parton…the living legend, or should I say the legend that lives forever.

We love you, Dolly. pic.twitter.com/w7cfdGPYRo

— Pitbull (@pitbull) August 26, 2026

Jimmy Fallon

“I was lucky enough to know and work with the one and only Dolly Parton. She was a phenomenal guest on the show; always funny and always made everyone she met feel like a million dollars,” comedian and late night host Jimmy Fallon wrote in a lengthy tribute.

“She’s a butterfly. Beautiful. Magical. Dreamy. And like most butterflies, they stay for a moment - captivate you, fascinate you, mesmerize you and then fly away far too soon,” he added.

I was lucky enough to know and work with the one and only Dolly Parton. She was a phenomenal guest on the show; always funny and always made everyone she met feel like a million dollars. We did duets together, laughed together and danced through Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains… pic.twitter.com/tPGEzfYpCz

— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) August 25, 2026

Shania Twain

“Dolly was pure light sent from heaven,” wrote Shania Twain. “My mentor is gone. My songwriting teacher and hero of grace and humility.”

“There is a hole in my heart but the joy of just the thought of her smile will continue to fill me with inspiration for as long as I live. I will cherish this moment performing Coat Of Many Colors with Dolly forever,” she added alongside a clip performing with Parton.

Dolly was pure light sent from heaven. My mentor is gone. My songwriting teacher and hero of grace and humility. There is a hole in my heart but the joy of just the thought of her smile will continue to fill me with inspiration for as long as I live. I will cherish this moment… pic.twitter.com/x2noNjLgou

— Shania Twain 💎💎💎 (@ShaniaTwain) August 25, 2026

Kristen Chenoweth

“Like the rest of the world, I’m immediately heartbroken,” singer Kristen Chenoweth wrote. “The world has lost one of the best but I know we will never forget her because she is impossible to forget. I love you Dolly and I will ALWAYS love you.”

Like the rest of the world, I’m immediately heartbroken. I met Dolly on several occasions and she always made me feel like one of her own. She even agreed to sing with me on one of my records. My ultimate inspiration. The world has lost one of the best but I know we will never… pic.twitter.com/dqE7U4Kbjy

— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) August 25, 2026

Luke Bryan

“Her light, being a strong Tennessee woman, songwriting, charisma, wittiness, and the ability to make fun of herself and the ability to inspire the world is what I think about when I think of Dolly,” wrote country singer-songwriter Luke Bryan.

“When you live your life and people can recognize you by one name, Dolly, I think that says it all. Rest in peace Dolly.”

Her light, being a strong Tennessee woman, songwriting, charisma, wittiness, and the ability to make fun of herself and the ability to inspire the world is what I think about when I think of Dolly. When you live your life and people can recognize you by one name, Dolly, I think… pic.twitter.com/G2oEkoTeuO

— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) August 25, 2026

Reba McEntire

Country Music Hall of Famer Reba McEntire wrote, “Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth. Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.”

“There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang,” she continued. “Thank you, Lord, for Dolly. She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her.”

Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side.

Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth.

Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.

There will never ever be another you.
We… pic.twitter.com/qpbvKUNbiM

— Reba McEntire (@reba) August 25, 2026

Brandie Carlile

“Dolly, you’ve spent a lifetime turning kindness into an art form and songs into places where people feel seen,” wrote 11-time Grammy winner Brandie Carlile.

“Your voice, your generosity, your courage, and your joy have lifted generations,” she continued. “You remind us that you can be wildly talented and still lead with a tender heart. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to stay true to yourself and leave the world a little brighter than you found it.”

Dolly, you’ve spent a lifetime turning kindness into an art form and songs into places where people feel seen. Your voice, your generosity, your courage, and your joy have lifted generations. You remind us that you can be wildly talented and still lead with a tender heart. Thank…

— Brandi Carlile 🎋 (@IamBrandiCarlil) August 25, 2026

Dolly traded in her butterfly wings today.
I felt her leaving all week and I've been singing "Coat Of Many Colors" with I'm With Her and asking folks to pray everyday. I don't even know why.
She took my face in her hands and prayed over me once. I've never been the same since.…

— Brandi Carlile 🎋 (@IamBrandiCarlil) August 26, 2026

Paula Abdul

“So heartbroken to hear of Dolly’s passing. I loved her dearly and feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her,” wrote singer-dancer Paula Abdul. “Her kindness and light were truly one of a kind.”

