Taylor Swift announces ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’ with four new songs

Taylor Swift announces ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’ with four new songs
Taylor Swift announces ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’ with four new songs
Taylor Swift performs onstage during The Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium on Aug. 15, 2024, in London, England. (Kate Green/Getty Images)

She’s married to the hustle, and now she knows the encore of a showgirl.

Taylor Swift has announced the upcoming release of a continuation of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. The global music superstar will release four new songs, including the previously announced single “Patient Zero,” in a new version of the album dubbed The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore. It releases on Friday.

Swift made the announcement about this new version of the album in a post to Instagram on Wednesday.

“About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind… You gave The Life of a Showgirl the biggest first week for an album in history,” Swift wrote. “I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs.”

Swift continued, writing she hopes her fans love the songs, because “they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made.”

A preorder page on Swift’s website shows that the three other new song titles on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore are “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.” They join “Patient Zero” as tracks 13 through 16 on the expanded version of the album.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed Swift has been teasing this release for a while. She included the phrase “Patient for the encore” on a marquee to the side of the frame in her “Opalite” music video.

While a physical release of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore has yet to be announced, Swift did make CD versions of the single “Patient Zero.” They were made available on her website on Tuesday, but have since sold out.

The original version of The Life of a Showgirl released on Oct. 3, 2025.

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Dolly Parton’s nephew confirms firing, calls move for a restraining order a ‘publicity stunt’

Dolly Parton’s nephew confirms firing, calls move for a restraining order a ‘publicity stunt’
Dolly Parton’s nephew confirms firing, calls move for a restraining order a ‘publicity stunt’
Dolly Parton performs at the Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2014, in Glastonbury, England. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

The nephew of late music star Dolly Parton who served as her longtime head of security confirms he was fired after her death, and said a restraining order has been requested against him by the corporation that runs Parton’s entertainment empire.

“The restraining order is spurious and simply a publicity stunt,” Bryan Seaver said in a statement to ABC News Wednesday.

Seaver was the family member who officially announced Parton’s death in a video message released after the 80-year-old singer died on Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer.

He told ABC News he was fired last week after serving as Parton’s head of security for nearly 20 years.

Seaver, a son of one of Parton’s 11 siblings, said he was terminated over what he calls “contrived threats.”

“I was fired. After the estate negotiated with me and my company for services in perpetuity and agreed to that service provision from my company,” Seaver said in a statement. “A week later they fired me for these contrived ‘threats.'”

Parton, who became known for her entrepreneurial skills in addition to her music prowess, left behind a multimillion dollar estate, including the Dollywood amusement park. She and her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died last year, had no children.

On Tuesday, She’s Alive, the company overseeing Parton’s multiple businesses, filed for a restraining order against Seaver, accusing him of “an obscene, deliberate and escalating campaign of threats” against Parton’s estate, according to a request for a temporary restraining order filed Tuesday in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville.

The document also alleges Seaver threatened attorneys, business partners and employees and at one point allegedly warned he could “destroy the entire brand” unless he was paid.

Seaver is also alleged to have told a member of Parton’s legal team, “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer,” according to the court document.

Seaver denies the allegations in the court filing, telling ABC News that his late aunt jokingly called him “her killer.”

“Dolly called me her killer. It was a joke we used around her camp,” Seaver said. “I was her ‘baby boy ninja’ and Danny Nozell took that text out of context to somehow imagine that I was threatening him. He’s always called me The Killer.”

He added, “I’ve never threatened anyone … They are my friends and my brothers and colleagues.”

Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager who oversees She’s Alive, has not replied to ABC News’ request for comment.

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‘Darkwing Duck’ revival series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen headed to Disney+

‘Darkwing Duck’ revival series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen headed to Disney+
‘Darkwing Duck’ revival series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen headed to Disney+
A new image from the continuation of ‘Darkwing Duck.’ (Disney+)

Darkwing Duck is back for a whole new generation.

Disney+ has greenlit an all-new Darkwing Duck animated series. This continuation of the animated franchise brings back the character Drake Mallard as the crime fighter known as Darkwing Duck.

