Dolly Parton Day celebrated across the US: What to know

Dolly Parton Day celebrated across the US: What to know
Dolly Parton Day celebrated across the US: What to know
Dolly Parton attends We Are Family Foundation honors Dolly Parton & Jean Paul Gaultier at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Pour yourself a cup of ambition on Friday, because it’s Dolly Parton’s day.

Dozens of municipalities and one state have declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day, a celebration timed to the date’s nod to Parton’s beloved hit song, “9 to 5.”

While Tennessee, Parton’s home state, already recognizes Jan. 19 — her birthday — as Dolly Parton Day, and is looking to add a Sept. 25 “9 to 5 Day,” California became the first state to officially establish Sept. 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 931 by Senators Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), which establishes Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day in California.

“We could all afford to live a little more like Dolly,” Newsom said in a statement. “Be kind, be humble, and have some fun…Be a diamond in a rhinestone world. With this bill, we are not just establishing a day to celebrate Dolly Parton, we are creating an annual reminder to us, every year, to live the way she did — joyfully, graciously, and with a whole lot of heart.”

Read on to learn more about Dolly Parton Day.

Where else is Dolly Parton Day being celebrated?

While state lawmakers in Tennessee will have to wait until January 2027 to review and vote on the proposal to add a Sept. 25 “9 to 5 Day,” cities and local governments across the state have separately declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day, including Nashville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the town of Pittman Center.

In early September, Manhattan Borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal also declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Appreciation Day across the borough.

Cities and counties also recognizing Dolly Parton Day include Portland, Oregon, and Hays County, Texas, and Montgomery County, Texas.

Why Dolly Parton is being celebrated?

In each of the proclamations declaring Dolly Parton Day on Sept. 25, California, cities and counties have not only recognized Parton’s work as an entertainer, but many are putting a spotlight on Parton’s advocacy for literacy.

Her Imagination Library, which launched in 1995 and has distributed over 330 million free books worldwide, is highlighted in almost every declaration.

How is Dolly Parton Day being celebrated?

Across the country, celebrations are being held to honor the late singer.

Nashville will honor Parton with pink lights and Dolly posters across the city, according to the official website for the city. The website also states that Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will donate all proceeds on Sept. 25 from their Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk to the Nashville Public Library and the Imagination Library.

A daytime celebration filled with live music and more will also be held on Sept. 25 in San Francisco’s Union Square.

New Orleans-based marching group, Krewe of Dolly, will lead a parade through the French Quarter and end at the New Orleans Jazz Museum to celebrate Parton.

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Dolly Parton’s estate granted temporary restraining order against her nephew

Dolly Parton’s estate granted temporary restraining order against her nephew
Dolly Parton’s estate granted temporary restraining order against her nephew
Dolly Parton attends Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

The estate of Dolly Parton has been granted a temporary restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who previously served as the singer’s longtime head of security, and his security company.

A Tennessee judge found Wednesday that for purposes of a temporary restraining order, alleged conduct by Seaver and his company shows a “present and continuing disruption and threat” to She’s Alive, the company overseeing the business empire left by Parton, who died on Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer.

She’s Alive accused Seaver 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.

The order issued Wednesday requires, among other things, that Seaver and his security company stay at least 1,000 feet away from any person or entity that may have a business relationship with She’s Alive.

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Seaver, the son of one of Parton’s 11 siblings, was the family member who officially announced Parton’s death in a video message shared on her social media.

In a statement to ABC News on Wednesday, Seaver denied the allegations in the court filing, saying 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, had no comment Thursday when reached by ABC News.

Seaver did not immediately reply to a request for comment Thursday on the order being granted.

He previously said that he was fired as Parton’s head of security last week 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 told ABC News Wednesday. “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.

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Macklemore announces ‘Free Palestine’ tour after Ed Sheeran controversy

Macklemore announces ‘Free Palestine’ tour after Ed Sheeran controversy
Macklemore announces ‘Free Palestine’ tour after Ed Sheeran controversy
Macklemore performs at Rod Laver Arena on May 15, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Rapper Macklemore announced Thursday he is launching a “Free Palestine” tour after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.

“This is a moment of momentum, and there is work to be done. So we’re going on tour,” Macklemore wrote in a message on social media.

The rapper, whose birth name is Ben Haggerty, said more tour details, including artists and dates, will be announced soon.

“So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit,” he wrote, in part. “I’ve spent the last week reaching out to artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences. Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.”

Macklemore previously announced on Sept. 14 he had been dropped from Sheeran’s United States tour after making pro-Palestinian comments on stage at MetLife stadium earlier this month.

In a video from the Sept. 4 show at MetLife posted to his Instagram account, Macklemore says in part, “One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour, was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America, and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart. Free Palestine.”

