Month: August 2026

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Go Country 105

Dolly Parton to be remembered at Dollyfest concerts in Nashville, London

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Country music legend Dolly Parton will be remembered at two Dollyfest concerts in 2027, her estate announced Monday.

The concerts, billed as the “party of a lifetime,” will be held across two consecutive weekends in 2027 in Nashville and London, according to her estate.

The celebration was originally scheduled to take place in Nashville in January this year, according to the estate, and was intended to be a “multi-artist event” featuring Parton, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

“Many people behind the scenes know that DOLLYFEST is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville,” Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager, said in a statement Monday. “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!).”

“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” Nozell added.

Exact dates for the two 2027 Dollyfest celebrations are forthcoming, Parton’s estate said, along with more information on who will be performing.

The upcoming celebrations were announced three days after Parton was laid to rest in a private memorial service in Nashville on Aug. 28, her niece Lainey Mae Parton shared in a social media post over the weekend.

Parton, who was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, requested a private funeral, her nephew Bryan Seaver said in a video message announcing her death.

Parton was born one of 12 children in a small town in Tennessee and propelled herself to become one of the world’s most successful entertainers, releasing 50 albums and winning 11 Grammy Awards.

She took a step back from public appearances over the past year as she dealt with health issues, details of which she did not share publicly.

Just days before her death, Parton shared a statement with People saying she was taking time to address health issues she “didn’t pay attention to” prior to Dean’s death last year.

Parton’s last major in-person public appearance was in June, when she made a surprise appearance at the grand opening of a gas station and restaurant called Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

‘Off Campus’ star Stephen Kalyn joins ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ cast

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Stephen Kalyn is going from the hockey rink to the courtroom.

The Off Campus breakout actor has been cast in The Housemaid’s Secret. He will play the role of Brock Cunningham, a lawyer who is in a relationship with Sydney Sweeney’s character, Millie Calloway.

Lionsgate announced the casting news in a video shared to Instagram on Monday. The video finds Kalyn reading Freida McFadden's novel before walking inside a trailer on a film set.

“Welcome home, Brock. Stephen Kalyn joins the cast of The Housemaid's Secret,” the post’s caption reads.

The Housemaid’s Secret will be based on the second book in the trilogy by McFadden. It is the direct sequel to the 2025 film The Housemaid, directed by Paul Feig. This new movie finds Millie taking a job as a housekeeper for a woman she’s never allowed to see, who remains behind a locked door. She discovers the truth behind all of this and it threatens to expose secrets darker than her own.

Lionsgate announced plans for a film adaptation of The Housemaid’s Secret in January. At the time, the studio announced it would begin production on the film in 2026.

Sweeney and Michele Morrone are set to return to their roles of Millie and Enzo Accardi in the movie. Joining the cast for the sequel are Kristen Dunst, Brittany Snow and Paul Anthony Kelly.

Feig will also return to direct. Sweeney is set to executive produce while Feig also produces through his Pretty Dangerous Pictures alongside Laura Fischer. Rebecca Sonnenshine will once again adapt McFadden’s words for the screen.

At the time the sequel was announced, Feig said, “It's been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew. We're lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie's journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to bring this next story to audiences.”

The Housemaid’s Secret arrives in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Metropolitan Museum of Art cancels John Galliano exhibit after controversy

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Monday it will not go forward with its exhibit on fashion designer John Galliano, which had been planned to coincide with the 2027 Met Gala.

The exhibition, John Galliano: Horizons, was met with backlash when it was announced in late July because of the fashion designer’s history of making antisemitic remarks.

Galliano was fired from his job as creative director of Christian Dior in 2011 and found guilty of antisemitic behavior by a French court later that same year.

In a statement posted on its website, the Metropolitan Museum of Art said the decision to cancel the exhibit, which was scheduled to open next May, was made with Galliano.

The museum also released a statement from the designer, who also previously worked as the head designer of Givenchy and was previously named international designer of the year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

“After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said in a statement shared by The Met. “I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry for it. I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one's conduct over time.”