So heartbroken to hear of Dolly’s passing. I loved her dearly and feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her. This is a special memory from A Smoky Mountain Christmas in 1986, when I choreographed this performance for her 🤍 Years ago, we were both managed by… pic.twitter.com/qdTXrHhfQH

— Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) August 26, 2026

Jason Aldean

Country musician Jason Aldean wrote, “The term “legend” gets thrown around a lot these days but she really was. An icon to the entire entertainment industry, especially the Country Music family."

“I had the privilege being around her a few times over the years and she was truly a bright light that shined just a little brighter than anyone else in the room,” Aldean added. “It’s always sad when one of our heroes passes away, but the beauty in music is that her art will live on forever.”

Sad to hear of the passing of @DollyParton today. The term “legend” gets thrown around a lot these days but she really was. An icon to the entire entertainment industry, especially the Country Music family. I had the privilege being around her a few times over the years and she… pic.twitter.com/jOOsl05d9w

— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) August 25, 2026

Gwen Stefani

“So heartbroken to hear about the loss of a true original and forever one of a kind,” wrote singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. “Such an inspiration to us all. I was so lucky to work with you.”

So heartbroken to hear about the loss of a true original and forever one of a kind 🤍 Such an inspiration to us all. I was so lucky to work with you. There will never be another Dolly 🕊️ gx pic.twitter.com/YXDU0IPzC5

— Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) August 26, 2026

Mariah Carey

Singer-songwriter Mariah Carey described Parton as " one of the most brilliant, iconic, and prolific artists of all time."

“Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten,” she added.

Rest in Peace Dolly, one of the most brilliant, iconic, and prolific artists of all time. Your kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. I will always love you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Fdypqdmpzs

— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) August 26, 2026

Joe Biden

“Simply put, Dolly Parton was an American original,” former President Joe Biden wrote. “She was an inspiration to millions. She was a relentless advocate for women and for equality. Through her Imagination Library, she placed the gift of reading into the hands of millions of children because she understood literacy is the foundation of opportunity.”

“But perhaps most importantly, Dolly treated everyone with kindness and respect,” he continued. “She lived her values with a flair and vitality for life that was uniquely her own. She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, and she will be missed by millions around the world.”

Simply put, Dolly Parton was an American original. She was an inspiration to millions. She was a relentless advocate for women and for equality. Through her Imagination Library, she placed the gift of reading into the hands of millions of children because she understood literacy…

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2026

Noah Kahan

“Thank you for the joy and the music and the example you set for us all,” wrote musician Noah Kahan.

Rest peacefully Dolly, thank you for the joy and the music and the example you set for us all ❤️

— Noah Kahan (@NoahKahan) August 25, 2026

Jennifer Hudson

“Dolly Parton taught us that a woman can be powerful, beautiful and talented, and still be kind,” actress Jennifer Hudson shared in a tribute. “And that success never has to come at the expense of grace, generosity, or heart !! What a wonderful example she set for us all.”

Dolly Parton taught us that a woman can be powerful, beautiful and talented, and still be kind. And that success never has to come at the expense of grace, generosity, or heart !! What a wonderful example she set for us all.

Rest well, Ms. Parton! We will always love you!! May… pic.twitter.com/vpbDkWOOA1

— Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) August 26, 2026

Celine Dion

The “Queen of Power Ballads”, Celine Dion, described Parton as “pure light, with a kind heart and a generous spirit.”

“We will now be missing one of the most joyful voices this world has ever known. Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all,” she added.

Dolly…you were pure light, with a kind heart and a generous spirit. We will now be missing one of the most joyful voices this world has ever known. Thank you for the music, the laughter, and the love you gave us all. We will always love you. Rest in peace, Dolly.

- Celine… pic.twitter.com/uskRmbsTUE

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 26, 2026

William Shatner

“I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Dolly over the years, and she was every bit as memorable, talented and funny as you would imagine,” “Star Trek” actor William Shatner wrote.

“But beyond the extraordinary talent was something even more important: her heart,” he continued. “She brought joy to generations of people and left the world considerably better than she found it.”