Macklemore then alleged that Sheeran told him Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, rallied other venue owners and gave Sheeran an ultimatum, threatening to block the shows if Macklemore remained on the tour.

Following Macklemore’s exit from Sheeran’s tour, other supporting Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Beoga and Lukas Graham said they would be withdrawing from the tour in the wake of the controversy.

On Sept. 19, at his first concert following the controversy, Sheeran opened his show by apologizing to fans for “making mistakes.

Sheeran told fans at Lincoln Financial Field that he has had to make difficult decisions in the past week adding, “and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry.”

Earlier in the week, Sheeran said on social media that the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour was his promoter’s decision.

In a statement to ABC News last week, Messina Touring Group, the tour’s U.S. promoter, said, “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

Neither Sheeran nor Kraft have commented publicly on Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” tour announcement.

Kraft previously replied to Macklemore’s comments in a statement shared with ABC News on Sept. 14.

“Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line,” Kraft stated in part.

Kraft didn’t specify the allegations of antisemitism.

“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real,” Kraft continued. “I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”

In his statement also released on Sept. 14, Macklemore said that “antisemitism is real,” adding, “That is exactly why the word matters too much to be used as a shield against criticism of the Israeli state.”

“When criticizing Israel, opposing Zionism or saying ‘Free Palestine’ gets conflated with hatred of Jewish people, it doesn’t protect Jewish people,” he continued. “It protects Israel from accountability.”

 

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Kristen Bell, Adam Brody star in ‘Nobody Wants This’ season 3 trailer

Kristen Bell, Adam Brody star in ‘Nobody Wants This’ season 3 trailer
Kristen Bell, Adam Brody star in ‘Nobody Wants This’ season 3 trailer
Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah in episode 1 of ‘Nobody Wants This’ season 3. (Netflix)

Everybody wants this.

Netflix has released the official trailer for Nobody Wants This season 3. It finds Kristen Bell and Adam Brody back as the agnostic podcaster Joanne and unconventional rabbi Noah. Despite their differences, the pair are a loving couple who navigate their romantic relationship amid the challenges that get thrown their way.

Bell and Brody are joined by other series regulars Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons and Jackie Tohn.

One of the biggest updates in the season 3 trailer finds Joanne and Noah having moved in together. We also see Joanne going to an Intro to Judaism conversion class, where she meets a fellow classmate played by Andrew Rannells.

“I heard about you. You know, the hot rabbi blew up his life to be with you,” he tells Joanne.

“Uh, our story is a little bit more nuanced and much more romantic than that,” she responds.

He stares back at her and blinks unbelievingly. “OK,” he says.

The trailer also touches on the dynamic between Sasha (Simons) and Esther (Tohn) after they decided to separate back in season 2. It also hints at the underlying romantic tension between Sasha and Morgan (Lupe).

“I am done being seen as a liability. People think I’m not a perfect match for Noah, but I actually am,” Joanne says at the end of the trailer.

“Jo, there is no perfect. It’s perfect because it’s us,” Noah responds.

Nobody Wants This season 3 premieres on Netflix Oct. 22.

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‘You Had to Be There’ director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his ‘Godspell’ documentary

‘You Had to Be There’ director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his ‘Godspell’ documentary
‘You Had to Be There’ director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his ‘Godspell’ documentary
Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber and the rest of the cast of the 1972 Canadian production of the musical ‘Godspell’ appear in this still from the documentary ‘You Had to Be There.’ (Greenwich Entertainment)

When Nick Davis arrived for his first meeting with Martin Short, he had no idea if the actor would be down to star in a documentary about the 1972 Canadian production of the musical Godspell.

The production was Short’s first real professional acting gig. It paired him with future comedic legends such as Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood and Victor Garber.

Davis didn’t know if Short would be up for a project centered on the behind-the-scenes moments of the famous production. But he knew he had to try.

The idea for the documentary was sparked by Davis reading Short’s memoir.

“I had always heard about this production and I watched SCTV and as a kid and I remember then thinking, ‘How did so many of these people come from Godspell?'” Davis told ABC Audio. He didn’t know much about the show, only that he thought it was a “goofy, sappy, hippy dippy musical about Jesus.”

For Davis, it never made sense “that these comedians who were so scathing and hilarious had come from this thing that I felt was very mockable,” he said. But as he kept reading Short’s memoir, he discovered details he had never known about these comedians he so admired.

“I didn’t even know that Marty had dated Gilda and then met his eventual wife in the cast,” Davis said. It left him wondering, “Wait, what was this like for these people?”

Davis was able to score a lunch meeting with Short to discuss the possibility of him participating in a documentary about the production, and he wasn’t left wondering Short’s thoughts on the matter for very long.

“I get to the restaurant. He sticks out his hand, he says, ‘Hi, I’m Marty,’ and before we even sit down he said, ‘So, I talked to everybody, we all think it’s a great idea. Let’s do it,'” Davis said. “It was like a 7 million pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders because, like me, they thought it was a good idea.” 

