Miley Cyrus nearly backed out of the performance that ultimately accompanied the first Grammy wins of her career. The pop star has revealed that she was reluctant to sing “Flowers” at the 2024 Grammy Awards because she was still recovering from an anxiety attack she experienced onstage in Mexico two years earlier.

However, her late godmother, Dolly Parton, refused to let fear decide for her. Parton reportedly “trapped” Cyrus in a car, dismissed her attempt to revisit the frightening concert and told her exactly how to step back into the spotlight.

Dolly Parton ‘Trapped’ Miley Cyrus In A Car

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Cyrus recalled Parton’s memorable intervention during a new interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “Dolly was just always right about stuff,” said Cyrus. “Like, she told me for the Grammys, which Bob Mackie passed, and I would’ve never worn Bob Mackie if it wasn’t for Dolly. She knows that I wear my heart on my sleeve.”

Cyrus had been invited to perform “Flowers” during the 2024 ceremony, but she was hesitant to accept the opportunity. Parton responded with direct advice. “She was like, ‘You need to just fake it.’ I’m like, ‘But I don’t want to do it. I’m scared. You remember Mexico?’ She’s like, ‘Enough about Mexico,’” recalled Cyrus.

The “Hannah Montana” alum said Parton unexpectedly volunteered to drive during a visit in Nashville, which apparently wasn’t common in their relationship.

“And it’s very interesting, ‘cause she wanted to pick me up, which never happens,” said Cyrus. “Like, ‘I’ll drive.’ I’m like, ‘Oh sh-t.’ You know, they trapped me in the car, and she’s telling me why I’ve got to do the Grammys. And I’m like, ‘I can’t. You know what happened, and I still feel like I’m in this rest and recovery mode.’”

The Singer Was Still Affected By Her Onstage Anxiety Attack

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Cyrus’ reluctance stemmed from an anxiety attack she experienced while performing in Mexico in 2022. As The Blast previously reported, the singer described the incident as the result of a “cocktail of chaos” involving grief, illness, post-pandemic pressure and a frightening aviation emergency.

Cyrus had been traveling to Paraguay to perform at the Asunciónico music festival when her plane was struck by lightning and forced to make an emergency landing. She called Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins after the ordeal. Hawkins, who had become her friend and neighbor during the COVID-19 pandemic, died shortly afterward.

Cyrus later performed before an enormous audience in Mexico while still struggling with the emotional impact of everything that had happened. The experience changed her relationship with live performance and left her wary of immediately returning to major stages.

Dolly Parton Told Her To Channel Hannah Montana

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Parton reportedly gave Cyrus practical advice about transforming herself before the Grammy performance. “She’s like, ‘Get your hair teased, and get a dress that you love, and you’re going to forget for that moment, and you’re going to step into your Hannah Montana, your Dolly Parton. You have that part, your RuPaul. You have that part of yourself. You have that other thing. It’s what the military uses, it’s what the best athletes use,’” noted Cyrus.

Cyrus ultimately followed her godmother’s guidance. She arrived at the Grammy Awards wearing a shimmering Bob Mackie dress and delivered an energetic performance of “Flowers” inspired by Tina Turner. The performance became one of the ceremony’s most memorable moments, particularly when Cyrus playfully called out the crowd while singing her chart-topping hit.

Lorne Michaels Also Pushed Miley Cyrus To Perform

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Parton was not the only entertainment legend who encouraged Cyrus to stop retreating from the stage. The singer revealed that “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels gave her similar tough-love advice during one of their annual holiday walks around the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

Cyrus had previously experienced an ovarian cyst rupture before co-hosting “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” with Parton in 2023. “I go to see him, and he goes, ‘Everybody has six months to feel sorry for themselves. It’s Christmas,’ ‘cause it was the New Year’s show the year before,” she said.

“He’s like, ‘I’ve stretched it out for you because I love you, but it’s done. We’re getting back on the horse,’” she added. “He goes, ‘Do you know how many times Paul Simon has told me he’s retiring?’ He goes, ‘Everybody has called me and told me that they’re quitting. You’re not. You’re built for it.’”