Dolly Parton was one of a kind.
I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Dolly over the years, and she was every bit as memorable, talented and funny as you would imagine.

But beyond the extraordinary talent was something even more important: her heart.

She brought joy to…

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 25, 2026

Barack Obama

“It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton,” former President Barak Obama wrote in a lengthy tribute. “Born in a one-room cabin, she earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of kids learn to read, and — as if that wasn’t enough — helped accelerate the research that led to the Moderna COVID vaccine.”

It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton. Born in a one-room cabin, she earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of kids learn to read, and — as if that wasn’t enough — helped accelerate the research that led to the… https://t.co/gl4KGm4vnk

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 25, 2026

Ben Stiller

“What an icon, and for so long. A person who emanated goodness, and of course, a brilliant songwriter and performer. Sending love to her family and friends,” wrote actor Ben Stiller.

Dolly Parton memory: her being incredibly nice and cool to EVERYONE when i was on SNL in 1988 as a featured player/apprentice writer and wrote a sketch for her and me that bombed at readthrough and she totally sold it as it bombed and was so kind about it and I never met her…

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) August 25, 2026

Taylor Swift

“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Taylor Swift said of her friend Parton, per Deadline.

“She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously. She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist,” Swift continued.

“Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too.”

NASA

“NASA honors the memory of Dolly Parton,” wrote the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

“In 1989, Dolly performed at NASA‘s Rocket Park, alongside fellow musicians Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers, to an audience of over 12,000 NASA employees and their families.”

NASA honors the memory of Dolly Parton, who passed away on Aug. 25, 2026.

In 1989, Dolly performed at @NASAJohnson's Rocket Park, alongside fellow musicians Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers, to an audience of over 12,000 NASA employees and their families. pic.twitter.com/9lzOlUVmsg

— NASA (@NASA) August 26, 2026

David Archuleta

“Dolly, you changed this world for the better,” wrote singer-songwriter David Archuleta.

“Thank you for all the good you’ve done to brighten this world. The highlight of my time on American Idol was getting to share a brief moment with you and sing your song Smoky Mountain Memories that you wrote about your dad, and hear why that song was important to you,” he continued.

“Thanks for helping me feel seen as a shy teenager from Utah, as you’ve made millions feel seen.”

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Joni Mitchell

“Remembering Dolly Parton, whose unmistakable voice was matched by her warmth, wit, and generosity,” wrote singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.

Remembering Dolly Parton, whose unmistakable voice was matched by her warmth, wit, and generosity.

Footage from “Dolly!” pic.twitter.com/yNfkLkPGG5

— Joni Mitchell (@jonimitchell) August 26, 2026

Andrew Lloyd Webber

“I’ll never forget the incredibly special time we spent in your trailer talking about songwriting,” wrote composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. “You were one of the greatest talents I’ve had the privilege of meeting.”

Farewell dear Dolly. pic.twitter.com/EHtRRlYnaV

— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) August 25, 2026

Mike Johnson

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote, “Dolly Parton’s unmistakable voice, joyful spirit, and remarkable generosity touched generations of Americans and many others around the world.”

His tribute continued, “From the mountains of Tennessee to stages across the globe, she never forgot where she came from, and she used her extraordinary success to lift up countless others.”

America has lost a true national treasure.

Dolly Parton’s unmistakable voice, joyful spirit, and remarkable generosity touched generations of Americans and many others around the world.

From the mountains of Tennessee to stages across the globe, she never forgot where she came…

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) August 25, 2026

Ringo Starr

“God bless Dolly Parton and peace and love to all the family, peace,” wrote the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.

God bless Dolly Parton and peace and love to all the family, peace and love Ringo and Barbara xx pic.twitter.com/whVRCGCk2R

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) August 26, 2026

“It’s cool to hear that a car’s going to get exploded,” said Taylor Handy, one of many standing vigil from the upper floors of the garage for a view of the parking lot across Grant Avenue behind the former U.S. Post Office building there.

Jason Wright was also present. “Of course I wanted to see a car explode,” he said.

The makers of “Marshals,” a spinoff of the Paramount TV series “Yellowstone,” came to Ogden to film an upcoming episode of the CBS program, including the aforementioned car explosion scene. The controlled blast seemingly went off without a hitch, a loud bang followed by flames and heavy smoke billowing from what looked like a sports utility vehicle.

