Lachlan Quarmby, Roan Curtis, Maria March, Jill Hennessy, Bethany Joy Lenz, Mila Morgan and Benjamin Ayres attend ‘When Calls the Heart’ and ‘Hope Valley: 1874 Celebration’ in West Hollywood, California. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Hallmark)
Hope Valley: 1874, the prequel series to When Calls the Heart, premieres Saturday on Hallmark+, and star Jill Hennessy thinks it provides “a little bit of an escape.”
Hope Valley: 1874 follows Rebecca Clarke and her daughter, who settle in a Western Canadian frontier town where Hennessy’s character, Hattie Quinn, runs the trading post. “She’s sort of the go-between and the hub of all these people,” Hennessy tells ABC Audio of Hattie, who’s a widow and single mother.
“She’s sorta used to living on her own, but deeply afraid of her daughter moving off, trying not to confront how scared she is: ‘Oh my gosh, but what will I do when she leaves me?'”
Hennessy says Hope Valley will please When Calls the Heart fans aka Hearties, while offering some key differences.
“In this show, I think they’re gonna get all of the warmth and the romance aspect, in a structure, though, that goes a little broader, can be a little darker, a little more gritty,” she explains.
She adds that the series has “a lot of focus on women’s relationships, and women and men in a friendship/survival kind of way, where there’s no competition, there’s no bitterness, and people are just trying to make it through the day.”
Hennessy, a veteran of shows like Law & Order,Crossing Jordan and Yellowstone, says there’s a “sweetness” to Hope Valley, which she says is “so nice to go to … with everything that’s happening in the world.”
“Even as an actor … it’s kind of nice to get there, and put on the petticoat and the corset, and work with nice people,” she adds. “This is just one of the nicest casts. It is very appealing. It’s a nice — how can I say? — a little bit of an escape.”
Foo Fighters have announced the premiere date for their appearance on the Irish performance TV series Other Voices.
The special will air April 6 at 4:30 p.m. ET on the Irish channel RTÉ2 and will be available to stream worldwide via the RTÉ Player.
The set was recorded in February at St. James’ Church in Dingle, Ireland, and included performances of songs off the upcoming new Foo Fighters album, Your Favorite Toy, due out April 24.
Foo Fighters will play a one-off show in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on April 28, followed by headlining sets at the Welcome to Rockville and BottleRock Napa festivals in May. They’ll launch a full North American stadium tour in August.
In other Foos news, frontman Dave Grohl opens up about the 2022 death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in an interview with Mojo.
“Losing Taylor was never meant to be,” Grohl says. “That threw our world upside down and made me question everything about life, that it was so unfair. I still have a hard time making sense of it.”
It’s been six months since fans heard new music from Latto via “Gyatt,” her collaboration with Ice Spice, but it appears she’s ready to feed the fans again. On Thursday she posted a video that shows a woman wearing black stirrup leggings and pumps walking over to a baby cheetah and feeding it a bottle of milk. It then cuts to a screen that reads, “Midnight.” It is currently the only post on her Instagram.
Megan Thee Stallion has posted the first photos of her as Zidler in her upcoming run in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. “Broadway debut loading,” she captioned a slideshow of photos on Instagram.
Kool & The Gang, The Spinners and Ready for the World have been tapped as performers for the Ultimate Disco Cruise and Beyond, taking place in February 2027. It will leave from Ft. Lauderdale and make stops in Grand Turk and Puerto Plata. Gloria Gaynor, Lisa Lisa, The Family Stone, Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, Al McKay’s Earth, Wind, and Fire Experience and more are also set to perform. More information can be found at ultimatediscocruise.com.
Taylor Polidore Williams is joining Onyx’s Reasonable Doubt. She’s been cast for the show’s fourth season, according to Deadline, though details regarding her role haven’t been released. “I am soo excited to join @reasonabledoubthulu for the new season! I’m a big fan of the show and honored to work with this team Let’s have some fun!” she wrote on Instagram.
Mike Will Made-It released a new single from his album R3SET, which arrives on Friday. “D33P3R” features Teezo Touchdown and Ludacris. The video is available to watch on YouTube.
Stevie Young of AC/DC performs live on stage as part of the “Power Up” tour at MorumBIS on February 24, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Mauricio Santana/Getty Images)
AC/DC guitarist Stevie Young has been hospitalized in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the band is set to perform three shows.
“Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, AC/DC band member Stevie Young was not feeling well,” reads a statement from AC/DC’s rep. “Out of an abundance of caution, he was admitted to a local hospital where he is undergoing a full battery of tests.”
The 69-year-old Young is expected to be ready for the first of the Buenos Aires concerts, taking place on Monday.
