Muni Long is opening up about one of the most frightening chapters of her life. The Grammy-winning singer recently shared how a severe health crisis left her facing an impossible decision after years of battling lupus.

From collapsing health and emergency surgery to a remarkable recovery, her story offers a deeply personal look at resilience, motherhood, and survival.

For years, Muni Long knew something wasn’t right with her body. The singer, who was diagnosed with lupus in 2014, had been coping with symptoms while continuing to build her career and maintain a demanding schedule.

Her condition became far more serious in late 2025 when she developed pneumonia. The illness forced her to leave Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” tour before its conclusion.

Looking back on that period during an appearance on “Good Morning America,” Long admitted she had been struggling long before the situation reached a breaking point.

“I knew for a really long time that something was wrong. Every day I’m, like, spitting in cups and coughing all the time,” she said per the Daily Mail.

Long Details Her Difficulties Dealing With Symptoms

The singer explained how difficult it became to keep up appearances while dealing with worsening symptoms.

She said, “Trying to take all these medicines to get through the day. With this industry, you’re always in people’s faces. So, I’m taking pictures, and I’m just huffing and puffing like I just ran a marathon.”

Despite her declining health, she continued performing. Eventually, however, she realized the tour may have been too much for her body to handle.

“I should have never taken that tour. But there was so much going on in my life where I had to do it,” Long said.

Muni Long Faced A Life Or Death Decision

Things became even more alarming around Thanksgiving when Long’s condition rapidly deteriorated. She later woke up in the hospital and received devastating news from her medical team.

Doctors informed her that she had only a short time left to live unless she agreed to undergo a double lung transplant.

The shocking prognosis left the singer stunned.

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“My jaw dropped,” she recalled. “Literally. I was like, ‘That’s rude.’ But they were kind of like, ‘This is not a joke. You need to make a choice. You can either go to hospice or you can get these lungs.’”

The conversation forced Long to confront the reality of her situation. Suddenly, the future she had envisioned for herself depended on a decision that needed to be made immediately.

Faced with a choice between hospice care and major surgery, she had little time to weigh her options.

Her Son Helped Shape The Final Choice

While Muni Long initially worried about what the transplant could mean for her singing voice, another consideration ultimately became far more important.

The singer shares a son with her former husband, Raysean Hairston, and thoughts of her child helped bring clarity to an overwhelming situation.

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“The ego and the vanity was just like, ‘But what about my voice? What’s going to happen?’” she admitted.

As she considered the future, she realized there was something more valuable than protecting her career.

“But then I look at my son, and I think about how much more life that I have to live. Quality of life was first. I can’t sing if I’m not here,” she said.

Long also reflected on the emotional weight of that moment, explaining that she was “faced with my own mortality.”

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The experience changed her perspective and ultimately led her to prioritize survival over everything else.

Muni Long Shares Positive Recovery Update

Six months after undergoing the transplant, Long says her recovery has exceeded expectations.

The singer told viewers she is feeling better than she has in a long time and remains optimistic about her future. While she still has follow-up appointments ahead, her progress has been remarkable.

Describing her current condition, Long said she is doing “fabulous.”

She also shared encouraging details about her medical progress, revealing, “Tomorrow is my last appointment for all the things.”

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The good news continued as she added, “No symptoms. Asymptomatic. No infections. None of that. Then I have my vocal checkup, six months will be in August because I had to have vocal surgery, as well.”

The successful transplant has allowed her to focus on rebuilding both her health and her career.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 24 seconds ago

After news broke that Amazon had canceled the new Stargate series being put together by long-time franchise writer and director Martin Gero, the fan base decided to make their voices heard. There hasn’t been a new Stargate series Stargate Universe went off the air in 2011 but that doesn’t matter as the franchise has a loud, vocal fanbase that might be the nicest in sci-fi. Until you tick them off, which is what Amazon did with its short-sighted decision to cancel a series being developed for fans in order to, potentially, retool it as a mass-market generic sci-fi. 

#SaveStargate

Less than a year ago, Amazon made the grand announcement that it was bringing back Stargate. At the time, the streaming giant was excited about getting Martin Gero as the showrunner and Dean Devlin, one of the original producers, was back alongside Roland Emmerich as executive producers. For the first time this decade, the long-suffering fanbase allowed themselves to feel….hope. 

Like Lucy with the football, Amazon yanked the new series away and left fans to fall flat on their back, cursing themselves for falling for it. Again. They started a Change.org petition to help convince Amazon to bring back the Gero series. As of this writing, over 101,000 fans have signed, including myself, and the fan action is going a few steps further. On forums and social media, Stargate fans are canceling Prime memberships, boycotting Amazon, and finding other ways to show their support for the beleaguered franchise. 

