Happy Dolly Parton Day!  As a nod to her song “9 to 5”, today is all about celebrating the Queen of Country across the country. Here’s how a few cities will honor her: New Orleans will have a Celebration of Life parade. In Nashville, there will be pink lights and Dolly posters around the city, and Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places bar will donate proceeds to her Imagination Library.  And San Francisco will have a daytime celebration with live music.

Dolly Parton’s final recording is a duet with Bono on U2’s upcoming album, “Carnaval De Luz”.  It’s a tender country song called “Torn”, and will serve as the final track. Bono says, “When she got ill, she got out of her bed to sing this song.  And you can hear that.  And I can’t even listen to it now . . . She sang her heart out and I cannot believe that’s an 80-year-old woman.” He initially asked Dolly to be part of a project inspired by Irish folk music.  But instead, she offered her song “Torn”, and Bono and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid rewrote the lyrics around a mother who’s watching her family split apart. Dolly recorded her vocals in June, and luckily she was able to hear the song before she passed and give her seal of approval.  “Carnaval De Luz” comes out November 13th.

George Strait is still rockin’ Wranglers, over 30 years since he wore them in “Pure Country” in 1992.  Now in a new ad, he says, “You know how to spot an original?  They never change who they are, or what they stand for.” You can dress in his clean and classic cowboy style with Wrangler’s George Strait Collection.

Country stars seem to love a good deer hunt.  Morgan Wallen is the latest to have his Iowa trip documented on Drury Outdoors’ YouTube channel.  He managed to down a giant 8-point buck.

Nick Cannon says he talks to Mariah Carey almost every day.

Nicolas Cage as John Madden for the upcoming biopic “Madden”.

Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson star in Taylor Swift’s”Patient Zero” video, which will debut at Sunday’s VMAs.

Terrifyingly, Joe Jonas revealed he fell between two boats during a vacation in Italy. The singer was trapped in the water fully dressed and had to climb onto a tender boat to escape

The incident left Jonas shaken, prompting him to call his daughters immediately afterward

New in Theaters:  “Primetime”, “Forgotten Island”, and the Brad Pitt survival movie “Heart of the Beast”

TV This Weekend:  “SNF”, the VMAs, Farm Aid, and “SWAT: Exiles”

This week’s New Music Releases include new music from Kenny Chesney, and Ms. Rachel.

Bella Ramsey is 23. “Game of Thrones”.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is 57 and her husband Michael Douglas is 82.

Will Smith is 58.

Scottie Pippen is 61.

Heather Locklear is 65.

Mark Hamill is 75.

Anson Williams is 77.  Potsie on “Happy Days”.

Cheryl Tiegs is 79.  Supermodel.

SATURDAY

Zach Top is 29.  Grammy-winning country singer.

Organizers confirmed that Musgraves will perform during the 2026 VMAs, marking her first appearance on the show’s stage in five years. She last performed at the ceremony in 2021 with Star-Crossed and is nominated this year for Best Country with Dry Spell.

The tribute comes after Parton died on August 25 at age 80. Musgraves has already honored the country music icon during recent tour stops, performing songs including Here You Come Again and 9 to 5.

This year’s VMAs will also recognize other influential artists. RAYE, Sombr and Teddy Swims are scheduled to perform a tribute to George Michael, while Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award.

Snoop Dogg will host the 2026 ceremony, with Madonna, Lisa, Shaboozey, and other artists also scheduled to perform.

The Two Step Inn Festival will return next year to Georgetown, Texas on April 17th and 18th.  Brooks & Dunn will return as headliners, since their set got canceled last April due to severe weather.  Ella Langley is also a headliner. The weekend lineup also includes Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Stella Lefty, Parker McCollum, Whiskey Myers, Tracy Lawrence, Jo Dee Messina, Clint Black, and Flatland Cavalry.

Garth Brooks announced the seventh city on his Blame It All on My Roots Tour. And it’s the city where he was born: Tulsa, Oklahoma. He’ll perform at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Friday, October 23rd, Saturday the 24th, and a matinee show on the 25th.

