Dolly Parton’s signature Tennessee theme park and resort, Dollywood, has announced an exciting new program to help employees further their education.

The park’s parent company, Herschland Enterprises, is piloting a program that will pay for 100 percent of tuition, fees and book costs for employees who decide to pursue higher education, according to Knoxville ABC affiliate station WATE.

Called the Grow U program, the new initiative launches later this month. It’s expected to apply to employees at Dollywood, of course, but that’s not all: Employees at other Herschland-owned attractions, including Kentucky Kingdom, Georgia’s Wild Adventures and New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium will all be eligible.

It’s one of several education-focused enterprises that Dolly has embarked on over the course of her career. Notably, she previously launched her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children under the age of five years old.

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K.Flay, Against Me!‘s Laura Jane Grace and Girl in Red will appear on an upcoming compilation album benefiting We Are Moving the Needle, an organization that supports women in the recording industry, such as producers and audio engineers.

The 16-track collection, titled Portraits of Her, will be available exclusively in independent record stores for this year’s Record Store Day, April 23.

“Women are an incredible asset to the music industry, yet they are underrepresented across the board, but particularly in recording studios,” says We Are Moving the Needle founder Emily Lazar. “To close the vast gender gap in this industry, we must all work together to empower women on and off stage, behind the music, in the studio, and everywhere else in this business.”

According to a 2021 report, women make up only two percent of music producers and three percent of engineers/mixers.

Portraits of Her will also feature Taylor Swift, who is this year’s RSD ambassador.

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As copies of Adele’s latest album, 30, continue to fly off the shelves, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has certified it triple Platinum, meaning it has officially sold over three million units.

The RIAA also revealed Wednesday that the British singer’s latest track, “Oh My God,” is certified Gold, meaning it sold over half a million copies, while lead single “Easy On Me” has crossed into the same triple Platinum category as 30.

Also earning new accolades is Justin Bieber, whose track “Ghost” earned Platinum status for more than one million sales.  In addition, his “STAY” collaboration with The Kid LAROI is now considered four-times Platinum, while his 2015 hit “Love Yourself” has officially sold over nine million copies.

Speaking of LAROI, his “Not Fair” track that features Corbin is now certified Gold.

The RIAA also had some love for Ellie Goulding, whose 2012 Halcyon album crossed the two million sales mark, while her 2015 smash hit “Love Me Like You Do” was awarded seven-times Platinum status, just in time for Valentine’s Day.  In addition, Ellie’s debut single “Lights” just captured six-times Platinum certification.

John Mayer‘s 2018 single “New Light” has moved into Platinum territory after selling over two million copies, while the RIAA says Lauren Diagle‘s “You Say” is now five-times Platinum.  Also earning new certifications was Lil Nas X‘s Platinum single “That’s What I Want”, The Chainsmokers‘ “Roses” at six-times Platinum, and “Cold Heart,” by Elton John and Dua Lipa, which officially sold over a million copies.

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Taylor Swift is the global ambassador for Record Store Day, so it’s only natural she’d be releasing something on that day too.

Taylor will contribute to Portraits of Her, an album that’s a collaboration between Record Store Day and Vans.  The 16-song compilation album will benefit Moving the Needle, the organization that supports female recording professionals like audio engineers and producers.  According to a 2021 report, women make up only two percent of music producers and three percent of engineers/mixers.

In addition to Taylor, the album will also feature songs from other female acts like Julia Michaels, Girl in Red, K. Flay, Princess Nokia, Against Me! front woman Laura Jane Grace and more.  It’ll be available at independent record stores on Record Store Day, which is April 23.

Emily Lazar, founder of Moving the Needle, says in a statement, “To close the vast gender gap in this industry, we must all work together to empower women on and off stage, behind the music, in the studio, and everywhere else in this business. We are grateful for the support from Vans, Record Store Day, and these amazing female artists.”

Record Store Day co-founder Carrie Colliton adds, “The music that women make, as musicians, as songwriters, as producers or engineers or executives, has always had a place in record stores…As we see more and more female faces on both sides of the record store counter, it only makes sense to spotlight that, and this compilation…is a great way to do it.”

Billboard reports that Taylor also has plans to release her own item — it’s unclear if it’s an album, a single or what — to mark Record Store Day.

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Caleb Kennedy, a former American Idol finalist, has been arrested in the death of a South Carolina man.

ABC affiliate WCIV reports that the 17-year-old is charged with a felony DUI for driving under the influence in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, when he veered off the road and onto private property.  Police say Caleb collided with a building and his vehicle struck a man, who later died of his injuries. 

The victim has since been identified as Larry Duane Parris, 54, according to reports from WYFF.

Kennedy was also taken to the hospital, and was arrested Tuesday.  Further details on the incident are pending.

Caleb was once considered a front runner on American Idol when he competed during the 2021 season, making it into the top five, but he abruptly left the show after an old Snapchat photo surfaced that depicted him in a negative light.

As previously reported, the footage showed Caleb, who was 12 at the time, sitting next to a friend who was wearing what appeared to be a Ku Klux Klan hood. Caleb said in a statement that the picture “displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way.”

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Kanye West reportedly hosted a listening party for his Donda 2 album Monday night at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, California, that was attended by Travis Scott, Kendall Jenner, French Montana, Offset and more, according to Page Six and TMZ.

West also posted a photo of himself in a studio session with Scott, Drake, Baby Keem and Young Lean, with the caption, “Donda 2 2 22 22,” hinting they may appear on the album, set to drop February 22.

Following the listening session, the group went to the Sunny Vokda party at The Nice Guy in Hollywood where they caught up with Drake.

On Tuesday, Yeezy also posted a six-minute Instagram video following up his previous statement about changing the name of Black History Month to Black Future Month.

In the clip, the “Pop Style” rapper is in the center of a group of people wearing hoodies, describing the disparities he feels as a Black man in this country.

“America is made to enslave us, what they ever gave us?” West said. “We’d improve. We didn’t show, it’s documented, now it’s cemented, lack future it’s time to invent it. If Ye said it, you know that he meant it. There’s no more Black History Month, every February reminding us that we just barely can vote.”

Kanye continued rapping, “When they write the history, when they write the narrative, when they take something that’s strong and make it look like it’s an embarrassment, when they take something that’s weak and even try to make a comparison, when you say something that’s strong and they say that you arrogant.”

“I’ve been waiting for us to take the power in our own hand,” Ye added. “I’ve been waiting for us to control our narrative.”

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