Entertainment
Busy Philipps’ Brain Tumor Found After Her Co-Star Died
Busy Philipps has revealed she underwent two brain surgeries after doctors discovered a rare tumor she had no idea was growing inside her head.
In an extraordinary twist, the actress nearly canceled the scan that uncovered it while grieving the death of her “Dawson’s Creek” co-star James Van Der Beek.
Now, Philipps is opening up about the frightening diagnosis, the painful conversation with her daughters, and a complication that sent her back into surgery just as she thought the worst was behind her.
Busy Philipps had no obvious symptoms when she became convinced she wanted a full-body MRI.
The 47-year-old told PEOPLE that she first became interested in the Prenuvo scan after reading about it on Instagram. When she raised the idea with her primary care doctor in 2025, however, he told her there was “no need” because she was young, healthy, and her annual blood work was normal.
Philipps remained interested after another doctor told her “knowledge is power,” and eventually booked the scan.
Her original January appointment was postponed because of a blizzard, pushing it to February 12.
That timing almost changed everything. James Van Der Beek had died from colorectal cancer just one day earlier, and Philipps was grieving while juggling work commitments and plans to help her sister through a medical procedure.
She considered canceling. However, her ex-husband, Marc Silverstein, urged her to reconsider, telling her, “Maybe it’s the best thing you could do for your friend this morning. Go get that scan.”
She went, and doctors found a lesion on her brain.
Philipps Learned She Had A Rare Tumor Despite Having No Symptoms
The discovery sent Busy Philipps into a whirlwind of appointments.
A follow-up MRI eventually led to neurologist Dr. Orrin Devinsky, who delivered the reality she had been hoping to avoid.
“This is a real tumor, and it’s inside your brain. And Busy, it’s got to come out,” Philipps recalled him telling her.
The actress said she began “hyperventilating and trying to breathe.”
Doctors scheduled surgery for March 2, with Silverstein accompanying her to the hospital. During the roughly five-hour operation, surgeons removed a 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain.
A biopsy identified it as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare slow-growing malignant tumor.
Philipps’ neuro-oncologist, Dr. Alexandra Miller, told PEOPLE that the condition has “the best prognosis of all of the malignant gliomas.”
Early detection also worked heavily in Philipps’ favor. Her surgeon explained that had doctors waited until symptoms such as seizures developed, the tumor could have grown substantially larger and become more difficult to remove completely.
Busy Philipps’ Diagnosis Left Her Daughter Terrified
One of the most difficult moments came before surgery, when Philipps had to tell her daughters, Birdie and Cricket, what doctors had discovered.
Birdie, now 18, struggled particularly hard with the news.
“She was kind of beside herself and really, really scared and overwhelmed with emotion,” Philipps recalled.
The actress tried to reassure her daughter with a promise that reflected just how frightening the situation had become.
“Birdie, you’re just not in the movie where your mom dies your senior year of high school,” she told her. “That’s just not the movie that you’re in. I promise you.”
Cricket, 13, reacted more calmly after asking her mother whether she would be okay.
Meanwhile, Philipps’ longtime friend and former “Dawson’s Creek” co-star Michelle Williams rallied around her during recovery, helping arrange meals after she returned home.
Philipps was moving around remarkably quickly after surgery despite having more than 40 staples in her head.
The recovery initially appeared to be going so well that she soon turned her attention back toward acting.
More From The Blast
Actress Suffered Frightening Setback After Starting Her ‘Dream’ Job
Philipps had landed a role in the CBS series “Cupertino” around the same time doctors were preparing to operate.
She ultimately recovered enough to begin filming, describing the project as her “dream” job.
But in April, another frightening problem emerged. During a Botox appointment, Philipps’ dermatologist noticed something concerning about her surgical incision and refused to proceed. She urged the actress to immediately send a photograph to her surgeons.
Doctors agreed that something looked wrong. Philipps was eventually diagnosed with a staph infection in the incision and returned to the hospital for another operation on April 27. Surgeons cleaned the infected area and removed one of the tiny titanium tacks that had been placed in her skull during her first procedure.
Fortunately, doctors caught the infection before it became deep. Emotionally, however, the second surgery hit Philipps hard.
“The second surgery really threw me,” she admitted. “I just felt like I was back to square one, and I was really, really upset.”
Busy Philipps Wonders If Her Brain Had Been Warning Her For Years
Philipps does not currently need chemotherapy or radiation, although she will undergo regular scans to watch for recurrence.
Looking back, however, the actress questions whether there were subtle warning signs she failed to recognize.
She told PEOPLE that she had experienced unusually intense emotional reactions in recent years, including episodes of crying until she vomited and sending inflammatory messages when angry.
At the time, she attributed those changes to perimenopause.