“Stevie is doing well and is in good spirits,” the statement continues. “He is looking forward to getting on stage on Monday.”
Young, the nephew of AC/DC’s founding brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young, joined the band in 2014 following Malcolm’s departure for health reasons. Malcolm died in 2017 of dementia.
AC/DC’s tour is scheduled to come to the U.S. in July.
Kirsten Dunst attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood, California. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Chicken jockey, as they say.
Kirsten Dunst has joined the cast of the currently untitled sequel to A Minecraft Movie, ABC Audio has confirmed.
Dunst will play Alex, one of the primary avatars in the Minecraft video game, in the upcoming sequel. She joins a cast that also includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Matt Berry and Jennifer Coolidge.
Warner Bros. Pictures announced its plans to make A Minecraft Movie sequel in October 2025. The film will arrive in theaters on July 23, 2027.
At the time it was announced, Warner Bros. shared a post to its Instagram with two pickaxes and the scheduled release date underneath.
“Building terrain. See you in theaters July 23 2027. #Minecraft,” the post’s caption reads.
Jared Hess directed the first film. He’s set to return to helm the sequel from a screenplay he wrote with Chris Galletta. Its plot is being kept under wraps.
A Minecraft Movie was released on April 4, 2025. The film grossed $424 million in the U.S. and almost $1 billion worldwide.
Myles Smith was forced to cancel a show in the Netherlands after becoming ill. “I’ve never been this sick in my life,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “The last 48 hours humbled me in ways I can’t even explain. Got hit with Acute Gastroenteritis and had to take a step back and let my body do its thing. I’m hope I’m through the worst of it now, just slowly building myself back up.” He promised to “make it up” to his fans in the Netherlands, adding, “Thanks for understanding.”
Selena Gomez had a visitor at the Rare Beauty offices on Wednesday: “My god daughter came to visit Tia at work,” Selena wrote on her Instagram Story, including some cute photos of the young girl, who Peopleidentified as Aubriella Marie Cosme, the daughter of Selena’s cousin Priscilla Cosme. In one photo, Aubriella is sitting on the floor in the middle of a bunch of Rare Beauty products, which Selena captioned, “She really came for the stuff tho.”
Alessia Cara will pay tribute to fellow Canadian artist Nelly Furtado at this year’s Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. Nelly is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the March 29 ceremony, and the “Scars to Your Beautiful” singer will join other artists to perform a medley of Nelly’s hits.
The 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s 13th studio album, I Want You, is being celebrated with a whole host of new releases.
The original album has gotten an audio upgrade with the release of a UMe Vinylphyle premium vinyl pressing, cut from the original analog tapes. In addition, a special two-LP I Want You 2 has been released, featuring a remix of the title track, bonus tracks, alternate takes and rarities. The bonus material was first reissued in 2003 on CD, but the new release marks the first time they’ve ever been released on vinyl.
Also marking the anniversary is the release of a new digital remix of the album track “Soon I’ll Be Loving You,” from Grammy-winning producer Salaam Remi, which is now available via digital outlets.
“‘Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again’ is my favorite song ever, the number one played song in my life,” says Remi. “You feel the layers and complexity of Marvin from the soles of your feet to the crown of your hair.”
But that’s not all. On March 27, the digital EP I Want You Remixed will also be released, featuring three new mixes of the title track, which was a top-20 hit for Gaye.
Released March 16, 1976, I Want You was Gaye’s follow-up to 1973’s Let’s Get It On. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 and hit #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Taylor Frankie Paul who was meant to be the lead of ‘The Bachelorette’ season 22. (Disney/Michael Kirchoff)
Taylor Frankie Paul’s season of The Bachelorette has been pulled three days ahead of its premiere following allegations of domestic violence against her.
In a statement shared with ABC News on Thursday, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson said, “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Ohio Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Stephen Rhoades commander of Special Troops Command pins the Purple Heart medal on Staff Sgt. Aaron Futrell April 10, 2022, during a ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in North Canton, Ohio. (Ohio National Guard)
(NEW YORK) — Traumatic brain injuries are quickly emerging as the signature wound of the U.S. war with Iran so far, echoing a pattern of post-9/11 wars, according to a U.S. official.
More than 200 U.S. troops have so far been wounded in the war, and at least 140 of those were TBI-related injuries, the U.S. official said. It’s a surge being driven by Iran’s reliance on one-way attack drones and the concussive blasts they deliver in strikes against American troops in countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Symptoms of TBI can be subtle at first but often linger for years, or even a lifetime, ranging from persistent headaches, fatigue, dizziness and vertigo, to more severe cognitive effects like memory loss, impaired decision-making and difficulty concentrating.
