Category: Entertainment

Dolly Parton’s 10 Most Essential Hit Songs
The world has lost a legend.

Dolly Parton, country music star, actress, philanthropist and theme-park entrepreneur, died Tuesday at age 80. She died peacefully in Nashville, and her nephew Bryan Seaver recorded a video at her request that was shared on social media.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said. “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 until now.”

It’s impossible to overstate how monumental a loss Parton’s death is both in the music world and in broader American pop culture. One of the most influential songwriters of all time in any genre, Parton became one of country’s earliest household names as she helped bring country to the mainstream. With razor-sharp wit and a knack for weaving drama into catchy melodies, her songs have proven timeless as she’s pulled off hits for herself and and endless list of other acts.

Parton started out as a country music singer before crossing over into pop in the 1970s, landing her biggest hits during that decade and into the 1980s.

As the world mourns Parton, The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at her 10 most essential hit songs.

“Coat of Many Colors” (1971)

The lead song from Parton’s 1971 album of the same name is as country a song can be. Parton sings the autobiographical story of the coat her mother made for her from a box of rags as she grew up poor, met with ridicule from her classmates. Parton brushes it off saying that “I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be, in my coat of many colors my mama made for me.”

“Jolene” (1973)

About as ubiquitous as it gets, Rolling Stone called Parton’s signature song one of the greatest songs of all time and the greatest country song ever made. “Jolene” has Parton begging to the track’s eponymous red-headed vixen not to take the love of her life, bargaining and reasoning that while Jolene “could have your choice of men, I could never love again.” It’s desperate, honest and relatable, spawning hundreds of covers from the likes of the White Stripes and Beyoncé among many more.

“I Will Always Love You” (1974)

Parton wrote this song as she was moving on from her business partnership with Porter Wagoner. “How am I gonna make him understand how much I appreciate everything, but that I have to go?” Parton once explained. “So I went home and I thought, ‘Well, what do you do best? You write songs.’ So I sat down and I wrote this song.”

The song was a commercial success for Parton, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 and again in 1982 with a re-recording for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack.

Whitney Houston covered the tune for her 1992 film The Bodyguard, bringing it back to the top of the charts (Parton presented the Grammy for record of the year to Houston along with David Foster, who produced Houston’s version, in 1994.)

Today, “I Will Always Love You” stands as the best-selling single by a female recording artist, earning more than $10 million in pure profit for Parton.

“The Bargain Store” (1975)

The title track to Parton’s 1975 album has the singer likening herself to a secondhand store following a heartbreak, where “all the merchandise is used but with a little mending, it could be good as new.”

A line like “the bargain store is open, come inside, you can easily afford the price,” can certainly read like the sort of blush-inducing double entendre befitting a modern Sabrina Carpenter song.

Parton herself has actually refuted the song was intended to be dirty, writing in her book Songteller that I “was just saying you’ll be surprised at how good this broken heart is.” However, she wrote, “every man I know thinks it’s dirty.”

“Here You Come Again” (1977)

This song, from the album of the same name, marked Parton’s first major pop crossover hit. It also was her first gold single and earned a nomination for best female pop vocal performance at the Grammy Awards.

While she was looking to break into the pop music scene, Parton wanted the song, which tells the story about someone shaken up after seeing an ex, to keep country music elements, including a steel guitar.

“She said a monkey could sing this song and have a hit with it,” Parton’s manager, Sandy Gallin, said in 2016. “And she was very nervous that it would turn off the country market, which she was very loyal to. There was no way she wanted to ever let anything insinuate that she may be turning her back on the country audience.”

“Two Doors Down” (1977)

Another crossover hit, “Two Doors Down” focuses on a woman who, on the heels of a recent breakup, attends a party at an apartment two doors down from her and meets a new man.

Intended as the second single from the album Here You Come Again, singer Zella Lehr released a cover before Parton’s version was released that became a top 10 country hit.

Parton then released a more pop-tinged version of the song that topped the country charts and became a top 20 pop hit.