Doctors have not established that the tumor caused those experiences, but Philipps remembered telling her surgeon about them. Michelle Williams also reminded her of something she had repeatedly said over the previous two years: “My brain feels broken.”
Philipps admitted she had felt as though “something was misfiring,” even though she was not consciously aware of anything being medically wrong.
After having the tumor removed, that feeling has changed. “My brain does not feel broken anymore,” she said.
After what she calls “the weirdest six months of my life,” Philipps is choosing to focus on how differently everything could have unfolded had she canceled that February scan.
“I’m grateful that I’m alive,” she shared.
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Celebrate the actor’s 60th birthday this year with a marathon of his films.
There is a reason why, seven years after its divisive conclusion, Game of Thrones still holds viewers in a vice grip. Audiences will always return to Westeros, just as they return to a galaxy far, far away. Game of Thrones and Star Wars may seem as though they could not be further apart, but put them together, and fans get one of the greatest space operas put on the big screen.
Streaming on HBO Max, Denis Villeneuve’s two-part sci-fi series, Dune, is the perfect combination of some of the most recognizable franchises in modern entertainment. Like previous fare, Dune takes place in a fascinating world that is impossible to look away from. The characters of the space epic exist in the Galactic Imperium, an Empire that hinges on the success of spice production on the desert planet Arrakis. This is only the setup for one of the best space operas that became so influential that it is impossible not to see its fingerprints on everything that came after.
‘Dune’ Influenced Some of the Most Beloved Franchises
Dune feels like a perfect combination of Star Wars and Game of Thrones, particularly because without the Frank Herbert novel, there would be no Tatooine or Ned Stark. The impressive world-building of these epic franchises all started with the complexities of the Imperium and a futile power struggle that threw space into chaos.
The trouble begins when the charismatic and beloved Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) of Caladan is tasked with taking ownership of Arrakis. The planet is instrumental, as the spice mélange allows the Spacing Guild to make calculations necessary for interstellar travel. Leto understands that this is a death sentence he can’t get away from. He is set up to fail by the Emperor and the Harkonnens, a setup similar to Ned Stark’s elevation to Hand of the King. Both men are idealistic and unable to stray from doing the right thing.
Their demises are inevitable and set off a war that there is no coming back from. Desert planets are a common occurrence in Star Wars, as is the discourse surrounding spice, which acts as a drug in George Lucas’ world. Denis Villeneuve’s recent saga honors the pages from Herbert’s novel and translates it into a modern cinematic masterpiece.
The best years of Star Wars and Game of Thrones have passed, but Dune represents the best of both worlds. It is even more complex in its thematic resonance and the depiction of its main character. There are certainly protagonists to root for in Dune, but Villeneuve’s films act as a cautionary tale that is more relevant than ever. Paul (Timothée Chalamet) heads to Arrakis with good intentions, and after his father’s death, he intends to help the Fremen win their planet back.
However, Herbert posits that charismatic leaders are often drawn to the worst parts of leadership. Though initially unintentional, Paul becomes the very thing that he had hoped to fight against. Star Wars and Game of Thrones operate on a certain level of optimism in comparison to this bleak outlook. The main character of Dune wins, but that in itself is a tragedy since the entire Imperium suffers because of it. Dune represents all the best parts of fans’ favorite franchises while telling the most important story of them all.
- Release Date
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September 15, 2021
- Runtime
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155 minutes
- Director
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Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
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Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert
- Producers
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Herb Gains, John Harrison, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Mary Parent, Richard P. Rubinstein, Cale Boyter, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Joshua Grode
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Back-to-school season just so happens to coincide with Labor Day sales, so it’s the optimal time to shop for children’s clothes. Carter’s is making sure babies, toddlers and kids are covered by offering 50% off sitewide (no code needed!) through September 8. Plus, you can snag an extra 20% off starting on September 3 with code LABORDAY. The school year is off to a good start, eh?
For babies, parents can’t go wrong with stocking up on two-way zip-up sleep-and-play onesies. The dinosaurs and sports designs are so cool and “ very soft and keep your baby warm,” according to a shopper, and the bunnies and flowers are the sweetest addition to a little one’s closet. Don’t forget to make sure they’re covered for Halloween with this festive onesie!
Take 50% off sitewide at Carter’s!
We know how tricky it can be to get out the door with opinionated toddlers in the morning, so make it easy on yourself with already-put-together outfits. This navy set comes with comfy pants and two long-sleeve top selections, and they can get fancy with a plaid button-up set. Whether she’s headed to preschool or the playground, she’ll be cozy in a two-piece sweatshirt and pants outfit, and this dress layered over a top ensures there’s an option for more elevated occasions. The key with toddlers is to make sure they have options — but not too many.