But the explosion wasn’t the only scene filmed in Ogden, and Caren Werner, regional film specialist in Weber County for the Utah Film Commission, said “Marshals” is part of a long list of television programs and movies that have been filmed in Weber County. Filming in Ogden for the upcoming “Marshals” episode also included a protest scene outside the former U.S. Post Office building, which now houses private offices, and the filming was to continue on Wednesday.

“We’re a film-ready community. It’s a certification through the Utah Film Commission,” Werner said. “Ogden city is very film-friendly.”

“The Sandlot,” perhaps, sits atop the list of films with footage from Ogden, a swimming pool scene in the 1993 comedy filmed at the city-owned Lorin Farr Pool. But Werner noted that “Yellowstone” frequently filmed in Ogden during its five-season run and that Lifetime and Hallmark films have also been filmed in the city, among others.

Historic 25th Street, a retail and dining hub, is a big draw for filmmakers. “It’s the charm. Historic 25th Street can be Anytown, USA,” she said.

The crew for “Marshals” operates out of Utah Film Studios in Park City, as with “Yellowstone” before it, making the Ogden and Weber County areas a prime candidate for filming due to proximity. The Utah Film Commission, moreover, provides incentives to filmmakers, though they’re now mainly available for filming in more rural areas away from the Wasatch front.

A silent protest and explosion

While numerous productions have been filmed in and around Ogden, this week’s “Marshals” scenes perhaps made more of a public splash because of a notice the city of Ogden posted to social media on Monday. The post warned of “controlled special effects” and “brief traffic holds” around the filming location, enough to lure Handy, Wright and many others.

The premise of the program filmed here, to air in mid-December as the 10th episode of season 2, isn’t crystal clear to Werner. But she said the building at the northwest corner of 24th Street and Grant Avenue is supposed to represent a courthouse in Helena, Montana, where “Marshals” is set. A protest of some sort figures in the episode.

“Marshals” stars Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, a member of an elite U.S. Marshals unit who uses his varied skills “to bring range justice to Montana,” according to the CBS synopsis of the program. In “Yellowstone,” he played the son of John Dutton, portrayed by Kevin Costner, the star of that series.

Actors and extras milled around 24th Street and Grant Avenue during Tuesday’s filming, some variously wearing Helena Police Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security garb. Multiple cars marked as Helena Police Department or DHS vehicles were also parked in the area. Werner was present for part of the filming Tuesday and said two of the series’ stars, Ash Santos and Tatanka Means, were in the city, though not Grimes.

“All I saw was a silent protest and a stunt double get blown up by a car,” she said. She also saw the car explosion scene.

Wright, one of the many spectators watching the filming, said he has never seen “Marshals.” He joked that the explosion scene would bear on whether he searches out the program for future viewing. “I’ll go binge watch it after that if the explosion is good,” he said.

The show, called Legends in Concert, brought in professional tribute artists from all over to create the magic of one-of-a-kind performers like Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson.

Since my mom was the operations manager at the theater, I saw this show more times than I could even count throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Inside the life of a Little Richard impersonator

During the day, I was an elementary school student learning multiplication and cursive. At night, I was immersed in an entirely different but perhaps even more fulfilling education, hearing some of the top songs from the major artists who have shaped the music industry.

And that’s how I learned about Dolly Parton.

From the Dolly Parton set at Legends in Concert, I got a brief introduction to the Queen of Country’s extensive repertoire — including “9 to 5,” “Here You Come Again,” “Two Doors Down,” “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.”

I was only 8 or 9, so I didn’t have the life experience to understand the ache in the messages driving these songs, but I loved the sound. Parton’s music, along with so many other definitive entertainers, became the soundtrack to my childhood.

Fifteen miles up the road from Legends in Concert stood a larger theater owned by Parton herself.

That show, which was then an equestrian-themed production called the Dixie Stampede, also became a staple of my childhood. The family-friendly dinner show always kicked off with a cheerful video message from Parton welcoming us to her theater. It became a go-to spot for our friends and family visiting from out of town. It also objectively has the world’s greatest creamy vegetable soup — a soup so good that I would (usually unsuccessfully) offer up my apple turnover to a friend in exchange for their bowl of soup.