“Light of a Clear Blue Morning” (1977)

While it’s not quite a hit on the level of “Jolene” or “I Will Always Love You,” lyrically, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” may take the crown for the most beautiful song Parton has ever written. The lead-off track from her 1977 album New Harvest… First Gathering, Parton first wrote the song after falling out with musical partner Porter Wagoner, offering a hopeful opening as she made it through the “long dark night” and eager for the new day.

“I can see the light of a clear blue morning,” Dolly belts in the song’s chorus, like a ray of light blasting away the rest of the shadows.

She compares herself to a formerly captured eagle now free, and like an eagle, “I’m eager for the sky.”

It’s about as uplifting a song as one will ever find. For a couple other great versions, listen to Waxahatchee’s 2021 cover, or Miley Cyrus’s SNL mother’s day tribute.

“9 to 5” (1980)

Parton’s song for the 1980 film she co-starred in carries legacies both as a timeless feminist anthem detailing the struggles women face breaking into the workplace, and as one of the greatest movie theme songs of all time. The drums and percussive piano opening immediately capture the bustle of working in the city, and she delivers her signature wit almost as fast to get out of bed and “pour myself a cup of ambition.”

“Want to move ahead but the boss won’t seem to let me, I swear sometimes that man is out to get me,” Parton sings as she finishes the chorus, a sentiment that will ring true for as long as we remain in the workplace.

“Islands in the Stream” (1983)

This duet with Kenny Rogers — written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, aka the Bee Gees — marked the first collaboration between the two country legends.

Released as the first single from Rogers’ album Eyes That See in the Dark, the song was a crossover success, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nom for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Rogers and Parton released two more duets, “Real Love,” in 1985, and “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” in 2013, in addition to a Christmas album, Once Upon a Christmas, in 1984.

“Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” (1989)

“Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” was the first single from Parton’s album White Limozeen. The song, about a woman reacting to seeing an ex all dressed up and wooing women around town, reached No. 1 song on the on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and earned a Grammy nom for best female country vocal performance. She also performed the song when she hosted Saturday Night Live in 1989.
August 25, 2026
Nick Offerman on Auditioning for ‘The Office’ Pre ‘Parks and Rec,’ and Scoring Emmy Noms for ‘Death by Lightning’ and ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’

Nick Offerman is one of the great character actors of our time.

The 56-year-old is best known for playing Ron Swanson, the director of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department (and a man who hates government and loves bacon), on the beloved comedy series Parks and Recreation, which ran on NBC for seven seasons spanning 2009 through 2015, and for which he won the Television Critics Association’s Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy in 2011.

Since that show came to an end, he has been busy with a wide variety of other projects, from co-hosting, with his Parks and Rec costar Amy Poehler, the NBC craft competition show Making It (2018-2021), for which he received three Emmy noms for best host for a reality competition program, to giving a heartbreaking dramatic turn on the first season of the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023), for which he won the best guest actor in a drama series Emmy.

But never has he had a year quite like the past one, during which he played key supporting roles on two major TV projects, garnering Emmy nominations for both. He is up for best supporting actor in a comedy series for Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles, on which he plays a former wrestler trying to reintegrate into the life of his daughter; and best supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for Netflix’s Death by Lightning, on which he plays a corrupt drunk who winds up as vice president of the United States.

Over the course of a conversation at the L.A. offices of The Hollywood Reporter, Offerman reflected on the people who shaped the person and artist he is today, from his mentor, Shozo Sato, to his wife of 26 years, actress Megan Mullally; how he landed on the radar of the creators of Parks and Rec back when they were still focused on their earlier show, the American version of The Office, and what the subsequent monthslong casting process for Parks and Rec was like for him; why, post-Parks and Rec, he yearned to play parts very different from Ron Swanson, and how he found them in The Last of Us, Death by Lightning and Margo’s Got Money Troubles; plus more.

August 25, 2026
Snoop Dogg Biopic Finds Its Tupac Shakur in Camron Jones (Exclusive)

Camron Jones has joined nothin but a gangsta party.

The actor, best known for his work on Amazon Prime’s young adult drama Panic, is set to portray influential rapper Tupac Shakur in Snoop, Universal Pictures’ biopic of entertainment mogul and music icon Snoop Dogg.