These next couple of months are going to have some unpredictable weather, so make sure your kiddos have different outerwear. He’ll be able to get away with a zip-up jacket before moving to a midweight puffer for when temperatures begin to really drop. And she’ll get plenty of use out of a denim jacket and a raincoat — that actually “withstands the rain,” according to a buyer — during the fall months.
Whether you need pajamas, clothes, outerwear or accessories, Carter’s is filled with options for children sizes preemie to kids 14. And the 50% off Labor Day sale will seriously make an impact, especially if you’re shopping for multiple children. Make sure their school year is off to a fresh start — in style, of course.
Take 50% off sitewide at Carter’s!
There’s nothing quite like a well-made thriller. After all, few film genres can be this irresistibly entertaining, this effectively tense, or this potently suspenseful. Throughout Hollywood’s Classical period in particular—generally agreed to span between 1930 and 1960—, many American thriller movies were made which have gone down in history as some of the greatest films the genre has ever seen.
Whether it’s a groundbreaking noir classic like Touch of Evil or a paragon of Hitchcockian filmmaking like Vertigo, the best thrillers from Hollywood’s Golden Age are undeniable classics which only keep getting better with age. They’re powerfully directed, well-written, impeccably shot, and all-around masterclasses in every department of thriller filmmaking.
10
‘The Killing’ (1956)
Over a quarter of a century after his passing, many would still confidently say that Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the greatest filmmaker in history. That wasn’t always the case, however, seeing as Kubrick’s first two feature films were barely modest successes. But though The Killing, Kubrick’s third feature, was a box office flop, it was a tremendous critical hit and has aged as one of Kubrick’s greatest movies.
One of the most timeless classic noir movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, The Killing employs a non-linear plot that completely revolutionized the heist film genre back in 1956, combined with razor-sharp dialogue and striking black-and-white visuals. As filmmakers were getting more and more experimental with Hollywood’s Classical period coming to its final years, The Killing came out as one of the most freshly distinct thrillers the town had seen up that point.
9
‘Touch of Evil’ (1958)
Orson Welles remained one of Hollywood’s most boundary-pushing and groundbreaking directors throughout its entire Golden Age, and from that delectably ahead-of-its-time auteurial voice came Touch of Evil, another one of the era’s best noirs. Loosely based on Whit Masterson‘s novel Badge of Evil, it’s probably one of the most Hitchcockian movies ever not directed by Alfred Hitchcock, even if that isn’t by design.
Everything that follows one of the most perfect opening movie shots of the 20th century also happens to be one of the most perfect motion pictures of 1950s Hollywood. Welles transforms a delectably pulpy B-picture concept and turns it into a visually dazzling, morally complex, perfectly written masterpiece whose profound tehmatic grit and faultless pacing make it a must-see from top to bottom.
8
‘North by Northwest’ (1959)
Alfred Hitchcock is widely regarded as the Master of Suspense, and that’s all thanks to masterpieces like North by Northwest, one of the director’s most idiosyncratic and unique films. It’s an action-adventure classic that’s among the most perfect cat-and-mouse thriller movies ever made, written by Ernest Lehman as “the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures.” There aren’t many cinephiles who would say he failed in that endeavor.
On the one hand, North by Northwest is easily one of Hitchcock’s most entertaining films, full of iconic set pieces and bolstered by Cary Grant’s timeless lead performance. On top of that, the way the film builds suspense, toys around with the “wrong man” trope (one that Hitchcock helped popularize and re-define), and balances witty humor with dramatic tension makes it one of the greatest thrillers of the entire 20th century.
7
‘Vertigo’ (1958)
Who, if not Hitchcock, could possibly be worthy of being counted not just once, but twice when talking about the greatest thriller films of Hollywood’s Classical period? And which Hitchcock masterpiece, if not Vertigo—his magnum opus, according to a good number of his fans—, could possibly be more deserving of being counted among the greatest thrillers ever made?
Vertigo is one of the heaviest psychological thriller movies ever, aggressively pushing the limits imposed by the Hays Code with its complex themes, narrative structure, and dark tone. This is no standard mystery thriller, but rather a masterfully character-driven drama about obsession and grief and a powerfully metatextual masterpiece about the desire to control reality, directed by one of the most notorious creative control freaks in the history of Hollywood.
6
‘Witness for the Prosecution’ (1957)
Billy Wilder was a filmmaker far ahead of his time, an auteur who was always entirely unafraid of challenging the Hays Code and the rest of the guidelines set throughout Hollywood’s Golden Age. Few cinematic gems display his quality as a director better than Witness for the Prosecution, a courtroom melodrama based on the play of the same name by Agatha Christie.