When Cyrus mentioned that the Grammys had invited her to perform, Michaels encouraged her to accept. She then traveled to Nashville and received a similar message from Parton.

Cyrus explained that both mentors understood that she still wanted to perform, even when fear and extensive therapy gave her reasons to remain cautious. “They know that I want it, and I probably have done so much therapy that I know the right answer, but sometimes the right answer is something I think that’s much more intuitive,” she said.

The Grammy Performance Became A Career Milestone

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Cyrus’ decision to perform proved especially meaningful because “Flowers” earned her her first two Grammy Awards.

She won Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year at the 66th Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy also identified the ceremony as the live television debut of the hit song.

The wins arrived more than two decades after Cyrus began working in entertainment.

Miley Cyrus Opened Up About Their Final Conversation

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Parton died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her representative did not disclose the type of cancer. Cyrus previously honored Parton by revealing that one of their last conversations involved music and personal transformation.

During her interview with Lowe, she shared more about what they discussed. “The time that we talked, which was the last time we would talk, it was actually me telling her about this record because even though we are so different, that’s what made us so perfect for each other is that she knew this, and I know this,” she said. The record Cyrus referenced was “Bass Persuades,” which she released on September 18.

As The Blast previously reported, Cyrus described Parton as an angel who would want her to process the loss, turn it into music, and continue moving forward.

Ahsoka Tano has had something of a time lately. Well, since she was born actually. Let’s look at it, she was thrown into a galactic war as a kid, been framed for a terrorist attack, left the Jedi Order, watched 99% of her kin die, and watched the closest thing she had to family turn into literal Dath Vader. Not a surprise that she’s not been happy-go-lucky much lately. But now, her time is up.

Rosario Dawson (Daredevil) has now revealed that Ahsoka Season 2 will mark the end of that particular era for the character, with Ahsoka finally beginning to rediscover the joy she lost decades earlier. The change follows her reunion with Anakin during Season 1, which Dawson believes allowed her character to heal something that had remained unresolved since their relationship fell apart during the Clone Wars.

“She had a more of a strong gravitas at the beginning [as a Jedi apprentice], and she was a little bit more unflappable and I’m liking that she’s relaxing,” she said at Comic Con Scotland. “She’s kind of getting back into her joy. I think those moments with Hayden [Christensen] and Anakin were so important for her to heal something, so she could be more present.”

It’s quite a significant shift for someone whose personality has been remarkably consistent throughout her post-Clone Wars appearances. The older Ahsoka introduced in Star Wars Rebels and subsequently played in live-action by Dawson in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka has generally been restrained, solitary and carrying an enormous amount of unresolved baggage. But she’ll finally shift some of it.

Ahsoka Is Finally Getting Her Joy Back

Dawson explained that the change won’t simply mean Ahsoka smiling a little more often. She’s also becoming more willing to rely on the people around her rather than carrying everything herself, something audiences began seeing through her repaired relationship with Sabine Wren toward the end of Season 1.

“And that’s what I’m really enjoying. I think we get to explore that a lot more in the second season. I’m really glad that we get to add more joy into her life and see her relax a little bit more and work in community a little bit more than she has.”

Ahsoka’s relationship with Hayden Christensen’s (Revenge of the Sith) Anakin appears particularly important to that transformation, while Season 1 allowed the pair to reunite and let Ahsoka confront the master whom she lost to Darth Vader, as well as handle the fact she was so damn young at the time.

“I think we got to see a transition in her, not only because we got to see the flashbacks of her back in the Clone Wars, and see how young she was being thrust into war, but that we also got to see where she’s come after being Fulcrum, and it’s been heavy to see the journey of her master, her friends, her brother in Darth Vader, and then Anakin Skywalker. I think she was just in a really heavy period. And we got to see that in Mandalorian where she denies taking on Grogu as a Padawan. Then you have her taking on Sabine Wren in the first season, and a lot of things happened, but by the time she turns into Ahsoka the White, we get to see a little more lightness, a little bit more of a transition. And that’s the thing I think I’m the most excited about, is that we get to explore that a little bit more. There’s a bit of a lightness, where she can better approach where she is now and where she’s going, because she’s not so much looking back as she had been.”