The statement continued, in part, “I do not want the debate surrounding me to place The Met in a difficult position or to distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some.”

After stepping away from fashion for several years, Galliano spent 10 years working as artistic director of the Maison Margiela fashion house, leaving the role in 2024, according to The Associated Press.

The Galliano exhibit was to be held at The Met’s Costume Institute. Each spring, the institute’s new exhibit is opened by the star-studded Met Gala.

The gala, chaired by Condé Nast chief content officer Anna Wintour, is a major fundraiser for the museum and the Costume Institute in particular.

Wintour said in a statement Monday that she supports the decision to not move forward with the Galliano exhibition.

“John’s decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is,” she said. “I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support.”

A new spring Costume Institute exhibition and more information on the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date, according to the museum.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Dolly Parton laid to rest in private Nashville burial

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Dolly Parton was laid to rest in a private burial in Nashville on Friday, three days after the country music legend died at age 80.

Parton’s niece Lainey Mae Parton shared news of the burial Saturday in an emotional social media post remembering her aunt.

“This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words,” she wrote in an Instagram post alongside photos of Parton.

“From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough,” she continued. “She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.”

Lainey Mae also reflected on Parton’s close relationship with her family.

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

Parton died on Aug. 25 after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer,” according to her publicist.

Following her burial, tributes to Parton continued Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry, which dedicated its Aug. 29 show to the longtime Opry member and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.

A portion of ticket proceeds from the show will be donated to Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she founded.

Parton’s niece Jada Star spoke on behalf of the family and performed “The Orchard” during the tribute.

Carly Pearce, who began her career performing at Dollywood as a teenager and was invited by Parton to join the Opry in 2021, performed “Those Memories of You.” Kathy Mattea dedicated a performance of “Jolene” to Parton’s memory.

The performers later gathered onstage for “9 to 5,” with Opry member Jelly Roll making a surprise appearance. The night concluded with the artists and backstage guests watching a video of Parton performing “I Will Always Love You” at the Opry.

The tributes come as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport have announced their intent to name the airport in Parton’s honor.

Lee said the move would create “a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

In brief: Ellen Pompeo to star in new drama and more

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Don't cry when you read this news, those eyelashes are mink: Vanderpump Villa, an offshoot of Vanderpump Rules, has been renewed for a fourth season. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Lisa Vanderpump is headed to Salzburg, Austria, for season 4 of the reality series, which follows Vanderpump and her staff as they create luxury guest experiences in opulent estates around the world … 

Ellen Pompeo has found her next role. Deadline reports the Grey's Anatomy actress will star in Not a Sound, a new series based on Heather Gudenkauf's novel of the same name, for Hulu. Pompeo will play former ER nurse Amelia Winn, who recently lost her hearing in a hit-and-run. The show follows Winn and her service dog as they uncover a mystery surrounding the death of a former co-worker …

Pokémon has made its way to Disney streaming. The Pokémon Company International has announced the new stop-motion series Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu will be available to stream on Disney XD and Disney+ beginning in 2027 as part of a new distribution deal. The classic animated series Pokémon the Series: The Beginning is now available on Disney XD and Disney+ in the U.S. …

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and Hulu.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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News Daypop

Weekend gun violence leaves 3 dead, 18 injured in New Jersey and Chicago mass shootings

Municipal police car with flashing lights on the road at day Trenton^ NJ^ USA - Jan. 18^ 2021

Weekend violence erupted across two major cities late Saturday night, leaving a total of three individuals dead and 18 others suffering from gunshot wounds following separate mass shooting incidents occurring just minutes apart in Trenton, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois. Authorities in both municipalities have launched extensive investigations into the midnight attacks, though no suspects have been taken into custody and potential motives remain under active review.

In Trenton, emergency personnel were dispatched following reports of active gunfire in a residential district where two victims were pronounced dead at the scene and eight others were hospitalized with varying degrees of injury. Local police secured the crime scene to process physical evidence, but officials have not yet released public suspect descriptions or clarified what events immediately preceded the fatal volley of shots.