Just across the parking lot from Parton’s theater sat an even larger theater called the Carolina Opry.

This year-round variety show was yet another tradition for my family. Singer Rita Gumm would always close out the Christmas show with a powerful rendition of Don Francisco’s gospel song “He’s Alive” — which Parton recorded for her 1989 album “White Limozeen.”

The nation mourns Dolly Parton: Donny Osmond, Miley Cyrus, Blake Shelton

As a kid, I was mesmerized by the dramatic effects throughout Gumm’s performance — the flashing lights, claps of thunder and fog. I was also in awe of how the song would bring the audience to its feet every single time.

But somewhere down the line, without me really even being aware, that song became something more to me.

And now, as I mourn Parton’s death along with the rest of the world, I can’t stop thinking about it.

How Dolly Parton became a part of my Easter

By the time I left my Myrtle Beach home for college, I’d heard “He’s Alive” sung live at the Carolina Opry probably around 15 or 20 times.

“He’s Alive” tells the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, from the perspective of the apostle Peter. It details his confusion over an empty tomb and his guilt in denying Christ. Near the end, as the music builds cinematically, Peter sees the resurrected Christ:

“But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume

“Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room

“And Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide

“And I fell down on my knees and I just clung to him and cried.”

The song ends with a triumphant chorus, complete with a full choir joyfully shouting, “He’s alive!”

It wasn’t until I left home that I realized how much this song had affected me.

My first Easter on my own, in a dorm room 2,000 miles away at Brigham Young University, I found myself searching for the song online. Since I had always listened to Gumm’s version at the Carolina Opry, I’m not sure I’d ever heard Parton actually sing it before.

I found what has arguably become her definitive performance of the song at the 1989 CMA Awards and was blown away. In that CMAs performance, which brought the audience to its feet, I found the spirit and a piece of home.

Since then, “He’s Alive,” and that performance in particular, has become my Easter tradition. It doesn’t get old. It’s anchored me throughout college, during a volunteer teaching stint in China and now as I raise my own family.

And even after all of these years, Parton’s soprano voice, which subtly evolves from quivering to resolute as she sings of Christ’s resurrection, still brings me to tears.

I’m sure that’s partly because of the significance of the song in my life, and the faith it has inspired, but it also stems from a conviction in Parton: She really believes what she’s singing.

The faith of Dolly Parton

“I’ll never forget that night,” Parton would tell CMT years later in an interview reflecting on that legendary performance of “He’s Alive.” “I honestly just felt the spirit fall on me.

“I just felt so much, such an overwhelming feeling, and I really think that people felt that, too,” she continued. “And I really think that was God kind of getting a good message out. I felt so lucky that I could be that vessel.”

Parton, who grew up in rural poverty in the Great Smoky Mountains, didn’t shy away from sharing about her family’s upbringing or her faith once she was on the global stage.

Both of those themes are intertwined in her deeply autobiographical hit “Coat of Many Colors,” which she wrote early on in her stardom. In the song, she reflects on the patchwork coat her mom made for her to wear to school.

“As she sewed, she told a story from the Bible she had read

“About a coat of many colors Joseph wore and then she said

“‘Perhaps this coat will bring you good luck and happiness’

“And I just couldn’t wait to wear it and momma blessed it with a kiss.”

Throughout her career, the 10-time Grammy winner would share how her faith and relationship with God were pillars in her life — inseparable from her music and her characteristic optimism. It was a lifelong theme as constant as her quick wit and the warmth of her storytelling.

“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens,” her nephew, Bryan Seaver, said in a video announcing Parton’s death at the age of 80 on Tuesday.

A message from the family of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/9DNRgRx0uH

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 25, 2026

As tributes from Parton’s fans and fellow artists began to pour in following the news of her death, it confirmed just how far her faith extended.

“She took my face in her hands and prayed over me once,” Brandi Carlile, my favorite singer-songwriter who is a longtime friend and collaborator of Parton’s, said in a touching tribute. “I’ve never been the same since. Her prayers were maybe more powerful than mine or anyone else’s, because that prayer has had a very long rainbow colored halo and I hope it lasts me my whole life.

“Your faith is a light. You are the standard bearer,” Carlile concluded her Instagram post. “Put in a good word for us all with your god and help us in whatever way you can from where you most certainly are.”