Dolly Parton didn’t let family and friends see her on her deathbed because she didn’t want anyone to remember her in her fragile, dying state. She did, however, allow her wig and makeup artist Cheryl Riddle to be there. Dolly was fine with her being there, since Cheryl would be getting her dolled up after she died.  Dolly reportedly had an open casket service. Her nephew Bryan Seaver (who was recently fired) saw her the day before she passed, where she asked him to announce her passing.  He recorded the message at her studio. (Meanwhile, Dolly’s sister Freida says there’s no drama within the family, and wants you to know they all love the nephew.  Bryan claims the restraining order from Dolly’s estate is just a publicity stunt.) (Also, Dolly reportedly flew to Germany a year before she passed to receive experimental treatment.)

Taylor Lautner and his wife Taylor Lautner welcomed their first child . . . a baby girl they named Lennon Taylor Lautner.

Harvey Weinstein has been handed a new, 15-year sentence for sex crimes in New York

Michelle Williams from Destiny’s Child is now a sophomore at Regent University, studying psychology.

Taylor Swift’s new single “Patient Zero” is one of four new tracks that’ll be on a deluxe reissue of her “Life of a Showgirl” album . . . which will be out tomorrow.

Rita Wilson has a massive cross tattoo on her back, just like her son Chet Hanks.  She shared a photo of it to promote her new song, “Stranger with Age”, which is out now.

Jean Smart is taking over the matriarch role in the sequel to 2005’s “The Family Stone. She’ll play Craig T. Nelson’s new love interest.  The original cast is set to return – minus Diane Keaton, whose character died at the end of the first film.  Filming is going to hit harder for the cast since . . . like her character . . . Diane is no longer with us.  She died about a year ago from pneumonia. This will be called “The Families Stone”.  “Twenty years after their mother’s passing, the Stone family reunites for Christmas only to face the season’s biggest surprise:  their father has invited the woman he’s fallen in love with to meet the family.” The rest of the returning cast includes Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Dermot Mulroney, and Claire Danes.

Do you ever book airfare, and purposely skip some connection cities because you know their airport is terrible?  An aviation site called AeroCorner recently set out to find the worst.

1. Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
2. Newark Liberty (EWR)
3. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL)
4. Philadelphia International (PHL)
5. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

So, if your next flight goes smoothly, consider yourself lucky. Especially if you’re flying through Chicago.

TV Tonight:  “A Different World”, “American Horror Story”, and “Thursday Night Football”

Ben Platt is 33.  Evan in “Dear Evan Hansen”.

Stephanie McMahon is 50.  Former WWE wrestler who married Triple H.  She’s Vince McMahon’s daughter.

Nia Vardalos is 64.  “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.

Mean Joe Greene is 80.  Pittsburgh Steelers legend.

Langley celebrated the achievement in an Instagram video, thanking listeners and the songwriters who helped create the track. She described the moment as difficult to process and said the song’s success has changed the lives of everyone involved.

Choosin’ Texas was written by Langley with Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, and Joybeth Taylor. Released in October 2025, the song entered the Hot 100 the following month, reached the top 10 in January, and climbed to No. 1 in February.

Its 23 weeks at the summit have not all been consecutive. Langley also has another strong chart presence with Be Her, which currently sits inside the Hot 100 top 10.

Ella Langley has officially made Billboard history.  “Choosin’ Texas” is now the longest-leading #1 song on the Hot 100 with 23 weeks. It was previously tied at 22 weeks with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. Ella posted a video thanking fans.  Quote, “I’m genuinely trying to find the words to explain what’s going on in my brain today . . . Thank you so much.  It’s changing my life.  It’s changing the lives of the writers of this song. “It’s changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I’m gonna be able to do the rest of my life and . . . today doesn’t feel like a real thing.”