David Blue, who played Eli on Stargate Universe, is proving he’s a multi-hyphenate by putting together a new sci-fi movie with lots of familiar faces for fans of Stargate. If you’re so inclined, he has a Patreon that includes access to his podcast, Out of the Blue, where he interviews other stars, directors, producers, anyone who has made a career in the entertainment industry. The first set of episodes includes Doug Jones and Robert Picardo. If the studio won’t give fans new Stargate content, the stars will do it themselves. 

The Best Time To Rewatch Stargate SG-1

Ironically, the flagship series Stargate SG-1 is gaining in popularity thanks to its inclusion on Netflix. New fans are discovering O’Neil, Carter, Jackson, and Teal’c for the very first time, and hopefully, this will lead to Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe being included as well. Stargate’s unique blend of military sci-fi, campy goofiness, humor, and elaborate, years-long storylines some of which have run through all three shows, is unmatched by any other sci-fi franchise out there. 

Amazon allegedly canceled the new Stargate series because it was being developed for the hardcore fans. In doing so, they told fans who have stood by the franchise for over 30 years that they don’t matter. It’s why #SaveStargate is trending on all social media platforms, why a petition has over 100,000 signatures already, and why the stars themselves are fighting for the fans. Amazon doesn’t care about them, so it’s good that someone is. 

If you haven’t experienced Stargate for yourself, start binging Stargate SG-1 on Netflix.

Marvel fans have spent months trying to uncover every secret hidden within Spider-Man: Brand New Day. From theories surrounding Sadie Sink’s mysterious role to speculation about multiple villains appearing in the film, nearly every aspect of the movie has become the subject of intense debate online.

But according to Tom Holland, fans still haven’t figured out the movie’s biggest mystery.

Speaking about the highly anticipated film, Holland confirmed that the identity of Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s main villain has not leaked, despite countless rumors and theories circulating across social media. The actor has become famous for accidentally revealing spoilers throughout his Marvel career, making his ability to keep this secret under wraps all the more impressive.

image credit: arkintyagi

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The revelation only adds to the growing intrigue surrounding the film. Recent trailers have teased an unseen threat wreaking havoc across New York City, with Peter Parker facing an enemy unlike anything he has encountered before. The footage shows destruction on a massive scale while deliberately avoiding revealing exactly who is responsible, leading fans to speculate about everyone from classic Spider-Man villains to entirely unexpected MCU newcomers.

Holland has previously described Brand New Day as something of a detective story, with Peter investigating a dangerous mystery while also dealing with strange new changes to his own powers. The actor has repeatedly called the film a fresh start for the character following the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Peter Parker now operating completely on his own in a world that has forgotten who he is.

Photo: Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY

That secrecy has only fueled fan excitement. Every trailer frame is being dissected for clues, and theories continue to spread regarding the identities of both the mysterious villain and Sadie Sink’s undisclosed character. Yet Holland’s latest comments suggest that Marvel and Sony may have successfully pulled off one of their most closely guarded secrets in years.

Adding to the anticipation, industry trackers have reported massive interest in the film as ticket sales continue to surge, positioning Spider-Man: Brand New Day as one of the biggest movie events of 2026.

For now, however, fans may have to accept that the movie’s greatest mystery remains exactly that: a mystery.

And if Tom Holland is telling the truth, the villain hiding in the shadows is someone no one has guessed yet.

Tom Holland revealed today in Berlin that the main villain in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY has not been leaked yet:

—“It’s still very much in secret.” pic.twitter.com/Z3kfCcxoZj

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— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) June 22, 2026

Bold and the Beautiful just saw Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) having a crisis of confidence and she considered abandoning Logan because Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) threw her a bone.

I’ve seen on soap social media fans wondering if Hope’s going to do like Eric Forrester (John McCook) did and run back to Forrester Creations with her tail between her legs. But I don’t think that is going to be the case for Hope. I think it’s not going to be like Eric.

We’re going to talk about exactly why Hope should stick with Logan and put Forrester in her rear view and never ever look back.

Bold and the Beautiful: Hope’s Crisis and Her Future

So, we just saw Hope in an absolute panic after Steffy Forrester said, “Your leave of absence is now over. It is time for you to come back to work, Hope.” And Steffy revealed that she had given the green light to relaunch Hope for the Future now that Eric’s big couture launch is set for this next week ahead. But Hope froze and she freaked out. She didn’t know what to say and she nearly confessed to taking the new job at Logan.

But then Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) burst into the room and Steffy told her the news about Hope for the Future and Brooke basically took over the conversation with all her exclamations of delight and Hope just ran right out. She bailed on Steffy and Brooke and she hustled back to Logan where Katie Logan (Heather Tom), Bill Spencer (Don Diamont), Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone), and Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) had all been waiting and worrying.