“For the last 35 years, Darkwing Duck has been trapped in his worst nightmare: an alternate world that’s never heard of his superhero exploits. Now a rebellious teen named Duckie who knows all about his heroic past shows up to pull this ego-fueled vigilante back into battle. Together, this unlikely duo will get dangerous to fight old enemies like Negaduck and Megavolt and reunite with allies Launchpad, Gosalyn and Morgana to save the entire universe,” according to the show’s official synopsis.

Mark Hamill leads the show’s voice cast as Drake Mallard/Darkwing Duck. The all-star ensemble also includes Seth Rogen as Launchpad McQuack, Lizzy Caplan as Gosalyn Mallard, Lilimar as Duckie, Dan Stevens as Glade McTowers, Tiffany Shepis as Rosa, Kathryn Newton as Firecracker, Teo Briones as Timb, Tyler Dean Flores as Pondsy, Katie Rich as Officer Shanks and Nat Faxon as Officer Webb.

The show comes from Sean Tretta and Borja Peña Gorostegui, who also executive produce. The original series’ creator Tad Stones consulted on the development of this new continuation.

“Like every other fan of the original show, I’m excited to see Darkwing getting dangerous again in a whole new series,” Stones said. “The new creative team has certainly amped up the action and comedy without forgetting the Disney heart. This series places DW in the literary tradition of Robin Hood, Zorro, and Sherlock Holmes, heroes whose lore has been reinterpreted by multiple creators in multiple mediums. They explored the core of those characters by tossing them into new eras, new relationships, and even new universes. No matter when or where, Darkwing Duck will appear in a cloud of blue smoke to grab the spotlight.”

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Hayden Panettiere’s death ruled accidental from drugs, including fentanyl: Coroner

Hayden Panettiere’s death ruled accidental from drugs, including fentanyl: Coroner
Hayden Panettiere’s death ruled accidental from drugs, including fentanyl: Coroner
Hayden Panettiere attends 2022 amfAR Gala Los Angeles at Pacific Design Center on Nov. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Actress Hayden Panettiere‘s death has been ruled an accidental overdose from drugs, including fentanyl, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina.

The coroner’s office said the other four drugs in her system were: 4-ANPP, a man-made byproduct of making fentanyl; alprazolam, known as Xanax, which commonly treats anxiety and panic disorders; methocarbamol, known as Robaxin, which treats muscle spasms and related injuries; and quetiapine, known as Seroquel, an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental health conditions that can also help with sleep.

Of the combination of medications, fentanyl is the most likely to result in an overdose death.

Her autopsy found “no signs of trauma … that would have contributed to the death,” the coroner’s office said.

The 36-year-old Nashville star died in August after she was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating if the fentanyl came from South Carolina or if the actress may have brought it with her from California, sources told ABC News. Panettiere flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before her death, sources said.

Panettiere was honored over the weekend at a memorial service in California, her representative confirmed to ABC News. Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Connie Britton and other celebrities, including Evan Ross and Ruby Rose, were photographed attending the memorial.

 

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Kit Harington says ‘Harry Potter’ helped him with sobriety struggles

Kit Harington says ‘Harry Potter’ helped him with sobriety struggles
Kit Harington says ‘Harry Potter’ helped him with sobriety struggles
Kit Harington attends the 2026 Disney Upfront at Jacob Javits Center on May 12, 2026, in New York City. (John Nacion/FilmMagic via Getty Images)

Kit Harington jumped at the chance to join the Wizarding World.

The actor revealed his personal connection to the Harry Potter books in an interview released Monday on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. It was the Harry Potter audiobooks that helped Harington get through his sobriety struggles, the actor said.

“I listen to the Stephen Fry audiobooks. And I do that because my brain is incredibly busy, especially at night, and I’ve always found going to bed very difficult like and my brain doesn’t turn off,” Harington said. “When I got sober that got especially bad. So I started listening to Harry Potter audio books, and now they’re the thing I listen to every night.”