Riley Green made his coaching debut on “The Voice” Monday night.  He and Kelly Clarkson playfully fought to win over a teenage contestant who auditioned with Travis Tritt’s “Anymore”. When the contestant told Riley that his favorite song of his is “My Way”, Riley got out of his chair, got his guitar, and went onstage.  He played guitar while the teenager sang a few lines from the song. Of course, he chose Team Riley.

Dolly Parton’s Estate fired her nephew Bryan Seaver, who was the head of her security.  He’s the same one who broke the news of her passing. The Estate was also granted a temporary restraining order against him. They allege that he threatened to smear her legacy and made violent threats toward her employees.  He also told Dolly’s entertainment attorney, “I’m not an entertainment person.  I’m a killer.'” Bryan called himself an international arms dealer and mercenary.

Freedom Fest was supposed to go down this weekend with Kid Rock and Dog the Bounty Hunter, but was canceled because it couldn’t sell enough VIP tickets. The promoter said regular admission and parking was free, so he was counting on selling at least 100 VIP tickets, at $1,000 a piece.  But he only sold SIX.

People who were in regular contact with Presley Gerber and who have direct knowledge say a doctor was giving him ketamine despite knowing about his drug addiction issues. Ketamine can be used to treat drug addiction, though that’s not its FDA-approved intention. Ketamine was a regular problem for Presley, and close friends are angry the doctor prescribed the substance to him — and they think the doc should be prosecuted.

To be clear … we still don’t know what drugs might have been in Presley’s system when he died — just that Presley opened up about his issues with ketamine to close friends before he passed away. Presley’s situation sounds eerily similar to Matthew Perry’s before his 2023 death. Remember, Matthew — who dealt with drug addiction for years — was prescribed ketamine for depression and anxiety.

Tom Cruise doesn’t read scripts.  He makes the writers and/or directors read them to him.  Because, quote, “I don’t want my ideas to invade it yet.”

Wendy’s is releasing an emo album today.  The 6-song track list includes “I Miss the Sunroom” and “My Frosty’s Funeral”.

TV Tonight:  “Toy Story 5” and “Wonka’s Golden Ticket”

Skylar Astin is 39.  Jesse in the “Pitch Perfect” movies,

Ani Difranco is 56.

Chi McBride is 65.  Captain Lou Grover on “Hawaii Five-0”.

Jason Alexander is 67.  George Costanza on “Seinfeld”.

Bruce Springsteen is 77.

Julio Iglesias is 83.

The surprise performance continued a musical connection that has developed over several years. Underwood previously opened for Guns N’ Roses in 2023 and also shared the stage with Rose at Stagecoach in 2022, showing a side of her musical taste that reaches well beyond country.

Rock has become a more visible part of Underwood’s live performances in recent years. She has incorporated songs associated with artists including Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach and Collective Soul into her sets.

Her latest appearance in Atlanta added another chapter to that crossover. For fans in attendance, the collaboration brought together two different corners of popular music in a live moment that was not announced in advance.

Brad Paisley is back in the world of “South Park”.  He recently wrote and performed a song that appeared in the Season 29 premiere . . . which rebranded the town as “South America” instead of South Park. This is not Brad’s first time with the show.  He previously appeared as himself in a 2012 episode and has said he’s a longtime fan of the series and Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Apparently, Carrie Underwood is thinking about putting out a rock album.  According to TMZ, she’s been getting guidance from none other than Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. Carrie has loved and covered rock songs for years, so this is nothing new.  But she’s never put out rock music of her own. She even joined Guns N’ Roses this past weekend in Atlanta . . . and on tour dates in 2023.  She also sang with Axl at Stagecoach in 2022.  But don’t worry, she’s not leaving the country world.  Next year, she’ll headline the Barefoot Country Music Fest in New Jersey.

Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll just appeared together at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “All for the Hall” event in Los Angeles.  And Jelly had a great story about Lainey’s wedding. He called it the fanciest wedding he’s ever been to and loved all the Louisiana-inspired touches.  Then Lainey jumped in and said it wasn’t Mardi Gras status with beads and everyone flashing each other. And that’s when Jelly said, “You wasn’t flashing nobody.  I was flashing.”