Ahsoka Season 2 premieres January 20, 2027, exclusively on Disney+.

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August 22, 2023

Network

Disney+

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Steph Green, Jennifer Getzinger, Peter Ramsey, Rick Famuyiwa

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Chrisean Rock celebrated with Chrisean Jr. and her mom after recently winning her professional boxing debut.

RELATED: Whew, Chile! Blueface Pulls Off On Chrisean Rock After Things Go Left During Their Latest Livestream (VIDEOS)

Chrisean Rock Celebrates With Junior & Her Mom After Winning Professional Boxing Debut

Chrisean Rock’s debut boxing match went down on Saturday, September 19, at the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore, Maryland.

On Friday, September 18, Rock shared footage of herself at the weigh-in.

Ultimately, Rock won the match when her opponent, KuShiya Williams, forfeited in the second round.

“I Only took a Knee Because only YAHWEH DESERVES ALL PRAISES a win just another Victory Praise YESHUA THANK YOU JESUS FOR CREATING a space for me to thrive 😭,” Rock wrote alongside footage of the moment she won the match.

Subsequently, Rock shared photos and videos of the moments surrounding her boxing win — some clips even showed her celebrating alongside Chrisean Jr. and her mom.

Social Media Reacts To Chrisean Rock Winning Professional Boxing Debut

Social media users shared over 7,000 reactions to Chrisean Rock winning her professional boxing debut in TSR’s comment section.

RELATED: Puttin’ You On! Here Are 6 Facts You Didn’t Know About Chrisean Rock

Chrisean Jr.’s Mom Has Another Boxing Match Coming Up

As The Shade Room previously reported, Chrisean Rock got emotional after her sister Tesehki lost a boxing match to Big Lex. Additionally, Rock noted her desire to hop in the ring with Lex.

Lex agreed to the challenge, per The Shade Room. Now, the pair are apparently gearing up to hop in the ring as well.

RELATED: Family Package? Chrisean Rock & Big Lex Speak Out After Lemuel Plummer Teases Their Upcoming Boxing Match (PHOTO)

Ed Sheeran opened a concert Saturday (Sept. 19) with comments about Gaza after controversy swirled around his tour. As previously reported, the supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with the opener, Macklemore. The rapper was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Sheeran began the concert alone on stage with no opener, but was joined by other musicians later in the show.

RELATED: All Of Ed Sheeran’s Supporting Acts Quit His Tour After His Response To Macklemore Being Kicked Off (UPDATE)

What Happened With Macklemore & The Other Acts?

Sheeran spoke on Saturday in front a nearly full stadium after a hectic week that began with Macklemore, Sheeran’s original U.S. opener, being dropped from the tour. His removal was a response to him saying “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran last week said he was not responsible for the decision. Instead, it came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to play on Friday.

Still, within hours of Ed Sheeran’s statement last Tuesday, his supporting acts withdrew. Sheeran has performed many songs solo during his Loop Tour concerts. However, he was joined for several songs at each stop by the Irish folk band Beoga before they dropped out in support of Macklemore. Macklemore was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they too backed out. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Ed Sheeran in South America later this year. However, he too dropped out last week.

Macklemore said last Wednesday that he is donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts. The rapper called on Kraft to match the gift. In response, a spokesperson for Kraft has said the billionaire and Ed Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million. However, the men have not specified where the money will be directed. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to AP’s multiple requests for comment.

Ed Sheeran Addresses Tour Fallout & Gaza Situation During Show

The musician said he wants his music and shows to be about unity and humanity, not politics. But he said the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, were horrific and what is happening in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”

“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran said during his performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Ed Sheeran also told the crowd in Philadelphia that everyone is welcome at his concerts, and they can have opposing points of view while still singing his songs, which are about “love, hope and unity.” He also told fans he worries about venues pre-approving performances.