Nearly simultaneously—just 12 minutes earlier—law enforcement officers in Chicago were responding to a disperse call for a large gathering on the city’s South Side in Washington Park. Unknown gunmen opened fire directly into the gathered crowd, hitting ten people. Medical personnel confirmed that a 35-year-old man died from multiple gunshot wounds at the University of Chicago Medical Center, while nine other victims, aged between 23 and 45, were treated for non-fatal injuries.

Community leaders and advocacy groups expressed profound sorrow following the bloodshed, calling for swift law enforcement intervention and public support. Seeking to assist police in identifying the perpetrators responsible for the South Side Chicago assault, Cook County Crime Stoppers announced a financial reward of up to $10,000 for actionable tips. Highlighting the tragic wake of the incident, Executive Director Paul Rutherford noted, “This senseless act of violence has devastated another Chicago community and left families dealing with unimaginable pain”.

Detectives across both jurisdictions continue to analyze surveillance footage, interview survivors, and gather forensic data to establish timelines and locate the fleeing assailants. Authorities encourage anyone with details regarding the occurrences in either city to submit anonymous disclosures through local police department hotlines or crime tip portals.

Editorial credit: Photo Spirit / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

NASA launches Roman Space telescope on mission to probe deep space and distant galaxies

The "Nancy Grace Roman" Space Telescope is a NASA infrared space telescope. Artist view. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

NASA launched its next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Sunday, sending the $4.3 billion observatory into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to investigate some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. Named for Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and a key figure in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope, the observatory is expected to provide a sweeping new view of cosmic history. Scientists hope its enormous surveys will reveal previously unseen objects and help answer fundamental questions about why the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, how galaxies formed and evolved, and how planetary systems are distributed throughout the Milky Way.

The rocket lifted off at 7:26 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, beginning Roman’s roughly three-month journey to an orbit around the sun near the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, about 1 million miles from Earth. Roman is designed to complement NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes by combining a wide field of view with high-resolution infrared observations. Its field of view is at least 100 times wider than Hubble’s, allowing it to survey enormous sections of the sky and help scientists map billions of galaxies, investigate dark matter and dark energy, examine black holes and identify planets beyond the solar system. NASA says Roman will survey the universe roughly 1,000 times faster than Hubble.

The telescope also carries a coronagraph developed to demonstrate technology for directly imaging planets orbiting other stars. While Roman is not specifically designed to determine whether those worlds harbor life, its observations could help lay the groundwork for future missions seeking potentially habitable planets. Its primary 300-megapixel Wide Field Instrument will generate about 1.4 terabytes of data each day, which scientists and other researchers will use for a broad range of astronomical studies.

The spacecraft successfully separated from the Falcon Heavy’s second stage about 31 minutes after liftoff, and NASA controllers began receiving telemetry seven minutes into the flight. Roman’s solar panels and lower instrument sun shade were subsequently deployed as planned. The mission is expected to operate for at least five years, with the possibility of an extension, and NASA anticipates releasing its first images in early 2027 after the spacecraft completes its deployment, calibration and testing phase.

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Categories
Country Daypop

Little Big Town drops video for ‘The Idea’ from new ‘It’s A Dying Art’ album

Little Big Town at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7^ 2019 in Las Vegas^ NV

Little Big Town has released the official video for “The Idea,” which coincided with the arrival of the group’s 12th studio album, “It’s A Dying Art.” The previously unreleased song is featured on the 13-track album and continues the quartet’s exploration of relationships, loss, gratitude and the realities of life after more than 25 years together.

Written by Liz Rose, Tofer Brown and Lauren Hungate, “The Idea” examines the disconnect between a relationship’s outward image and the emotions within it. Karen Fairchild recently explained that Brown sent her the song during the album’s development, and its central concept immediately resonated with her.

“It’s A Dying Art” was co-produced by Fairchild and two-time Grammy winner Gena Johnson. The project also includes appearances from Ashley Monroe on “Sucker For A Sad Song,” Jason Isbell on “The Door” and Kelsea Ballerini on “Closing Time.” The group has described the album as a reflection of its long-standing bond and a period of life shaped by both grief and gratitude. Fairchild said the members have experienced major life events together, including raising families and losing loved ones, experiences that informed the record.