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Country star Randy Travis, who recorded a duet of Parton’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?” for his 1990 album “Heroes & Friends,” also praised her strong faith.

“Thank you for showing all of us how to carry success with grace and how to use the gifts God gave us to bless others,” Travis wrote in his tribute. “Your mission to make people happy and lift them up while glorifying God is complete.”

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I’m just one among millions of fans who Parton lifted up through her many talents. She was peppered throughout my childhood and embedded in so many formative moments. Now, as I have two kids of my own, her influence carries on in the books we read from her Imagination Library, and the groundbreaking music that entered my life as an elementary school kid.

While writing this, I pulled up that 1989 CMAs performance of “He’s Alive.” As usual, I started to cry.

But this time, the tears were different — simultaneously sad and happy. Mourning the loss of Parton but rejoicing in the fact that we ever had her to begin with.

Here’s a brief overview of the 2026 tournament, which features some of the quiz show’s top players and premieres Aug. 25 on ABC.

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Who is competing in the 2026 ‘Jeopardy!’ Masters tournament?

The following six players have earned a spot in the 2026 Masters tournament:

• Returning Masters champion Yogesh Raut, who defeated Victoria Groce and Juveria Zaheer in a nail-biter Masters finals last year, per Deseret News. Raut won three games during his initial “Jeopardy!” run in 2023 and was the 2024 Tournament of Champions winner, as the Deseret News previously reported.
• Returning Masters finalist Victoria Groce, who won the 2024 Masters title against Raut and “Jeopardy!” great James Holzhauer, as the Deseret News reported. Groce, who was a one-game champion during her initial “Jeopardy!” run back in 2005 — defeating 19-game winner David Madden — also won the inaugural “Jeopardy!” Invitational Tournament in 2024.
• Returning Masters finalist Juveria Zaheer, who after losing her first “Jeopardy!” game in 2022 went on to dominate in the Second Chance Tournament a year later. She also won the 2024 “Champions Wildcard” tournament and placed as a quarterfinalist in the 2024 Tournament of Champions, as the Deseret News reported. Zaheer was a finalist in the 2025 Jeopardy Invitational Tournament.
• Paolo Pasco, who won the 2026 “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions with a dominating performance. Pasco made his “Jeopardy!” debut last year and went on a seven-game winning streak.
• Andrew He, who returns to the Masters tournament after placing fourth in the inaugural tournament in 2023, per the “Jeopardy!” website. He earned his spot in this year’s tournament with his 2026 “Jeopardy!” Invitational Tournament victory. He made his “Jeopardy!” debut in 2021 and had a five-game winning streak.
• Long Nguyen, who was the first runner-up in the 2026 “Jeopardy!” Invitational Tournament. Nguyen was the producers’ pick for this year’s Masters tournament.

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When is the 2026 ‘Jeopardy!’ Masters tournament?

Below is the full schedule for the 2026 Masters tournament:

• Aug. 25 — Quarterfinals
• • Game 1: Andrew He, Paolo Pasco, Long Nguyen
  • Game 2: Yogesh Raut, Juveria Zaheer, Victoria Groce
• Aug. 26 — Quarterfinals
• Aug. 27 — Quarterfinals
• Aug. 28 — Quarterfinals
• Sept. 1 — Quarterfinals
• Sept. 2 — Quarterfinals
• Sept. 3 — Semifinals
• Sept. 4 — Semifinals
• Sept. 8 — Finals

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How does the ‘Jeopardy!’ Masters tournament work?

Each episode in the Masters tournament is one hour long and features two games.

The first 12 games (six episodes) are quarterfinals that will ultimately eliminate two players. The remaining four contestants will then compete against each other in the semifinals (two episodes, four games), and the final three will compete in a two-game finale episode, per the “Jeopardy!” website.

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Unlike regular “Jeopardy!” play, the contestants are awarded match points for their wins. Winning a game nets 3 points while a second-place finish earns 1 point. Placing third in a game does not earn any points.

Match points are reset at the start of each round. In the event of a tie, the following criteria is used to determine rankings, per “Jeopardy!”:

• Number of games won
• Cumulative correct responses for that particular round of competition (including Final Jeopardy!)
• Cumulative score (excluding Final Jeopardy! and Daily Double wagers)
• Cumulative score (excluding Final Jeopardy!)