“This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world,” Sheeran said.

The Grammy winner’s statement was a stark difference from his energy earlier last week. At the time, he was adamant that he wouldn’t be drawn into a discussion of the war in Gaza, arguing that his fans don’t come to his shows to hear about these issues. Also, Sheeran said he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge” before Macklemore was dropped. He insisted he would never willingly let down his fans or abandon the touring crew and others who rely on him to make a living.

Protestors Pull Up To Ed Sheeran’s Philly Show 

Before Saturday’s show, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators congregated outside the stadium. Hillary Steinberg, 34, said she got concert tickets a year ago but wound up getting a refund and attended the demonstration instead. She was, per the Associated Press, disappointed that Sheeran did not take a stand.

“I was, until this week, a big Ed Sheeran fan,” Steinberg said. “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice — even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit — is a political choice.”

Diane Savitz, a 53-year-old from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, got tickets months ago and attended. She said she is a big Sheeran fan, doesn’t think he did anything wrong and a concert is not the place for politics.

“A concert should be for people enjoying the music. Music should bring people together,” Savitz said. “Everyone has their right to freedom of speech, but not every platform is the place for it.”

Associated Press writers Tassanee Vejpongsa and Jessica Hill contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

While we love the coziness of fall and winter, their arrival also means that cold and flu season isn’t far behind. A manageable daily wellness routine is key if you want to try to fight the sniffles or the random virus your kids bring home from school every other week. One product to keep stocked in your pantry is From Great Origins Elderberry Tea, which not only tastes delicious, but also has a slew of health benefits.

Elderberry has stood the test of time as a natural and easy way to support the immune system. The deep-purple berry is naturally rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins and other polyphenols, which protect immune cells when your body is trying to fight off an infection. The From Great Origins Elderberry Tea is a soothing way to incorporate elderberry into your diet on a daily basis.

Get From Great Origins Elderberry Tea for $30 at Great Origins!

From Great Origins Elderberry Tea is made with only two organic ingredients: elderberries and elderflower, also known as Sambucus nigra. The ingredients are grown and harvested in Croatia, sourced only from trusted farmers in a region known for botanical and culinary traditions. This part matters, because when you buy this particular elderberry tea, you know you’re getting high-quality ingredients.

Everything is organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, and there are no artificial flavors, colors or dyes, preservatives, sweeteners or fillers. The tea bags are unbleached and heat-sealed, so there’s no glue, strings or staples to worry about.

You’re also getting a great tasting product. Elderberry has a tart, earthy flavor, and that’s balanced out by the addition of elderflower, which has a lighter, more delicate floral note for some sweetness. This tea blend is also naturally caffeine-free, so you can drink it morning or night without worrying about it affecting your sleep.

We also love that elderberry tea is so easy to add into your daily routine. It’s not another giant supplement pill you have to swallow down first thing in the morning, and it adds a nice, cozy ritual to your routine. You can wind down after a stressful day with a cup of elderberry tea and take comfort in knowing you’re supporting your immune system while doing so.

Shoppers are big fans as well. “I’ve never had elderberry anything but thought I’d give the tea a try. I was expecting something that you drink because it’s good for you, but the tea is very good,” one shopper wrote in a review. “It has a nice flavor to it and now has a permanent place among my teas. I keep a jar in the fridge ready to drink.”

“I am constantly brewing up some FGO Elderberry tea, especially in spring and winter when the allergies and immune system could use a boost,” another reviewer wrote. “I really enjoy the taste as well!”

From Great Origins Elderberry Tea costs only $29.99 and comes with 100 teabags, so it’s sure to last you for a while. Grab yours now and get started on your wellness routine before cold season officially starts.

Get From Great Origins Elderberry Tea for $30 at Great Origins!

Getting down to business! Halle Berry, Alix Earle, Cardi B, and more stars stepped out for Create & Cultivate, the world’s largest festival for women in business, in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 19 and 20.