The documentary is known by the first five words of its title, but boasts the full name You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (In a Canadian Kind of Way). It’s now playing in select theaters before it opens wider on Friday.

Davis said the film reminds him of a home movie. Almost every person who was part of the original Canadian production of Godspell sat down for interviews, where they spoke openly about how their time as part of the show changed their lives.

“They’re really open and intimate. And part of that is just age. They’ve all reached the age where they’re happy to talk freely about their personal lives,” Davis said.

In a particularly intimate part of the documentary, Short tells the camera of his cast mates: “We fell in love with each other.”

Davis honed in on this moment. “It’s not just that they were bed hopping a little bit, as was common in the early ’70s,” he said, but that they became each other’s family.

“Marty became Andrea’s brother-in-law. Martin and Eugene were best friends coming into it. And they’ve stayed best friends. Victor and Andrea are best friends,” Davis said. “It’s one of those groups of people that is just really, really tight. And we were so lucky to be invited to be in and tell their story.”

While there was a lot that surprised Davis while making his documentary, nothing surprised him more than how “amazingly great” he now thinks Godspell is.

“I went into this thinking it could have been Sweet Charity, it could have been Jesus Christ Superstar, it could have been How to Succeed in Business. It could not have been. It had to be Godspell,” Davis said.

The director called working on this film “one of the great gifts” of his life, as it “was animated with such a pure, wonderful spirit.”

But don’t mistake that for it being one-note.

“There’s heartbreak, obviously, in Godspell. The main character as we know meets an untimely end. But also the cast. Gilda Radner died young and tragically, and another of the members of the cast, you sort of think, ‘Well, why didn’t they all go on to such wonderful careers?’ Well, you hear about that in the film, too. But it’s grounded in humanity, as well as real joy, and it was just a wonderful thing to work on. And I miss it every day.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Taylor Lautner and wife Taylor Lautner welcome first child, Lennon Taylor Lautner

Taylor Lautner and wife Taylor Lautner welcome first child, Lennon Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautner and wife Taylor Lautner welcome first child, Lennon Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautner and Tay Lautner attend the Cameron Boyce Foundation’s 3rd annual Cam for a Cause Gala at The Beehive on June 2, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

It’s a lucky number third Taylor for the Lautner family.

Twilight star Taylor Lautner and his wife, also named Taylor Lautner but who goes by Tay, have welcomed their first child together. The pair named their newborn Lennon Taylor Lautner. She was born on Sept. 16.

The couple announced the news of their daughter’s birth in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

“One week loving our sweet little Lenny,” the post is captioned. “Lennon Taylor Lautner … 9.16.2026.”

The photo finds Lennon Lautner lying on pink sheets while wearing a light pink onesie. Her face is cropped out of the frame. A cross-stitch pattern with her first two names embroidered on it lays beside her. It rests below an embroidered bear holding a ballon.

Many celebrities sent the Lautner family well wishes in the comment section.

“She is PERFECT,” Good Luck Charlie star Bradley Steven Perry wrote. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast member Mayci Neeley commented, “Omg so precious! Congrats” alongside two red heart emojis, while singer Christina Perri wrote, “ahhhh congrats!!!!!!!!”

One of the most liked comments on the post comes from a fan who couldn’t help but joke about one of Taylor Lautner’s most iconic lines from the Twilight saga.

“You imprinted on my daughter?? …. lol had to,” the comment, which has received over 1,800 likes, reads.

Taylor Launter married Tay Lautner on Nov. 11, 2022. The pair announced Tay’s pregnancy in an Instagram post on March 26. The caption read, “What’s better than two Taylor Lautners?” 

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Taylor Swift announces brand-new song ‘Patient Zero’

Taylor Swift announces brand-new song ‘Patient Zero’
Taylor Swift announces brand-new song ‘Patient Zero’
Taylor Swift attends the Songwriters Hall of Fame 55th annual Induction and Awards Gala at Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 11, 2026, in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Swifties have been patient, and now The Life of a Showgirl continues on.

Taylor Swift has announced the upcoming release of her brand-new single, titled “Patient Zero.” The worldwide music superstar took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the new song will be released Friday.

“I’ve been impatiently waiting to tell you that my brand new single ‘Patient Zero’ will be out on September 25 (!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it’s available to pre-order now on my website for 24 hours,” Swift captioned her Instagram announcement post.

A new photo of Swift also appears in the post. She stares directly toward the camera while leaning up against a blank, gray wall. She wears a black, sleeveless ensemble with a turtleneck. Her signature bangs are swept to the side and her eye makeup is smokey with a muted lip color.

Three CD versions of the upcoming single are available for purchase on Swift’s website: the original version, an acoustic version and a piano version. The original version’s cover is the same photo that Swift posted to Instagram. She’s also made it her new profile picture.