As with other “Jeopardy!” tournaments, the winner of the two-game final will be determined by traditional dollar value scores. The champion will receive the $500,000 grand prize and Trebek Trophy.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court by the screenwriter and entertainment journalist Lauren J. Salkin, claims that she submitted a pilot script, show bible and pitch deck for “Sovereign Nation,” a sprawling Western drama she had spent a decade developing, to Sheridan’s management company, Elevate Entertainment, in 2016.

“Sovereign Nation” is described in the complaint as “a dramatic television series centered on tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and a modern war over land and development.” Both the project and the pilot script were copyrighted.

After submitting her project to Elevate Entertainment, Salkin says she received an email message in February 2017 that included the statement: “Taylor thanks you very much for your interest. Unfortunately, he’s unavailable for TV projects.”

Just over a year later, Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” series aired its first episode in June 2018.

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The lawsuit also identifies several “specific expressive choices” that it claims “Yellowstone” took from “Sovereign Nation.” The complaint states: “What then appeared in ‘Yellowstone’ was not merely another Western about land or family. It included specific expressive choices already embodied in Salkin’s materials.”

Salkin alleges in the complaint that she “proposed” actors Danny Huston and Gil Birmingham as potential casting ideas for “Sovereign Nation” in her pitch deck. Both were later cast in “Yellowstone” in similar roles in the narrative.

“Copyright law does not protect the abstract idea of a Western, a land dispute, an Indian casino, or a powerful family — and that is not Plaintiff’s claim. The infringement alleged here lies in the copying of Salkin’s particular expressive choices and their coordinated selection and arrangement,” the lawsuit states.

The “Yellowstone” franchise has spawned several spinoff series including “1883,” “1923,” “Marshalls” and “Dutton Ranch,” which together have grossed billions of dollars in revenue, according to the complaint. Salkin, the lawsuit says, “has received nothing.”

Neither Sheridan, Paramount nor NBC has issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, an injunction barring ongoing and future copyright infringement, and an unspecified amount of damages.

But now, Cowell won’t be sharing his criticisms and praises on “AGT” as he temporarily steps away from his position as a judge.

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Why is Simon Cowell missing on ‘AGT’?

Cowell will miss a few weeks of “AGT” filming as he undergoes back surgery, Entertainment Weekly has reported.

“Obviously medical matters are private but it’s routine and he will be back in a few weeks,” a representative for Cowell told Entertainment Weekly.

The surgery comes as “AGT” is in the middle of the live quarterfinal shows. Guest judges are expected to fill Cowell’s place, though the show has not yet shared a lineup of celebrity guests, per USA Today.

Cowell, who has been an “AGT” judge for a decade, fell off an electric bike and broke his back in 2020. The accident led him to missing some live “AGT” shows that season, as the Deseret News reported at the time.

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Following the accident, he underwent a roughly five-hour surgery and had several fusions and a metal rod put into his back, per Deseret News.

“Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,” Cowell shared on X at the time.

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During the Season 21 premiere over the summer, Cowell hit his golden buzzer for 14-year-old powerhouse singer Lai Noelle.

“I thought every part of that audition was about as good as you’re gonna get,” he said to reporters during a virtual press conference. “And bearing in mind how young she is. I mean, that voice ... it reminded me when I very, very first did ‘Idol’ (’American Idol’) years ago, we used to get those singers with those big voices. She reminded me of those days — very, very rare to find someone like that today.

“There was a moment where I thought, ‘Is that actually you singing?’” he continued. “I mean, she really, really is up there. One of the best.”

Cowell shared that even after all these years, being part of “AGT” doesn’t get old because of auditions like Noelle’s.

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“I genuinely believe that these shows, they have to have a purpose,” he said during the virtual press conference. “It puts you on the ladder, so to speak. So if you do a great audition or a great live show performance, ... I’ve seen it happen so many times now, a massive, massive knockout effect in terms of their careers, their lives, their confidence. That’s one of the best parts of doing the job.

“If that didn’t happen, I promise you I wouldn’t do shows,” he added. “That moment where you can sit there and go, ‘Wow, I was there on their first audition, and I’ve got a feeling great things are going to happen,’ I really still get a buzz out of that.”