The A-listers mixed business with pleasure while spotlighting their respective brands, with Berry representing Joylux, Earle showing off Reale Actives, and Cardi celebrating Grow Good.

Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson and CEO Marina Middleton were also on hand for the two-day affair, which brought together over 4,000 people for conversations spanning business, media, entertainment, technology, fashion, beauty, and sports.

Attendees bounced between exclusive panels, keynote conversations and workshops with founders, creators, executives, and innovators, while checking out immersive activations and stocking up on goodies from brand partners along the way.

And after a full day of talking shop on everything from entrepreneurship and investing to wellness and career growth, Cardi turned the conference into a concert, taking the stage to perform hits including “I Like It,” “Up,” “Please Me,” and more.

“This is a very special event over here because we are supporting women out here, owning their business, running their business. Shout to my ladies they get money, and making money, and making a difference. Thank you for inspiring me, and I hope I can inspire you,” Cardi said onstage.

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Lisa Leslie left her mark on the Los Angeles Sparks franchise as one of the top players in its history. Recently, the organization honored her with a bronze statue outside the Crypto.com Arena, immortalizing the WNBA great.

RELATED: Whew! Tina Turner Statue Unveiling In Tennessee Has Internet Users Raising Their Eyebrows (VIDEO)

A Lil’ History About THEE Lisa Leslie & Statue Details

On Sunday (Sept. 20), she became the 16th person honored with a statue at Star Plaza in a ceremony featuring Magic Johnson, Candace Parker, Michael Cooper, and others. However, she is reportedly the first WNBA player and first Los Angeles Sparks player to be honored with a statue. Leslie starred for the Sparks from 1997 to 2009. The 11-foot statue, with a 4 1/2-foot base, depicts Leslie’s signature dunk, the first in WNBA history. She helped the Sparks win consecutive titles in 2001 and 2002.

Lisa Reacts To The Look Of The Statue

While speaking at the event, the three-time MVP expressed how happy she is with the outcome of her statue and the attention to detail poured into it. She said, “I am beyond happy with how beautiful The First Lady looks because they listened to me.” Adding, “She has her lipstick on, she has on earrings, she has my family’s names on my bracelets, which probably people can’t see because she’s so big. It’s gorgeous, and I just love that she has her ponytail, and when little girls walk around and get a chance to see it, they see a woman, The First Lady statue out there. That just means so much to me.”

After the unveiling, she called the statue “cute” and admitted that she had some worried about the potential final look. Her look on the court was intentional throughout her career, she explained.

“First of all, she’s cute,” Leslie said of the statue. “I was so worried. I did not want to look like a linebacker up here. But she’s cute. I wanted to make sure that this statue was a perfect blend of fearlessness and the competitor that I was and I am and I’ll always be. But also … I wore my ribbons, I had my nails polished, which y’all can’t see, but the girl got her polish on because I never wanted the boys or the men to think that I was a boy.”

Social Media Gives The WNBA Star Her Flowers

The roommates quickly gathered in The Shade Room’s comment section following a post about Lisa Leslie’s bronze statue. Some reflected on the WNBA retiree’s record-breaking career, which ended in 2009 with her retirement. Others were stunned by her present-day looks, while majority gave their takes on how the statue of Leslie turned out. A couple of roomies even dropped jokey comparisons to Dwyane Wade’s statue at the same arena.

@krmethemc commented, “She been the goat, my first ever favorite player! The reason I picked up a basketball 🫂🔥”

“D Wade somewhere pissed,” @vibesofessence joked.

“Salute to a real one Inglewoods own 🔥 Lisa Leslie 🫡,” @russianrullet said.

“When I think of WNBA I think of her,” @quair_ramik commented.

“I don’t like it they could have done better congratulations 🎊 Ms Lisa,” @lakecoco28 weighed in.

“When I think of women’s basketball I think of Lisa Leslie!!! 🔥🔥🔥I love this for the history of women’s basketball,” @spunkybumper wrote.

“IMO the statues never look good, we just got overlook that and appreciate the honor lol,  @ux2_dion commented.