Craig Brewer is directing the feature, which is being produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, the veteran producer behind the semi-autobiographical Eminem drama 8 Mile, and the company’s Allan Mandelbaum. Snoop Dogg and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker are also producing.

Jonathan Daviss, one of the stars of Netflix series Outer Banks, is portraying Snoop Dogg, who emerged from Long Beach, Calif., in the 1990s to become one of the biggest names in rap. The feature has been casting up in recent weeks and now has Myles Bullock Be as Dr. Dre and Lauren London as Snoop Dogg’s mother on the roll call.

Shakur was famously the troubled West Coast rapper who had success in the recording world as well as Hollywood, appearing in movies such as John Singleton’s Poetic Justice and crime movie Gridlock’d, but who also served time in prison. He was ultimately killed in a drive-by in 1996.

Snoop Dogg and Shakur were both signed to Death Row Records and collaborated on hits such as “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” The two had a major falling out when Shakur pressed Snoop Dogg to take sides in the West Coast-East Coast rivalry.

Brewer, who recently directed Song Sung Blue for Universal’s specialty studio Focus Features, wrote the latest draft of the script, which was initially written by Joe Robert Cole. The feature will incorporate music from Snoop Dogg’s vast catalog.

Jones, who has notched credits on shows grown-ish, The Purge and Shameless, will appear in the upcoming third season of Starz’ P-Valley. He is repped by Clear Talent Group and Venture Entertainment Partners.

August 25, 2026
Shannon Wallace, Curtiss Cook, Lauren E. Banks, Liv Symone, Jason Dirden Join Starz Black Rodeo Drama

Shannon Wallace, Curtiss Cook, Lauren E. Banks, Liv Symone and Jason Dirden are set to join the cast of a Starz drama series within the world of Black rodeo in Southeast Texas.

The untitled, one-hour series received an eight episode order in April. The drama is Starz’s second self-owned series following its 2025 spin off from Lionsgate. The other is British boxing drama “Fightland,” which premiered July 31 from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

The newly announced cast members join DeWanda Wise (“Three Women,” “Killing Faith”) as Anaya Clarke-Reagan, Tian Richards (“Tom Swift,” “Ballard”) as Rodney Clarke and Marcus Emanuel Mitchell (“Doctor Odyssey,” “Chicago Fire”) as Julius Calhoun.

Wallace (“Diarra From Detroit,” “Beauty in Black”) plays Sebastian Clarke, described as “a former bull-riding champion whose career ended after a near-fatal arena accident.” Wallace is represented by Kimberly Hines, Matias Branger and Max Burbey at Luminary Partners and Cierra Carter at LaPolt Law.

Cook (“The Chi,” “House of Cards”) plays Elias Clarke, said to be “the Clarke siblings’ estranged father and co-founder of the family rodeo who returns from prison to earn back his children’s trust.” Cook is represented by Harden Curtis Kirsten Riley Agency, Jordan Lee Talent and TCA MGMT.

Banks (“Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” “City on a Hill”) stars as Wynter, “Sebastian’s ex-wife who is ready to finally do things for herself.” Banks is represented by CAA, Viewpoint and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.

Symone (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” “Michael”) is Jojo Calhoun, “the younger sister to local bull riding star Julius and a talented rapper.” Symone is represented by Stewart Talent and Brave Artists Management.

Dirden (“Bosch: Legacy,” “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”) plays Greg Reagan, “a respected District Court judge and husband to Anaya who has a carefully hidden past.” Dirden is represented by Adam Lazarus Artists & Representatives and Amanda Hendon Entertainment 3:33.

Kirk A. Moore is showrunner and executive producer. Mark Johnson and Myki Bajaj of Gran Via Productions and Tony Hernandez, Elise Henderson and Lilly Burns of Counterpart Studios also serve as executive producers. Giovanna Desselle, vice president of original programming, and Christina Jokanovich, senior vice president of original programming, are the executives overseeing the series for Starz.

August 25, 2026
Veteran Hollywood Publicist Leonard Morpurgo Dies at 93

Leonard Morpurgo, the London-born international film publicist and communications executive who had senior posts at companies including Rogers & Cowan, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, CBS Theatrical Films and Lorimar Pictures, died of cancer on Aug. 12. He was 93.