One of the best legal thriller movies of all time, Witness of the Prosecution incorporates elements of noir, dark comedy, and mystery thriller into its narrative in order to deliver a powerful tale about justice and loyalty. Witty, delectably twisty, impeccably directed by one of the best filmmakers in Golden-Age Hollywood history, and complete with some of the best acting performances of the era, it’s a must-see for all fans of old-school Hollywood thrillers.
5
‘The Third Man’ (1949)
The British-American Carol Reed masterpiece The Third Man is one of the best noir thrillers of the last 80 years, visually inspired by the German Expressionist movement and intensely similar in tone and atmosphere to the films directed by star Orson Welles. It’s far and away one of the greatest dramas of the post-WWII era, which produced several of the best movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
On the one hand, there’s the film’s groundbreaking visual style, blending a gleeful amount of Dutch angles with a delightful black-and-white aesthetic. On the other hand, there’s the gritty post-war realism that makes this one of the most essential cornerstones of the era’s cinematic production. And on the third hand of this mutated metaphor, there’s the impeccable, morally complex writing that further makes this one of its time’s greatest classics.
4
‘The Night of the Hunter’ (1955)
Actor Charles Laughton decided to sit in the director’s chair for the first time to make The Night of the Hunter. Alas, the film was an all-out critical and commercial failure, leaving Laughton heartbroken and discouraging him from ever directing a movie again. Today, that’s seen as one of the biggest tragedies in the history of Classical Hollywood; because today, The Night of the Hunter is widely recognized as one of the greatest thriller films to have ever come out of the United States.
One of those 1950s classics that only keep getting better, Night of the Hunter is part psychological thriller, part horror drama, and part noir gem, working equally well in all of those dimensions. Blending hugely expressionistic visuals, one of Golden-Age Hollywood’s most memorable villains, exceptional performances, and timeless thematic meditations, it has aged as one of the best films of the ’50s.
3
‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)
Who, if not Billy Wilder, could possibly be behind the film that’s generally recognized as the greatest noir film of Hollywood’s Golden Age? It is, of course, Double Indemnity, co-written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler and based on James M. Cain‘s hard-boiled novel of the same name. It’s pulpy filmmaking at its most irresistibly entertaining, and easily one of the best film noir masterpieces of the 1940s.
There are a myriad of reasons why Double Indemnity is considered the gold standard of both film noir and hard-boiled mystery thrillers, from its stunning visuals to its perfectly-paced narrative to its having the most legendary femme fatale in film history. Well-acted, well-written, and flawlessly directed by Wilder at his very best, it’s a must-see for all those who care to understand and appreciate Classical Hollywood cinema.
2
‘Rear Window’ (1954)
There are those who may point to Rear Window, based on Cornell Woolrich‘s short story It Had to Be Murder, as their favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie, and for good reason. It really is one of the most suspenseful thriller movies ever made, a masterpiece which proves that even when confined to a single location, well-made thrillers can still ooze pure tension and suspense right through the screen.
What’s not to love about Rear Window? Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly‘s performances aree perfect, the pacing is engrossing, Hitchcock’s mastery over camerawork and tone is absolute, and the story is nothing if not deeply compelling from opening scene to credits. There has never been any thriller filmmaker quite like Hitchcock, and few movies demonstrate why better than Rear Window.
1
‘Psycho’ (1960)
It had to be Hitchcock. If there’s any one genre that was absolutely dominated by the Master of Suspense throughout the entirety of Hollywood’s Golden Age—and even beyond—, it was undoubtedly thrillers. And as far as thrillers from Hollywood’s Classical period go, it doesn’t get much more culturally impactful, hugely influential, or high-quality than Psycho, based on the novel by Robert Bloch.
One of the best psychological thriller movies of all time, Psycho is a horror masterpiece that completely revolutionized every genre that it can be labeled with. It also happens to be a groundbreaking work of subversive art that could have only possibly been made right at the very end of Hollywood’s Golden Age, because there is no way that Hitchcock could have gotten away with things like the middle plot twist, grim tone, or provocative ending anytime before. As such, Psycho is easily the greatest and most essential classic American thriller.
Entertainment
Robert Pattinson’s $118M Cult Classic Sci-Fi Is Officially Finding an Audience on Netflix
Robert Pattinson has been dominating the box office recently. His most recent role was in Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey, where he played Antinous, and one scene in the IMAX feature went viral because of his performance. But this Greek Epic isn’t the movie he will be starring in this year, which has movie fans excited to see his return on the big screen in just a few weeks.
Pattinson started his career in 2004, and since then, he has appeared in numerous blockbuster films, including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Twilight Saga, Tenet, and The Batman, to name a few. While he has yet to receive an Oscar nomination, he has earned recognition for his work in independent films, including Best Male Lead nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards for his performances in Good Time and The Lighthouse. With Pattinson appearing in three films in 2026, fans have also been revisiting some of his previous work.