“Congratulations to Lisa, but my girl doesn’t need a stepping stool to dunk. 👏🏾🔥,” @hartramon7996 said.

“Best most accurate statue I’ve ever seen of any ball player, especially African-American❤️😍,” @_liltizzy commented.

“She got the best statue out of everybody,” @demitritaughtme added.

“She a legend 🔥 but they should’ve eased up on the skin tone 😂,” @_kingtay94 wrote.

@aluberanon said, “She deserves it lol a lot of people probably didn’t even know what the WNBA was before her.” 

“Whoever did hers needs to do everyone in the WNBA and NBA…and redo Dwyane Wade’s too 😂,” @som3bodysdaddy added.

RELATED: Okay, Mr. Actor! New York Knicks Player Jalen Brunson To Make An Appearance On ‘Law & Order: SVU’

Spider-Man often finds his way into the hearts of his fellow crime-fighters through his positive demeanor, courage, and sense of humor, no matter how different the other heroes may be. He’s formed a bond with the Avengers and made plenty of street-level allies in the comics, linking up with Matt Murdock and Luke Cage, in particular, on plenty of occasions. As recently seen in Tom Holland‘s return to the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he can even break through the hardened exterior of Marvel’s more ruthless anti-heroes, like the Punisher. He hasn’t just counted Frank Castle among his allies, but also formed a surprisingly tight bond with Wolverine, earning the mutant’s utmost trust and respect in many of the stories they’ve shared over the years.

Yet, they aren’t always on the exact same side. As a hero who doesn’t kill and certainly sees no value in it, Peter naturally butts heads at times with the much less merciful Frank and Logan, who have each left their fair share of bodies in their wake. The latest issue of Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day now brings the three together, with Wolverine reaching an understanding and choosing to lend the Punisher a hand in evading the web-head. So far, Dan Slott and Marcus To‘s series has revolved around Spidey trying to retrieve the Lexicon, a ledger from the Kingpin documenting the New York criminal underground, after losing the book to Mr. Negative and a mind-controlled Frank. With Frank now free, though, he wants that book for his own war on crime and needs some extra help to buy him time.

Marvel Comics has now released an official preview of Issue #5 picks up right where the previous installment left off — with the Punisher grabbing the Lexicon after Spider-Man helped him get back to his senses. Before Donnie Yu, one of Negative’s Inner Demons, can grab the book from him, Frank blasts him and bolts, leaving Peter to deal with the damage. Once he’s free to give chase, none of Spidey’s allies are available for backup, as Luke, Spider-Woman, and Iron Fist are busy rounding up the other villains at Negative’s coronation as Kingpin. It looks for a moment like his prayers are answered when Wolverine appears from the shadows in front of Frank. However, despite knowing the damage he could do, Logan just lets the Punisher through, on the condition that they never speak of their meeting. Wolverine then denies ever seeing Frank when Spidey shows up, giving the anti-hero a chance to put that book to good use mowing down “all the right people.”

‘Spectacular Spider-Man’ Unleashes the Punisher to Wrap Up ‘Brand New Day’

Wolverine seems perfectly content letting Frank wreak havoc on the criminals of New York as someone who has no moral qualms with what is about to happen. Spider-Man, however, is fully aware of how much of a problem leaving the Punisher alone in the city with the Lexicon is. Not only will he be raining death and destruction upon those listed in the book, but Mister Negative doesn’t appear to be fully out of the fight yet, and any misstep could lead to the book landing in even more dangerous hands yet again. The stage is set for an explosive ending that will pit Spidey against his anti-heroic pal and close Slott and To’s reimagining of their iconic Brand New Day storyline.

Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #5 goes on sale on September 23. Check out the preview in the gallery above.

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Release Date

July 29, 2026

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145 minutes

Director

Destin Daniel Cretton

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Writers

Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

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Producers

Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain

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When Jade Vow started making adult content around seven years ago, telling someone what she did could still provoke genuine shock. Sometimes people did not know what OF was. Others simply could not believe she was on it.