Morpurgo’s career spanned over 50 years. He worked at newspapers before becoming a publicist. A gentlemanly figure who was a fixture at film festivals and markets worldwide, he was fluent in multiple languages and specialized in sharing his global perspective while representing independent and major-studio film and television productions. His experiences and observations from the international film world formed the basis of his 2009 memoir “Of Kings and Queens and Movie Stars,” a collection of stories recalling encounters with figures in the entertainment industry including Cary Grant, Steve McQueen and Omar Sharif.

“He was in one desert for the filming of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and another for ‘Dune,’” said his son, Thierry Morpurgo in a statement. “That was the kind of life he led — always close to the world of movies, wherever the work took him.”

Morpurgo was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and frequently participated on the Academy’s International Feature Film Committee. He also was a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles.

In 2022, Morpurgo was nominated for the International Cinematographers Guild’s Les Mason Award for Achievement in Publicity, recognizing his longstanding contributions to the profession.

“Leonard brought uncommon experience, intelligence, and perspective to every campaign and every conversation,” said longtime collaborator and president of Weissman/Markovitz Communications Rick Markovitz. “He was a skilled raconteur, and I will miss his passion for storytelling and hearing about the old days of Hollywood.”

Morpurgo’s vast experience and enduring presence made him well-known as an international film publicity professional.

“Leonard was a sweet, kind and generous soul — and my second boss after I moved to Los Angeles nearly five decades ago,” said publicity executive Pamela Godwin-Austin. “He shared his knowledge generously and was a great mentor. He knew how to temper the pressures of the job with humor. I am grateful he showed me the way.”

Along with his contributions to the film industry, Morpurgo was an accomplished needlepoint artist. In his final months, he took pleasure in seeing his work exhibited in a virtual-reality art gallery.

Morpurgo is survived by his wife Elena-Beth Kaye, his twin sons Benjamin and Thierry, and his grandchildren, Violet, Oona and Lucien.

August 25, 2026
‘Bel-Air’ Spinoff ‘Hilary’ Starring Coco Jones in Development at Peacock

A “Bel-Air” spinoff is in the works at Peacock.

“Hilary,” an offshoot of the Will Smith-inspired drama series starring Coco Jones, is in development at the streamer. The project hails from writer-producer Tracy Oliver, co-writer of “Girls Trip” and “Little.”

If the series moves forward, “Bel-Air” will become Peacock’s first scripted original series to get a spinoff.

Jones played Will Smith’s (Jabari Banks) cousin Hilary Banks across all four seasons of “Bel-Air,” a dramatic reimagining of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” that became a breakout hit for Peacock. The show followed Will Smith’s journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the luxurious gated mansions of Bel-Air. (We all know the song…)

The logline of “Hilary” reads, “After accepting an unexpected job offer from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand, Hilary Banks impulsively moves to New York determined to prove herself beyond her Bel-Air connections — only to find that success, friendship and love in the city come with a cost she never anticipated.”

Jones and Oliver executive produce “Hilary” alongside Will Smith, Terence Carter, David Boorstein and Miguel Melendez of Westbrook Studios; Benny Medina, Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, Morgan Cooper, the Jeff Pollack trust and the Quincy Jones estate.

In addition to work on “Bel-Air,” Jones got her start as a child actor on Disney’s “So Random” and “Let It Shine.” Her credits also include “Vampires vs. the Bronx” and “Strung,” and she is the Grammy-winning singer behind the hit R&B song “ICU.”

With “Girls Trip,” Oliver became the first Black woman to write a film that grossed more than $100 million at the global box office. Her credits also include “The Sun Is Also a Star” and “The Blackening.”

Deadline broke the news.

August 25, 2026
Kyle Buchanan Exits The New York Times, Set to Launch Video Podcast With Acast

The Projectionist has left the building.

Kyle Buchanan — a high-profile Los Angeles-based Hollywood writer for The New York Times — exited the newspaper on Friday after having served as a pop culture reporter and awards season columnist since 2018. Days later, it has been confirmed that he has partnered with Acast to launch The Kyle Buchanan Show, a video podcast set to debut in October.