The Game of Thrones actor said because of this, the Harry Potter books “have a very special place in my heart.”

This is especially true after Harington voiced the character Gilderoy Lockhart in Audible’s Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, which was released in late 2025. He now is set to reprise the role as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts in season 2 of the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series.

“When I knew they were doing this show, I was like, ‘I think that’s a brilliant idea, I think they can really delve into it further than the films did.’ I’m fully supportive of it,” Harington said. “And then I got called to be in it, and that was just a very simple, ‘Yes, please!'”

Harington replaced Nicholas Hoult in the role. Hoult was previously announced to star as the character back in August before he left the part over scheduling issues. HBO had to work around two of Hoult’s preexisting projects, and when it was no longer feasible, the actor was let out of his deal, ABC Audio confirmed at the time.

Gilderoy Lockhart was previously played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The first season of the upcoming series, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, debuts on HBO and HBO Max on Dec. 25. Its season 2 renewal was announced on May 6.

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Hayden Panettiere remembered at Malibu memorial service

Hayden Panettiere remembered at Malibu memorial service
Hayden Panettiere remembered at Malibu memorial service
Hayden Panettiere attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s new film ‘Blonde’ at TCL Chinese Theatre on Sept. 13, 2022, in Hollywood, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Hayden Panettiere was celebrated over the weekend at a memorial service held in California, her representative confirmed to ABC News.

Around 80 friends of the late Nashville star, who died on Aug. 16 at the age of 36, gathered in Malibu on Saturday to share “an evening of music, memories, laughter and tears.”

“We wanted to honor Hayden in the best way we knew how—with as much love as possible,” Panettiere’s representative, Kasey Kitchen, said in a statement with a group of the actress’s friends, who jointly organized the memorial.

The statement continued, “It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony where friends came together to celebrate her life and honor the beautiful, magnetic light and love she infused into the world.”

Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Connie Britton and other celebrities, including Evan Ross and Ruby Rose, were photographed attending the memorial.

Panettiere died after she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment.

The actress’s official cause and manner of death have not yet been announced.

An investigation into her death has expanded from South Carolina to Los Angeles, and investigators are focusing on the role drugs may have played in her death, sources told ABC News last week.

Kitchen, Panettiere’s representative, said in a statement on Sept. 15 that her death “remains under investigation pending toxicology results.”

“As we await the answers we are all seeking, may we also remember Hayden for the incredible legacy she leaves behind — the light she shined on mental health and postpartum depression, and the voice she gave to those who felt unseen and unheard,” Kitchen said. “The answers we are all seeking will come.”

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Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber dies at 27

Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber dies at 27
Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber dies at 27
Presley Walker Gerber attends the World Premiere of “Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir” at AMC The Grove 14 on January 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Axelle/bauer-griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, has died at 27 years old, according to a report from the Los Angeles medical examiner.

He died on Sunday at a rehab facility, the report said.

A spokesperson for Crawford also confirmed the 27-year-old’s death, telling ABC News in a statement Sunday, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”

Further details about his cause of death were not immediately available.

Presley Gerber, brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber, also worked as a model, being signed by IMG Models at 15 years old.

He walked runways during fashion weeks for Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana and had campaigns with Calvin Klein, Celine and more.

Presley Gerber had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, speaking candidly about treatment after being charged with a DUI in 2019. He had a series of videos called Mental Health Mondays in 2024.

Last month, Kaia Gerber referenced her brother’s public battle with addiction in an interview with Vogue.

“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she told the publication. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.” She also commended her brother for speaking out.