Veterans with TBIs are also nearly twice as likely to die by suicide compared to veterans without a diagnosed brain injury, according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“If they’re near a blast, there should be no doubt they have a TBI,” Dr. Jayna Moceri-Brooks, who studies combat-related brain injuries, said. “You can’t escape from blast overpressure … symptoms can be debilitating.”
ABC News reached out to the Pentagon for comment.
TBIs have been widely seen as a signature wound of the post-9/11 wars, as insurgent tactics have relied on explosives to target U.S. troops. More than 460,000 service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries between 2001 and 2023, according to VA data.
While such injuries have been suffered in warfare for generations, it wasn’t until 2011, nearly a decade into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, that the Army formally made TBIs eligible for the Purple Heart.
After Iran launched 15 ballistic missiles at U.S. forces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq in January 2020, in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the first Trump administration initially said no troops had been injured.
That assessment was slowly revised by the administration, first minimizing the scope of the damage before ultimately acknowledging that 110 service members had been wounded, most suffering traumatic brain injuries, the kind of blast-related wounds that can carry lasting, life-altering effects.
In the years since the attack, Staff Sgt. Aaron Futrell, 44, who served in the Ohio Army National Guard, who was near one of the missile strikes at Al Asad, has wrestled with a cascade of lingering symptoms. What were once daily, debilitating migraines have only recently subsided to once or twice a week with treatment through the VA. He still deals with memory lapses, describing his cognition at times as “buffering like a YouTube video,” struggling mid-sentence to find the right words.
The first year after his injury proved especially grueling. Futrell said he was often overcome by extreme fatigue, going straight to bed after work and feeling as though he “lost a year” of his life. He was medically discharged from the Guard, where he served in aviation operations, and was given a high disability compensation rating from the VA.
Even routine settings can present challenges. Loud, echoing environments, like his son’s school, can trigger headaches, at times forcing him to sit out events from his car.
“I limit myself to some places,” Futrell said. “It’s learning what places might trigger headaches or be stress-inducing.”
The toll extends beyond his own health. “It has been a huge strain on my family and me,” he said. “I don’t look disabled. I can act like a normal individual. I’m good until I’m not.”
Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboam is seen in a photo released by the city of Nampa, Idaho. (City of Nampa, Idaho)
(NAMPA, Idaho) — An Idaho mayor months into his first term died after experiencing a medical emergency during a town hall, in what officials called “a shock and a tragedy.”
Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboam, 47, was attending a Treasure Valley Partnership town hall on Wednesday in nearby Eagle when he died, according to Eagle city officials.
Eagle Mayor Brad Pike, a former firefighter, and Eagle Police Chief Travis Ruby immediately went to his aid, officials said.
“911 was called, CPR was administered, EMS arrived promptly, but their efforts were, sadly, unsuccessful,” the city of Eagle said in a statement.
Nampa officials said Hogaboam “suffered a medical emergency.” ABC News has reached out to the Ada County Coroner’s Office for an update on his cause of death.
Hogaboam began serving in early January as the mayor of Nampa, located about 20 miles west of Boise and home to over 100,00 people — making it the third-largest city in Idaho.
He previously served as the Canyon County clerk; was chief of staff to the previous Nampa mayor, Debbie Kling; was elected a Nampa councilman; and briefly served as a substitute Idaho state senator in 2021, according to his city biography.
“He hopes to utilize his experience and knowledge to advocate for transparent and efficient governance that is responsive and accountable to the citizens,” his bio, which he wrote, noted.
Hogaboam was a husband, father and grandfather who was “committed to a vision for Nampa where families thrive in a community where citizens are proud to live, work, eat, play, and worship,” his bio stated.
He was an avid reader, baseball fan and lover of sushi and Korean food, his bio said.
“We ask the community to please keep his family and loved ones in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Nama city officials said in a statement. “As we begin to mourn this unbelievable loss, please provide grace while we navigate the loss of not only our Mayor, but also our friend.”
Eagle city officials said Hogaboam “lived as an example of integrity and civil service.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Thursday ordered the lowering of U.S. and Idaho flags at the state Capitol building and state buildings in Canyon County in honor of Hogaboam, calling his sudden death a “tremendous loss.”
“Rick served with a genuine heart for public service and an unwavering commitment to the people of Nampa,” Little said in a statement. “He cared deeply about his community and worked every day to make it stronger and better for those he served.”
The city of Nampa was holding an emergency council meeting on Thursday in the wake of Hogaboam’s death to discuss maintaining city operations and the process for appointing a new mayor.