Mickey 17 is a science fiction feature released last year, directed by Parasite‘s Bong Joon Ho. While the feature was heavily praised by fans and critics alike, the film only generated $133.3 million worldwide, just a bit over its reported $118 million budget. But despite its low box office performance, it’s catching audiences’ attention on streaming, sitting at #10 on Netflix’s Top 10 Movie charts worldwide, underneath A Child of My Own. Mickey 17 stars Pattinson as Mickey, who signs up to be an “Expendable” for a space expedition attempting to colonize the ice planet Niflheim. An Expendable is a crew member assigned dangerous and often deadly tasks, and whenever Mickey dies, a new version of him is printed with most of his memories restored. However, during one mission, Mickey is presumed dead but survives and makes his way back to the ship, only to discover that a new version of him has already been printed.
List of Robert Pattinson’s Next Projects
The Odyssey won’t be the last time fans will see him on the big screen. On September 25, the actor is set to appear in A24’s Primetime, a crime thriller where he plays To Catch a Predator‘s Chris Hansen. Additionally, Pattinson will appear in Dune: Part Three, scheduled to come out on December 18, 2026, where he will play Scytale. Additionally, Pattinson will be returning to DC, reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Batman: Part II, which is scheduled to come out in 2028 and is currently in production.
Mickey 17 is available to stream on Netflix. Follow Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- Runtime
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137 minutes
- Producers
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Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Marianne Jenkins, Dooho Choi, Jesse Ehrman
Dolly Parton passed away at age 80 on August 26. The singer’s death has cast a wave of sadness throughout social media. While she was alive, she made many commitments, one of which will have to go on as planned.
The singer might not get to see the Broadway musical show inspired by her amazing life story, but the show will still arrive in New York like she always wanted.
It is set to begin previews on December 7 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre and will officially open on January 19, 2027. This day would have been Dolly Parton’s 81st birthday.
Parton’s sudden demise may have raised questions about the future of one of her biggest projects that is still in the development phase. However, the producers of the show have now made their plans clear.
The production will begin its Broadway previews on December 7, according to a statement from Variety. They also revealed that the official opening of the show remains January 19, 2027.
“As was Dolly’s wish, the Broadway production of ‘Dolly: A True Original Musical’ will begin previews December 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City with opening set for January 19, 2027,” the statement read in part.
This date was already special to the singer, as it would have been her 81st birthday; it will now become an even more emotional celebration of the singer’s life and career.
The Broadway production titled “Dolly: An Original Musical” initially ran in 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Instead of abandoning her prized project, the team intends to carry out her plans dutifully.
This way, fans will have another opportunity to experience Parton’s story through her music.
The Country Music Icon Helped Tell Her Own Life Story For The Production
Dolly: A True Original Musical” isn’t simply an authorized jukebox musical assembled around Parton’s biggest hits. Parton was directly involved in creating parts of the story. She co-wrote the show’s book with Maria S. Schlatter and provided its music.
The musical traces Parton’s journey from her childhood in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains to becoming one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world.
“My whole life has been a musical,” she said in a message featured on the production’s official website.
She jokingly described it as a “grand ole opera” and expressed her excitement about finally bringing her story to Broadway.
The official production describes the musical as telling Parton’s story “in her own words” and through the songs that accompanied different stages of her life.
The Show Will Include Dolly Parton’s Biggest Hits And Brand-New Music
Fans who will grace the show will have the opportunity to hear amazing hit songs from Parton’s collection over the years. The musical will feature major hits including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
While these hit songs will resonate with her fans worldwide, the musician was not content with building the show around her existing songs. Rather, she wrote several new songs specifically for the show.
Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher is directing the Broadway production, while much of the creative team behind its Nashville run is continuing with the project.
The show will also make use of multiple performers to portray Parton during different periods of her life, allowing the musical to move from her childhood through the various stages of her career.
The Singer Had Been Personally Building The Show For Years
Parton’s Broadway ambitions did not suddenly appear near the end of her life. She apparently spent years developing a stage project about her story, and often spoke about eventually bringing it to Broadway.
The Nashville production run in 2025 represented an important step in that process, giving Parton and the creative team an opportunity to see how the story would work in front of a live audience.
After that run, the project was renamed “Dolly: A True Original Musical.”
Her involvement with the show makes the decision to continue after her death considerably different from reviving an abandoned celebrity project years later. The singer spent much of her career building businesses and charitable projects designed to continue well beyond her own performing years.
Her Broadway musical now becomes another important piece of that legacy.
The Show’s Opening Night Will Now Become A Celebration Of Dolly Parton’s Life
The show’s opening date was specifically put on Parton’s 81st birthday to celebrate her.
Sadly, her death has changed what that special night will be about.