Backed by Acast as the exclusive advertising, brand partnerships and distribution partner, The Kyle Buchanan Show will drop new episodes twice per week. The schedule starts on Tuesdays with “The Panel” featuring two to three rotating industry guests going long on the buzziest Hollywood stories of the moment, followed by Friday’s debut of “The Profile” featuring one-on-one chats with stars. The show will be available on Apple Podcasts, in both audio and video, and major podcast platforms.

“In a new media landscape overloaded with quick hits, nothing beats a real conversation,” Buchanan said in a statement. On X, where his career news became a trending topic today, he promised “access, insight and A-list guests” to come. “In fact, I think audiences and talent are hungrier than ever for talk that goes deep. The Kyle Buchanan Show will offer a genuine inside look at Hollywood, with a perspective that industry figures and fans can trust.”

During his tenure at NYT, Buchanan profiled such subjects as Nicole Kidman, Michael B. Jordan, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Daniel Day-Lewis, Channing Tatum, Colman Domingo, Emily Blunt, Ethan Hawke, Amy Madigan, Zoe Saldaña, Kieran Culkin, Austin Butler and many more. The bulk of the year, Buchanan focused on awards season in his role as The Projectionist awards columnist.

He also expanded his profile as the author of the dishy best-seller, Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road, an oral history-style investigation he pulled together from more than 130 interviews. Entertainment Weekly praised the tome as “no less jaw-dropping than the movie itself.”

He has described himself as just about “as Southern Californian as it gets” as he’s lived in the area all his life and stayed for school to study and graduate from USC. He’s written extensivley about awards and has won some in his real life: In 2021, Buchanan was named journalist of the year by the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Prior to the Times, Buchanan served as a senior editor at New York Magazine’s Vulture.

Acast’s stable of podcasts include Giggly Squad, The Comment Section With Drew Afualo and The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers. News of Buchanan’s departure and new gig was first reported by Variety.

August 25, 2026
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Hits No. 2 on All-Time Domestic Chart, Topping ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Spider-Man: Brand New Day keeps swinging to new box office heights.

Sony Pictures‘ superhero blockbuster has now soared to become the No. 2 highest-grossing film ever domestically with $858.4 million, surpassing the $858.3 million for 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. The title to beat on the all-time North American chart remains 2015’s Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens, standing strong at $936.6 million. This follows the news last week that Brand New Day had become the fastest movie to hit $800 million domestically, doing so in 19 days.

Over the weekend, the Tom Holland-led film that hails from Marvel Studios had surpassed 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home to briefly occupy the No. 3 spot on the all-time domestic box office chart. This also placed Brand New Day as Sony’s highest-grossing domestic film after it set the record over the previous weekend for the top global release in the studio’s history.

As of Sunday, Brand New Day claimed the No. 6 spot on the all-time worldwide box office rankings with $2.22 billion, moving past The Force Awakens with $2.07 billion. Any day now, the latest Spidey movie is expected to overtake Titanic, which currently holds No. 5 with $2.26 billion globally, while Chinese animated fantasy feature Ne Zha 2 looms nearby at No. 4 with $2.27 billion.

Zendaya, Sadie Sink and Jon Bernthal also star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton’s movie approaching its fifth weekend of release after launching in theaters July 31. Its record-breaking run has included surpassing Endgame for the biggest domestic opening weekend ever with $360 million. It went on to earn the highest-grossing first week in domestic box office history and become the second-fastest film (after Endgame) to reach $1 billion globally.

Among the new offerings hitting theaters this weekend are Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi; the resurrected Coyote vs. Acme; and the horror-comedy flick Buddy.

Brand New Day has helped 2026’s box office standing overall. As of Sunday, the 2026 domestic box office has crossed the $7 billion mark, according to Rentrak, putting the year 20.4 percent above 2025’s returns. Additionally, this summer’s titles combine for an estimated $4.444 billion domestically as of Sunday to come in 25.5 percent above last year’s tally to that point, with the all-time summer mark remaining 2013’s $4.75 billion.