Well, Meghan Markle has at least one friend in the U.K.:  Ellen DeGeneres.  Also, Prince Harrymight be working on a documentary on his mom, Princess Diana.

Taylor Swift will receive the first ever Artist Director Honors at the MTV VMAs.

Brad Pitt returns as former stuntman Cliff Booth in the trailer for “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth”.  It’ll be released for two weeks in IMAX theaters on November 25th, then hits Netflix on December 23rd.

Travis Kelce set a new NFL record during the Chiefs’ game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.  He now has the most yards after catch with 6,288. After the game, Travis said he had no idea he set the new record.  “It was pretty freaking cool man, to be in the talks with guys like Marshall Faulk, Larry Fitz, Terrell Owens . . .”Those are the guys I grew up watching.  I don’t mean to make Larry feel old but he was my first college football game I ever saw.  So guys like that fueled my love for this game.”

The new season of “The Voice” premiered last night and it returns tonight and tomorrow, too. Some of today’s biggest artists once auditioned for the show.

Luke Combs:  He only auditioned in front of producers, and was basically told he’s too boring for television.

Morgan Wallen:  He made it to the show on Season 6, but was eliminated during the playoffs.

Maren Morris:  She was also rejected by “American Idol”.

Lainey Wilson:  She auditioned SEVEN times.  She said she never even made it to the part, “where they turn the chairs around.”

TV Tonight:  “Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable”

Tom Felton  is 39 – Harry Potter

Scott Baio is 66.  “Charles in Charge” and Chachi on “Happy Days”.

Joan Jett is 68.  Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

Andrea Bocelli is 68.  Blind operatic singer.

Debby Boone is 70.  Pat Boone’s daughter.  Biggest hit: “You Light Up My Life”.

Shari Belafonte is 72.  Daughter of Harry Belafonte.

David Coverdale is 75.  Singer for Deep Purple and Whitesnake.

Toni Basil is 83.  Biggest Hit: 1982’s “Mickey”.

The list includes Luke Combs, Chappell Roan, Morgan Wallen, Maren Morris, Lainey Wilson, Camila Cabello and Anthony Ramos. Their experiences varied. Some were eliminated during early producer auditions, while others made it further into the competition before being sent home.

Wallen appeared on season 6 of The Voice and reached the playoffs before his elimination. Cabello passed an early audition stage but ultimately chose to compete on The X Factor, where she became a member of Fifth Harmony. Years later, she returned to The Voice as a coach.

Combs, Morris, Wilson and Roan also faced rejection before later establishing successful recording careers. Their stories offer a reminder that an unsuccessful audition can be one small moment in a much longer career.

During a career that stretched across several decades, Morris became a familiar name in Nashville music journalism. He spent 14 years covering country music for a major music publication, eventually serving as its country music editor and chief Nashville columnist. He later wrote for CMT’s online platform for roughly two decades.

Morris also built a substantial body of work beyond daily journalism. He authored eight books and wrote liner notes for recordings by artists including The Judds, Keith Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Guy Clark, and Chet Atkins.

His writing extended into poetry and theater, and he also lectured at universities in Nashville. Over the years, Morris received multiple honors for his journalism and remained active as a writer late into his life, leaving behind an extensive record of country music reporting and commentary.

Cyrus explained that she could never quite figure out when Parton actually used it. A bath while the bus was moving seemed impractical, while using it after parking made Cyrus wonder why Parton would not simply use a hotel instead. The unusual setup became another example of how differently the two stars approached life on the road.

Cyrus has her own touring comfort ritual centered on sleep. She described having a specific bed recipe and said her mother, Tish Cyrus, once had beds made for tour buses that closely matched the family’s beds at home.

The conversation came as Cyrus released her album Bass Persuades on September 18. She is also scheduled to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 16 and October 18.