Rather than watching Parton celebrate another birthday alongside the Broadway arrival of her life story, audiences will now gather on that day to celebrate the career she has left behind.
While she may not be sitting in the audience that day, when the curtain rises at the St. James Theatre on January 19, the production will be following the path Parton already laid out.
And, according to its producers, that is precisely what Dolly wanted.
Jason Earles is mourning Dolly Parton while reflecting on the special connection they shared through “Hannah Montana.” Following the country music legend’s death at age 80, Earles posted a heartfelt tribute alongside a throwback photograph of himself posing with Parton during their time on the Disney Channel series. Although Parton played “Aunt Dolly” on television, Earles explained that her warmth made the affectionate title feel real to everyone fortunate enough to know her.
Earles shared his memories of Parton in an Instagram post uploaded shortly after news of her death was announced. “I’m thinking about every wonderful thing I’ve ever heard about Dolly,” he began. “All her success, every personal story, all the posts people have made today in tribute…and all together, it barely scratches the surface of what a wonderful person she was.”
Earles continued, “I’m so grateful I got to call her Aunt Dolly on the show. But the truth is, no matter who you were, she always made you feel like family. I was a fan my whole life and I’ll always cherish the little time I got to spend with her. My love to everyone else out there who’s feeling the loss of our Aunt Dolly.”
The accompanying photograph showed Parton smiling with her arm around the actor, who played Miley Stewart’s older brother, Jackson Stewart, on “Hannah Montana.”
Dolly Parton Played ‘Aunt Dolly’ On ‘Hannah Montana’
Parton made several memorable appearances on “Hannah Montana” as Aunt Dolly, the godmother of Miley Stewart and a longtime friend of the Stewart family. The role drew inspiration from Parton’s real-life relationship with Miley Cyrus.
Parton first appeared in the Season 1 episode “Good Golly, Miss Dolly,” which aired in September 2006. In the episode, Aunt Dolly became involved in Miley’s attempt to recover a revealing videotape about her feelings for Jake Ryan.
She later returned for the Season 2 episode “I Will Always Loathe You.” The episode brought Aunt Dolly together with Miley and Jackson’s grandmother, Mamaw Ruthie, played by Vicki Lawrence. The title referenced Parton’s classic song “I Will Always Love You” with a fun twist about the rivalry between the two characters.
Dolly Parton’s Television Family Joins Fans In Mourning
Parton died on August 25. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in a video posted on behalf of the Parton and Owens family. “Hey everyone, my name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation, and Gigi to the next,” he said.
He added, “Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent. By her example, we believed that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.”
A spokesperson for Parton’s estate later confirmed the cause of death, telling PEOPLE, “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”
Dolly Parton Faced Several Health Scares Before Her Death
Earles’ tribute comes after Parton experienced several health setbacks during the final year of her life. The country legend postponed her Las Vegas residency in October 2025 after doctors advised her to undergo medical procedures. She later canceled the shows entirely when her condition prevented her from returning to a performance level.
Earlier this month, Parton was also forced to miss the opening of Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition after experiencing dizziness and dehydration. Although she could not attend in person, she appeared virtually and reassured fans that she was continuing to work.
Parton later acknowledged that she had neglected her own health while caring for her husband, Carl Dean, before his death in March 2025.
She was admitted to the hospital on August 21, just four days before her death. The reason for her hospitalization was not initially disclosed.
Dolly Parton Leaves Behind An Unmatched Legacy
Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond her memorable role as “Aunt Dolly” on “Hannah Montana.” During her decades-long career, the Tennessee native became one of country music’s most successful and influential artists, creating enduring hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Parton earned 11 Grammy Awards, received Kennedy Center Honors and was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She also found success as an actress, businesswoman and the creative force behind Dollywood.
Her impact was equally profound outside entertainment. Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she helped provide millions of free books to children around the world.
Jared Padalecki has one of the most stable careers of actors in his generation. He rose to prominence in the 2000s as a heartthrob after playing Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls, then became even more famous when he was cast in Eric Kripke‘s drama Supernatural as Sam Winchester. He starred in the CW drama alongside Jensen Ackles from 2005 until it concluded in 2020. For his next role, Padalecki did not stray far, returning to The CW to headline a reboot of an iconic show.
Anna Fricke created Walker in 2021, a remake of the iconic 1993 Chuck Norris procedural titled Walker, Texas Ranger. Padalecki played Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger dealing with tragedy after spending a long time undercover. Cordell loses his wife and is suddenly left to raise two teenagers while balancing his career and navigating a complicated family history. Padalecki played the sharp ranger for three seasons until the show ended in 2024. Walker also spawned a short-lived spin-off, Walker: Independence.