When asked about the film succeeding amid apparent superhero fatigue for other recent titles, given that this summer’s Supergirl was among those to have underperformed, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman told The Hollywood Reporter that he didn’t see this as a concern.

“The press talks a lot about that, but right now, on anything, the theatrical audience demands greatness,” Rothman said. “If it’s only OK, they can stay home and see ‘only OK’ all day long on television. If we’re going to ask them make a trip out of it, it’s got to be great. The answer is as simple as that.”

August 25, 2026
Hayden Panettiere’s Rep Condemns Those Fueling “Gossip and Speculation” Amid Death Investigation

Hayden Panettiere‘s rep is encouraging anyone with helpful information into the sudden death of her former client, who died on Aug. 16 at age 36, to reach out to law enforcement instead of speaking out in the media.

“Many people who were not close to Hayden are using her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation about a situation they knew very little about,” says a statement from her rep to The Hollywood Reporter. “It is deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are actively grieving this tremendous loss.”

Amid an active investigation by both local and federal authorities into the circumstances around Panettiere’s death, her rep says there is “much more to this story” and to let the police do their job.

“If you have legitimate information that could be helpful, please contact law enforcement rather than turning to social media to speculate publicly about something you do not fully understand,” the statement continues. “There is much more to this story than what is currently being discussed publicly, and those closest to Hayden are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure that the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served.”

The statement comes as neighbors at Panettiere’s West Hollywood residence have been speaking out in the media. “Nosey neighbors need to let law enforcement do their job,” a source adds to THR.

Following a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest on Aug. 16, the beloved Heroes and Nashville star, 36, was found unresponsive in a Greenville, South Carolina, Airbnb where she and her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, had just arrived, at around 1:50 p.m. local time.

The preliminary results of the autopsy indicated there were no signs of trauma found on Panettiere’s body and that the cause and manner of her death would remain pending further investigation; a representative of the Greenville County Coroner’s office — who is investigating the death along with the Greenville City Police Department and DEA — told THR it would be eight weeks before the full report is released to the public.

After a police report said Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were at the South Carolina townhouse when the actress was pronounced dead by authorities, Brian was visited by police.

Zach Hickerson has since said Brian Hickerson administered Narcan to Panettiere after the brothers found her unconscious. A Narcan bottle was reported to have been at the scene and, according to the audio of the 911 call, first responders were reportedly overheard discussing an “overdose” around the time of Panettiere’s death.

“There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling,” said Zach Hickerson in a statement to TMZ on Friday. “The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth.”

Brian Hickerson dated Panettiere on and off since 2018; he was arrested several times in the subsequent years for domestic abuse and, at one point, pleaded no contest to two felony charges related to an assault against Panettiere.

Neither brother has been named as a suspect or person of interest. Brian Hickerson released a statement via his attorney on Aug. 20, saying, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,” Sloan Ellis from the Ellis Hinton law firm told TMZ on Thursday.

The actress continues to be mourned worldwide by her Hollywood colleagues, friends and fans alike. “The career that felt hard-earned and hard-won from Remember the Titans through Nashville never got that next chapter, those next many chapters,” wrote THR‘s chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg after her passing.

Her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, who has spoken out against Brian, saying her daughter’s boyfriend had led her down the “wrong path,” said on Good Morning America Monday that she didn’t want her daughter, who has been open about her recovery journey, to be remembered for her addiction struggles.

“I want Hayden to be remembered for the talented, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was,” Vogel said.

August 25, 2026
‘Only Murders in the Building’ Reveals Season 6 Release Date, First Look at New London Setting (TV News Roundup)

“Only Murders in the Building” has set a release date for Season 6 on Hulu, but the crime-solving trio will not be in the building.

Season 6 of the show takes a trip over the pond as “Only Murders in London.” The season premieres Dec. 8 on Hulu with new episodes on Tuesdays.

Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) must travel to the UK to solve a new murder. Their latest case is brought to them by Cinda Canning (Tina Fey), the host of the podcast that bonded them in the first place.

Guest stars in Season 6 include Fey, Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep, David Tennant, Nicola Coughlan and Martin Freeman.