Next up, Little Big Town is scheduled to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sept. 2 and 3 before launching its For The Art Of It Tour on Sept. 24 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The North American tour includes stops in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto, followed by a three-night Christmas residency at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in December.  For tour info, head HERE.

See the video for ‘The Idea’ – HERE.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Carrie Underwood returning for 14th consecutive season as voice of NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’

Carrie Underwood attends 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on June 13^ 2024

Carrie Underwood will return as the featured performer in NBC’s Sunday Night Football show open for the 14th consecutive season, continuing one of television’s longest-running sports and music partnerships. NBC announced the new opening sequence will debut Sept. 13 before the season-opening matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, which will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.

The 2026 production takes a new creative direction inspired by Underwood’s affinity for rock music. Filmed across a recording studio, an intimate live music venue and a packed stadium, the updated open is designed to blend the atmosphere of a concert with the excitement of NFL game day. The familiar “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” theme continues to draw from Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ classic “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” while introducing a refreshed visual style.

“This year’s show open welcomes Sunday Night Football into my ongoing rock star fever dream,” Underwood said. “I love this new version of the track and, once again, Tripp (Sunday Night Football show open creative director) and the incredible team behind the camera brought it to life in a whole new way that captures the spirit of this iconic song and the heart of rock ‘n’ roll.” Creative director Tripp Dixon said the latest production combines the franchise’s established identity with new rock-inspired elements while showcasing Underwood’s energetic performance.

Underwood has fronted the Sunday Night Football open since 2013, succeeding Faith Hill and becoming a signature part of NBC’s NFL coverage. The annual production has evolved through different visual concepts while maintaining the recognizable opening anthem that has become synonymous with the network’s primetime broadcasts. The latest installment arrives as Sunday Night Football begins another season as one of television’s highest-rated sports programs, with Underwood continuing a role that has become a staple of the NFL viewing experience.

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Beyoncé to celebrate 20th anniversary of ‘B’Day’ with expanded edition

Beyonce at 'Mufasa: The Lion King’ World Premiere on December 09^ 2024 in Hollywood^ CA

Beyoncé is marking the 20th anniversary of her landmark sophomore album, B’Day, with an expanded anniversary edition that brings together the original record, B-sides, Spanish-language recordings and previously unreleased material. The collection is scheduled for release Sept. 4, the anniversary of the album’s original 2006 debut, with a 27-track deluxe edition among the formats announced.

The ‘B’Day’ anniversary campaign began in July when Beyoncé surprise-released “Morning Dew (Donk),” giving fans an early look at material from the B’Day era. The song was produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams and co-written with The-Dream and DIXSON, and its inclusion in the anniversary collection gives the expanded release a direct connection to the album’s original recording period.

The centerpiece of the anniversary editions is a four-LP set pressed on 180-gram “Bayou Blue” vinyl. It includes the recently released “Morning Dew (Donk),” an archival song recorded during the B’Day sessions, along with “Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix),” “Irreplaceable (Irreemplazable),” “Amor Gitano,” “Listen (Oye),” “Beautiful Liar (Bello Embustero)” and “Get Me Bodied (Mueve el Cuerpo).” The deluxe package also contains a 60-page commemorative booklet and two double-sided collectible art prints.

Fans will also have more streamlined options. A limited-edition two-LP version features “Morning Dew (Donk)” and a 16-page booklet containing previously unseen imagery, while a CD edition includes the song and the collectible booklet. The four-LP deluxe set is priced at $149.98, with the two-LP and CD editions listed at $44.98 and $14.98, respectively.  For details on all variants, head to Beyonce.com/shop.

Released in 2006, B’Day followed Beyoncé’s debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, and produced such enduring hits as “Déjà Vu,” “Irreplaceable,” “Get Me Bodied” and “Ring the Alarm.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, arriving shortly after Beyoncé’s 25th birthday.

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