While the franchise’s ending was untimely after The CW’s decision to move away from scripted programming, Walker delivered over 60 episodes of engaging family drama and law enforcement. The series is available to stream on HBO Max and has seen a rise in viewership over the last week. FlixPatrol has ranked Walker eighth globally on the streamer, with particular interest emerging in Central and South America. With streaming services regularly adding shows, Walker’s newfound popularity two years after the show ended suggests it was recently licensed in these regions and viewers are discovering the dangerous and complicated life of Cordell Walker.
What Is Jared Padalecki Up To Currently?
The actor has not appeared in major roles since Walker ended, but he has been attached to several projects that could run for years if they move forward. CBS Studios wanted to strengthen their relationship with Padalecki by creating a Fire Country spin-off centered on his character, Camden. The spin-off was rumored to be in development, but no real updates have been offered so far. Meanwhile, the actor is set to reunite with Fricke in another CBS Studios drama, this one centering on a doctor played by Padalecki. The latest update revealed that the show was still in development, with scripts being written, but no decision on a potential series pickup from CBS. On the film side, Padalecki will be seen in Guarding Stars alongside Jake Foy, Leighton Meester, and Andie McDowell.
Stream Walker on HBO Max in the US, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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The CW
- Directors
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Steve Robin, Ben Hernandez Bray, Stephanie Martin, Amyn Kaderali, America Young, Austin Nichols, David McWhirter, Phil Hardage, Richard Speight Jr., Aprill Winney, Chad Dashnaw, Joel Novoa, Bola Ogun, Bosede Williams, Jensen Ackles, Jessica Yu, Kelli Williams, Paula Hunziker, Peter B. Kowalski, Randall Zisk, Tessa Blake, Clara Aranovich, Jackeline Tejada, Kevin Berlandi
- Writers
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Casey Fisher, Blythe Ann Johnson, Russel Friend, Geri Carillo, David James, Maya Vyas
Entertainment
Sci-Fi Fans Are Flocking To Denis Villeneuve’s 94% Masterpiece Before ‘Dune: Part Three’
Denis Villeneuve is one of the most thoughtful directors of our time. He takes incredibly mind-bending concepts and interprets them in a nuanced, humane, and intimate manner. Around the world, he’s well known for making the Dune movies, his take on Frank Herbert’s story. While widely thought unfilmable, Villeneuve brought Herbert’s world to life in the most authentic way, be it the worm ride or the different planets with unusually vivid imagery.
But before Villeneuve made the Dune franchise, he made numerous movies that had a similar impact on the audience, like Blade Runner 2049. Among them is Arrival, a feature based on Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang. With Villeneuve at the helm, Eric Heisserer’s screenplay moves away from typical alien-invasion action tropes to offer a deeply moving, intellectual exploration of communication, global unity, and the human perception of time in Arrival. Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, the plot is pretty straightforward; when 12 monolithic spacecraft simultaneously touch down at different locations on Earth, panic ensues, and the US military recruits linguist Louise Banks (Adams). Banks and her team race against time to decode the extraterrestrial language while global panic pushes nations toward war. Despite a world-ending terror, the movie draws your attention toward Banks, who goes through vivid, overwhelming “flashbacks” while trying to understand the alien language.
The themes of communication, grief, determination, free will, and choosing a life even when you know what is in store for you resonated with fans worldwide. It earned $203 million on a $47 million budget and further got critical acclaim and fans’ love. It further bagged several accolades and eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Arrival Is Gathering Streaming Approval
A decade later, fans still love to revisit the sci-fi drama, and their love is reflected on streaming charts. Arrival is at the 5th spot on Apple TV’s domestic streaming charts. The feature stands tall among films like Apple original The Dink, Matt Damon’s The Bourne Identity, Brad Pitt’s F1, and The Martian, among others. Villeneuve is currently busy with Dune: Part Three, which will bring the Timothée Chalamet-led franchise to a close. Next, he’ll be at the helm of the James Bond franchise, which should announce the next Bond soon. However, no further details about the project have been revealed.
Meanwhile, check out Arrival on Apple TV and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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November 11, 2016
- Runtime
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116 minutes
- Director
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Denis Villeneuve
- Writers
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Eric Heisserer
- Producers
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Aaron Ryder, David Linde, Karen Lunder, Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen
Dolly Parton transformed the people, heartbreaks, and hardships in her life into songs that eventually became part of American culture. The country legend, who died at age 80, wrote thousands of songs during her career. Some were inspired by painful professional goodbyes, while others grew from childhood poverty, marital jealousy, or even the sound of her acrylic nails.
From the real woman who inspired “Jolene” to the business decision that allowed “I Will Always Love You” to become a global phenomenon, the stories behind Parton’s greatest hits reveal nearly as much about her as the songs themselves.