The acoustic and piano CD versions of the song have their own covers. Both of them feature brand-new photos of Swift posing while wearing black and gray clothing. In both of these additional covers, she stares off into the distance.

Swift had been teasing the surprise release for the last 24 hours. Eagle-eyed fans noticed while streaming her music on Spotify that certain lyrics from her most recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, featured the number zero taking the place of the letter O.

Additionally, one of Swift’s Eras Tour dancers, Kameron Saunders, took to Instagram on Tuesday to post an Easter egg for the Swifties. He shared a photo of himself from the “Opalite” music video, where he holds up a dancing competition judging paddle featuring the number zero on it.

Saunders’ caption reads, “And, baby, that’s sh0w business f0r y0u.”

Swift has changed her Instagram and X bios to be the exact same line, spelled with zeros instead of the letter O.

It is assumed that “Patient Zero” is a continuation of The Life of a Showgirl era. That album, Swift’s 12th, was released on Oct. 3, 2025. The CD listings on Swift’s website for the new track feature The Life of a Showgirl logo, as well as the signature glitter associated with the era.

Notably, the bright orange color associated with The Life of a Showgirl has been swapped out for a sparkly black hue for “Patient Zero.” This falls more in line with the imagery from Swift’s previous albums The Tortured Poets Department and reputation.

 

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Lionel Richie pausing touring due to heart procedure, rep says

Lionel Richie pausing touring due to heart procedure, rep says
Lionel Richie pausing touring due to heart procedure, rep says
Lionel Richie headlines the Acrisure Amphitheater Opening Concert on May 15, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Jeff Schear/Getty Images)

Music superstar Lionel Richie is taking time off from touring after undergoing a heart procedure, his representative confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday.

The 77-year-old singer underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, according to his rep.

“The doctor said everything went perfectly,” the representative said in a statement. “Lionel is doing great but will take some time off and will be back on stage soon.”

Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, is an irregular heart rhythm that can cause symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illness can be treated by medication, surgery and lifestyle changes, the CDC says.

Richie has faced several health challenges since beginning a nationwide tour with Earth, Wind & Fire earlier this summer.

The “Hello” singer postponed two shows after falling ill onstage during the first night of the tour in late June.

In late August, Richie checked himself into a hospital out of an abundance of caution, a source close to the singer’s tour told ABC News.

No further details were shared about his condition at the time.

Richie has three upcoming tour dates scheduled for late September and early October in San Francisco, Columbus and Chicago, according to his website.

He is then expected to take the stage at the Wynn in Las Vegas in October and November for his “King of Hearts” shows.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Brad Pitt stars in ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ official trailer

Brad Pitt stars in ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ official trailer
Brad Pitt stars in ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth’ official trailer
Brad Pitt attends Paramount Pictures’ ‘Heart Of The Beast’ global premiere at FirstBank Amphitheater on Sept. 16, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee. (Mickey Bernal/WireImage via Getty Images)

The official trailer for The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth has arrived.

Netflix released the new trailer for the upcoming film from director David Fincher. The movie stars Brad Pitt back in the Oscar-winning role he first portrayed in Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood.

Fincher directs the movie from a screenplay written by Tarantino. Netflix describes it as a return to the world of Cliff Booth, “only this time it’s 1977 and it’s a very different Hollywood.”

Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Corey Fogelmanis and Karren Karagulian also star in the upcoming movie. Pitt is producing the film alongside Ceán Chaffin.

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood was written and directed by Tarantino. It was released by Sony Pictures in 2019. At the time, Tarantino negotiated a deal to return him ownership of the film’s underlying copyright after a certain number of years.

The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth will arrive in IMAX theaters for an exclusive two-week run beginning Thanksgiving weekend before it debuts to Netflix in December. The movie will be available to watch on IMAX screens starting on Nov. 25. Netflix subscribers will be able to stream the film on Dec. 23.

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Kristen Chenoweth, Whitney Leavitt to compete on ‘The Traitors’

Kristen Chenoweth, Whitney Leavitt to compete on ‘The Traitors’
Kristen Chenoweth, Whitney Leavitt to compete on ‘The Traitors’
‘The Traitors’ cast (Peacock)

The Traitors has revealed its new celebrity cast.

Actress and singer Kristen Chenoweth, Lord of the Rings star Dominic Monaghan, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt and The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey are among the latest crop of contestants.

Others include The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei, Love Island USA’s JaNa Craig, Survivor’s Q Burdette, Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim and NFL star Rashad Jennings.

The new season, with returning host Alan Cumming, will premiere on Peacock in 2027. The Emmy-winning show was recently picked up for an additional three seasons.

The Traitors: New Blood, a spinoff series featuring everyday Americans competing to win, is currently airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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