“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything,” Kaia Gerber added, “and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’ There’s only so much you can hide from the world. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”

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In brief: ‘American Horror Story’ gets a video podcast and more

In brief: ‘American Horror Story’ gets a video podcast and more
In brief: ‘American Horror Story’ gets a video podcast and more

Season 13 of FX’s American Horror Story is getting an official video podcast set to air on Hulu. Each of the four episodes will feature cast and crew members interviewing each other, including Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Joey Pollari and Paul Anthony Kelly. The first episode drops Sept. 24, the same day AHS: 13 debuts on FX and Hulu. Disney is the parent company of FX, Hulu and ABC News …

Brad Pitt is reportedly on board for a World War Z sequel. According to Variety, Conclave director Edward Berger will helm the project. Berger recently directed Pitt in the upcoming film The Riders. The original World War Z, about a zombie apocalypse, was released in 2013 …

Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in talks to join the video game movie adaptation Helldivers, Deadline reports. The news comes after Jason Momoa exited the project. The film, directed by Justin Lin, is expected to hit theaters Nov. 10, 2027 …

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Au revoir: ‘Emily in Paris’ wraps production on final season

Au revoir: ‘Emily in Paris’ wraps production on final season
Au revoir: ‘Emily in Paris’ wraps production on final season
Lily Collins as Emily behind the scenes of ‘Emily in Paris.’ (Cr. Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix © 2026)

Emily is saying au revoir to Paris.

Emily in Paris has officially wrapped production on its sixth and final season. Star Lily Collins bid farewell with a bittersweet post on Instagram Friday.

Captioning a photo of her sitting in a director’s chair with the word “Fin” written on it, Collins wrote that it was “impossible to find the words for what this journey has meant to me.”

“For so many years, Emily has been a part of my life, and through every season, she’s continued to surprise me, inspire me, and challenge me,” she continued.

Collins thanked show creator Darren Star “for dreaming up this endlessly optimistic American girl in Paris who finds herself constantly outside of her comfort zone, learning to trust herself while leaning on others as she navigates her new life.” She went on to thank the cast, crew and fans.

“I will carry this chapter with me forever,” she concluded. “Saying goodbye feels completely surreal and bittersweet, but mostly, I feel so incredibly proud and grateful that I got to be her. And be part of something so joyful. This has forever changed me.”

The final season of Emily in Paris sees Emily in multiple European locations, including Greece.

“Stepping into a new era of ambition and romance, Emily faces defining choices that test her ultimate loyalties,” according to an official logline for the season. “But as unexpected career conflicts and shifting relationships force her to reevaluate where her true future lies, she must make one final choice between her career, her heart, and the life she’s built in Paris.”

Season 6 debuts on Netflix Dec. 24.

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Millie Bobby Brown appears to welcome 2nd baby, shares new photo

Millie Bobby Brown appears to welcome 2nd baby, shares new photo
Millie Bobby Brown appears to welcome 2nd baby, shares new photo
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi attend the Enola Holmes 3 NY Premiere on June 25, 2026, in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix)

Actress Millie Bobby Brown and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, appear to have welcomed a second baby.

Brown shared a photo on Instagram Thursday of a baby’s hands holding Bongiovi’s fingers, with her hand on top of theirs. Brown is wearing a diamond ring that says “MOM” on her middle finger.

“Hi little guy!” the “Stranger Things” star captioned the photo, in which she tagged Bongiovi.

Representatives for Brown and Bongiovi did not reply to ABC News’ request for comment.

Brown and Bongiovi are already the parents of a daughter whose birth they announced in August 2025. The couple said at the time they welcomed their daughter via adoption.

In July, Brown spoke to Vanity Fair and shared how she had always wanted to adopt a child, a subject she explored while studying social work for two years.

“I was learning primarily about adoption, which was where I really piqued an interest, and learning from the social worker’s perspective, which I find very interesting,” she said at the time. “Kudos to all social workers and what they do; I think it’s so amazing and unbelievable. Changing the trajectory of children’s lives forever is a beautiful thing, so my hats off to you.”

She added that Bongiovi, the son of music star Jon Bon Jovi, was also open to the idea of adoption, saying that he was “kind of in from the jump. Maybe that’s why I married him.”

“It was kind of great to be able to just know that we wanted to start a family still rooted in love, but through adoption,” Brown said.

Brown and Bongiovi tied the knot in a small, intimate ceremony in May 2024 after three years together.

They had a second wedding in Tuscany in September 2024.

 

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