“Jolene” sounds like a desperate confrontation between a wife and the beautiful woman she fears could steal her husband. However, the title character was actually created from two separate encounters. Parton said the song’s storyline was inspired by a red-haired bank teller who appeared to take an interest in her husband, Carl Dean.
Dean began making frequent trips to the bank, something Parton later turned into a joke during concerts. “I knew my husband was spending more time at the bank than we had money,” she quipped, according to her official website.
The woman who inspired Parton’s jealousy was not actually named Jolene. That memorable name came from a young fan Parton met while signing autographs. Parton thought the girl’s name was beautiful and told her she would write a song about it. She then combined the child’s name with the bank teller story, creating one of country music’s most recognizable characters.
Despite a long-running claim that Parton wrote “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day, she eventually clarified that she could not confirm it. The two compositions were found on the same cassette, meaning they were at least written during the same period.
‘I Will Always Love You’ Was Not Originally A Romantic Breakup Song
Although it became one of the most famous love songs ever recorded, “I Will Always Love You” was written about the end of a professional partnership. Parton joined “The Porter Wagoner Show” in 1967 and spent seven years performing alongside its host. The opportunity introduced her to a larger audience, but Parton eventually wanted to leave the program and build an independent career.
Her decision caused tension between the collaborators. When conversations failed to communicate how she felt, Parton turned to songwriting. She wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner, expressing gratitude for everything he had done while making it clear that she needed to leave.
According to Parton, Wagoner began crying when she performed the song for him. He agreed to let her leave if he could produce the record. Parton’s original version topped the country chart in 1974. A new recording created for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” reached No. 1 again in 1982.
Whitney Houston transformed the song once more in 1992 when she recorded it for “The Bodyguard.” Her version spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced Parton’s songwriting to an entirely new audience.
Parton retained control of the composition after famously declining a proposed deal involving Elvis Presley. Elvis wanted to record it, but his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, reportedly required Parton to surrender half of her publishing rights. Walking away was painful, but retaining those rights allowed Parton to benefit when Houston’s version became an international blockbuster.
‘Coat Of Many Colors’ Turned Poverty Into Pride
Few songs captured Parton’s childhood as vividly as “Coat of Many Colors.” Parton grew up as one of 12 children in a small cabin in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains. When her family could not afford to purchase a winter coat, her mother, Avie Lee Parton, stitched one together using scraps of fabric. As she sewed, Avie Lee told her daughter the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Young Dolly proudly wore the garment to school, believing its love and special meaning made her rich.
Her classmates saw it differently and mocked her for wearing clothing made from rags. Rather than allowing the experience to remain a painful childhood memory, Parton turned it into a song about dignity, gratitude, and the difference between lacking money and lacking love.
She reportedly wrote the lyrics while traveling with Wagoner, scribbling them on the back of a dry-cleaning receipt because she did not have any other paper available.
“Coat of Many Colors” reached No. 4 on the country chart in 1971. Parton later adapted the story into a children’s book and an NBC television movie.
Although “Jolene” became more widely recorded, Parton identified “Coat of Many Colors” as the song she was proudest of because of its messages about family, bullying, acceptance, and appreciating what a person has.
Dolly Parton Used Her Nails To Write ‘9 To 5’
Parton found inspiration in an unusual instrument while filming her movie debut, “9 to 5.” The 1980 comedy starred Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin as three working women who challenge their controlling and sexist boss. Parton also agreed to write the movie’s theme song. Because filmmaking involved long stretches of waiting between scenes, she began clicking her acrylic fingernails together to pass the time. The resulting rhythm reminded her of secretaries typing.
Parton used the sound to develop the song while on set and returned to her hotel at night to record her ideas with a guitar. The clicking became such an essential part of the finished track that the album reportedly included a “Nails by Dolly” credit.
“9 to 5” topped Billboard’s country and pop charts while turning workplace frustrations into an upbeat anthem. It also earned Parton an Academy Award nomination and two Grammy Awards.
The song’s enduring popularity demonstrated one of Parton’s greatest talents. She could take an everyday sound, connect it to a larger struggle, and turn it into something millions of people immediately understood.
Dolly Parton Faced Health Struggles Before Her Death
Parton’s remarkable career came to an end when the country music legend died on August 25 at age 80. Her death followed months of personal loss and public concern surrounding her health.
After her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 following a lengthy illness, Parton admitted that grief had affected her ability to work and forced her to step back from certain projects.
She later canceled a major Dollywood appearance because of health issues. However, when a disturbing AI-generated image falsely depicted her on her deathbed, Parton pushed back against the speculation and insisted she was “not ready to die yet.”
Even during those difficult final months, Parton continued discussing new ideas and the work she still hoped to accomplish.
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Vin Diesel leaves Dolly Parton fans speechless with musical tribute to late country icon
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