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Today, she jokes, the reaction is closer to a much more casual response. “Oh yeah, my aunt does OF,” Vow told The Blast, describing how dramatically attitudes toward the platform have changed.

For Vow, who has watched the adult creator industry transform since before the pandemic, that change has been a double-edged sword. Adult content has become more visible and less unusual, but she believes the rapid growth of creators, management agencies, and increasingly polished online personas has stripped away some of what made the space interesting in the first place. “I liked it being this kind of underground, taboo thing,” Vow told The Blast.

Her response has been to resist becoming more manufactured herself. After seven years, the Jade Vow brand remains unusually difficult to separate from the person behind it. Her relationship with long-term partner Josh, their move from England to Cyprus, her humor, insecurities, and deliberately ordinary life all feed into what her audience sees. “Our entire online persona, I mean, it’s not even a persona, it’s just us,” Vow told The Blast.

Jade Vow Has Watched OF Become An Industry

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Vow does not appear particularly worried about competition. She believes creators with a distinct identity can survive an increasingly crowded market because audiences have more to connect with than the content itself. “If you’ve got your own brand, your own niche and your own following, new people joining don’t really affect you,” Vow told The Blast.

What concerns her more is the rise of management agencies that can take over creators’ accounts, including conversations with subscribers. Vow told The Blast that some subscribers are now surprised when they discover she is actually the person responding to them. Others have shared stories with her about building a connection with creators before noticing the tone of their messages suddenly change after an agency became involved.

For Vow, that creates a trust problem in a business increasingly built around access and personality. “There’s a million men out there with willies, and there’s loads of boobies out there,” Vow told The Blast. “But there isn’t much personality, like real personality.”

Her own approach includes the parts of life that do not necessarily look like adult entertainment at all. Subscribers get the good, bad, funny, awkward, and embarrassing moments. She also writes handwritten diary entries about what has been happening in her life.

The Jade Vow Brand Is Really Jade And Josh

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That lack of separation becomes clearest when Vow talks about Josh. The pair have built their adult careers together, and despite Jade being the more visible name, neither sees the business as belonging to her alone. “The Jade Vow brand is us,” the couple told The Blast.

Their unconventional relationship has already generated headlines, particularly around sex with other people. Previous coverage has focused on Vow’s experiences with other men and the couple’s non-monogamous dynamic. What is more revealing in conversation is that they do not present themselves as having solved jealousy.

Physical intimacy can sometimes be easier to process than emotional intimacy. Josh told The Blast that another man cooking Vow an incredible meal or making her laugh could bother him more than sex. Vow, meanwhile, admitted her own feelings about seeing Josh with other women are still evolving. “I’m still learning,” Vow told The Blast.

It is another area where Vow seems more comfortable acknowledging contradiction than constructing a cleaner public story.

From Somerset To Cyprus Without Visiting First

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That instinct has shaped their life away from work too. After deciding they wanted to leave England, Vow and Josh researched somewhere with warmer weather, beaches and a realistic route to residency. They landed on Cyprus. There was one significant detail: neither had ever been there.

They signed a rental contract for a villa anyway, packed their belongings and moved. They have now been in Cyprus for almost three years, a relocation that has since become part of Vow’s public story. Despite the assumptions that come with her work, she describes their everyday life as remarkably quiet.

“People always expect, you know, when you say, ‘I do porn,’ they’re like, ‘My God, you must have a crazy life,’” Vow told The Blast. “And it’s like maybe a few days a year, yeah. But other than that, I’m just curled up with a book.”

Jade Vow Isn’t Interested In Creating A Fake Persona

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Even a conversation about their favorite sex club in Amsterdam quickly became a review of its satay chicken. “This is what we mean,” Vow joked to The Blast. “Life revolves around food. Sex on the side.”

As the creator industry around her becomes bigger, more mainstream, and more professionalized, Vow’s bet is increasingly distinctive. She is not trying to invent a more convincing Jade Vow. She is betting that the person already there is the part audiences cannot get anywhere else.