“Only Murders in the Building” was created by Martin and John Hoffman. Executive producers include Hoffman, Martin, Short, Gomez, Dan Fogelman, Jess Rosenthal, Ben Smith, Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan.

See the first look photos below.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING – Season 6 – “First Look” – (Disney/Miya Mizuno)
STEVE MARTIN, SELENA GOMEZ, MARTIN SHORT

Disney

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING – Season 6 – “First Look” – (Disney/Miya Mizuno)
STEVE MARTIN, SELENA GOMEZ, MARTIN SHORT

Disney

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING – Season 6 – “First Look” – (Disney/Miya Mizuno)
STEVE MARTIN, MARTIN SHORT, SELENA GOMEZ

Disney

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING – Season 6 – “First Look” – (Disney/Miya Mizuno)
SELENA GOMEZ, MARTIN SHORT, STEVE MARTIN

Disney

FIRST LOOKS/TRAILERS

Netflix has released the trailer for ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85’ Season 2, which premieres Sept. 17.

Per the official logline, “Valentine’s Day is approaching, but that’s not stopping the otherworldly creatures lurking in Hawkins. And with supernatural entities now haunting the woods, the gang is at risk when even Eleven’s powers can’t save them.”

The eight-episode sophomore season welcomes back voice actors Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will and Brett Gipson as Hopper. Also in Season 2 are Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, Lou Diamond Phillips, Alessandra Antonelli, Valeria Rodriguez and Jack Griffo.

Eric Robles serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Matt and Ross Duffer for Upside Down Pictures; Shawn Levy via 21 Laps; Ian Graham; Hilary Leavitt; and Dan Cohen. Flying Bark is the animation studio.

Watch the trailer below.

PROGRAMING

Podcaster and comedian Hannah Berner is adding reality tv host and matchmaker to her resume with the new Paramount+ series “Making Love.”

“Making Love” is an unscripted reality show giving singles the opportunity to take destiny into their own hands with Berner as their wingwoman. The series is set to premiere in early 2027.

The series comes from Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content, who also created “Love Is Blind” and “Married at First Sight.” Coelen executive produces, along with Kinetic’s President of Television Ally Simpson, Brent Gauches, Lauren Dunlop and Jayson Elmore. Co-Executive Producers are Stefanie Cohen-Williams and Maegan McDonough.

AWARD SHOWS

“Love on the Spectrum,” “The Pitt” and “All Her Fault” are among the nominees for the inaugural Disability Arts & Culture Awards (The Darcys).

Formerly known as the Media Access Awards, The Darcys recognize authentic representation of disability in film, television and social media. Comedian Tina Friml will host, and actor, comedian, activist and author Geri Jewell will receive the first Legacy Award, which celebrates people with disabilities whose contributions have impacted entertainment.

Vincent Rutley will receive the Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award, which is presented to a rising actor living with paralysis and includes a $5,000 cash grant.

The ceremony will take place Oct. 10 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and is co-produced by Film Independent Spirit Awards’ executive producers Shawn Davis and Andrew Schaff, in collaboration with Live Digital Entertainment executive producer Eddie Delbridge. The Darcys were created by Easterseals Disability Services and Film Independent

See the full list of The Darcys nominees below.

Best Feature

“Color Book”

“Espina”

“Horsegirls”

Best Performance in a Feature

Autumn Best, “BRB”

Aidan Delbis, “Bugonia”

Anna Sargent, “Take Me Home”

Best Documentary

“The Haunting of Pennhurst”

“The Ride Ahead”

“You Look Fine”

Best Scripted Series

“All Her Fault”

“The Pitt”

“Pulse”

Best Performance in a Scripted Series

Liz Carr, “Good Omens”

Daniel Monks, “All Her Fault”

Jessy Yates, “Pulse”

Best Unscripted Series

“Jay & Pamela”

“Love on the Spectrum”

“Renegades”

Best Achievement in Casting Ensemble

“The Pitt”

Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award

Vincent Rutley

Best Social Creator

Molly Burke

Cassidy Huff

The Squeaky Wheel

August 25, 2026