And as Hope started spiraling, Katie talked her down. But Hope is sick. She’s just feeling like she’s betrayed her mom, Brooke. I don’t think Hope cares if she betrays Steffy and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye), but Hope definitely feels bad about how she knows her mom’s going to react. And this week, Brooke marches over to Logan and makes a scene with Katie, and that’s going to freak Hope out all over again. But when the dust settles, I do expect to see her sticking with team Logan all the way.

Bold and the Beautiful: Why Hope Should Stay at Logan

Staying loyal to Katie and Bill and Liam makes sense, a lot more sense than going back. And to be honest, I think that’s exactly where Hope belongs at Logan for several reasons. Let’s dive into why she should walk away and never ever consider returning to Forrester Creations.

So, the first reason that Hope should stay at Logan and forget the Foresters is because Steffy will always see Hope as less than because she is anti-Logan. So many times over the last few years, Steffy has insulted Hope, slapped her down at work, and yanked her line away. And it felt personal. It felt like punishment at times. And Steffy made Hope fire her brother Deacon and then stuck her with Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) and Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz), who weren’t delivering the vision that she wanted.

Bold and the Beautiful: Hope Means Nothing to Steffy

Steffy doesn’t care one bit about how Hope feels. She doesn’t care about Hope for the Future. And even though they did have a brief friendship when Liam was supposedly dying, that’s over. And now what’s weird is we’re seeing Steffy do this pivot. She had been clapping back at Hope. You know, Steffy would refuse to give a timeline whenever Hope asked when her line would return.

And now here’s Steffy telling her, “Bring it in.” And she’s hugging Hope, not once, but twice in the same conversation. It’s weird. And I think Steffy’s up to something because she really just doesn’t like Hope. Remember when Steffy first shelved her line? She was bashing Katie in front of Hope. She’s done that several times. She was all with the anti-Logan talk, the stealing, betraying, thief stuff.

Steffy has always been anti-Logan, though, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change. So, why should Hope subject herself to Steffy’s insults and attitude? She shouldn’t. She should walk away.

Bold and Beautiful: Ridge’s Betrayal and Painful Memories

Another thing to consider is the unforgivably ugly things that Ridge said to Hope during the coup she pulled with Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). And yeah, Hope and Carter stealing the company was wrong, but Ridge called Hope the B word. He said nobody likes her and then he made her do a walk of shame after firing her. Mind you, this is the same Ridge who raised Hope as his own child for many years. And yet Ridge thought it was okay the way he spoke to her. Ridge has never ever apologized to Hope that I can recall. I think he might have said something to Brooke like, “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.” But Ridge clearly doesn’t care about Hope or none of that would have come out of his mouth to start with.

Another huge consideration on why Hope should stay right where she is at Logan is about her brother Deke. If Hope bails on Logan and goes back to Forrester Creations, she’ll really be screwing Deke over and taking away his dream. And yeah, there’s a chance that Katie might keep Deke on without Hope being there. But she loves working with her brother.

Hope & Deke Thrilled to Be Working Together on B&B

And after Steffy made her fire Deke before and she crushed him once already. I just don’t see Hope doing that to her brother Deke again. She doesn’t even like Forrester. There’s only one reason that Hope is considering backing out on the deal at Logan. The only reason she’s considered going back to Forrester is old bad habits and just not wanting to ruffle Brooke’s feathers.

Dekr and Hope love working together and they’ve done great things already. And the sole reason to go back to Forrester is Brooke. And really, she should want Hope to be where she’s happy. And Brooke knows at the end of the day, Steffy makes Hope miserable. And Ridge isn’t great with her either. And Hope doesn’t want to work with Thomas. So, Brooke should tell Hope, “Do what makes you happy. Follow your dream.”

Bold and the Beautiful: Fresh Start at Logan vs. Emotional Baggage at Forrester

Now, another reason why I think that Hope should stick with Liam and her Spencer in-laws and forget Forrester Creations is all the bad memories there. So, many bad memories. Working with Steffy every day has been no walk in the park for Hope. Not one single day. And aside from work stuff, they have fought over Liam several times. And that rivalry got dragged back into the office.

And then there was all the ugly stuff with Thomas on and off over the years. So many times that Hope felt marginalized by Steffy. Plus, she will always be seen by the Forresters as the one they blame for the coup. They don’t blame Carter, you know. There’s also those creepy memories of Thomas going nuts with the Hope mannequin. There’s just so much emotional baggage for Hope at Forrester Creations.

Bold and the Beautiful: Hope Deserves a Fresh Start

Meanwhile, over at Logan, it is a fresh start with her extended family. No judgment, no guilt, no being talked down to. It’s just a supportive environment where Hope isn’t just tolerated. She is wanted and she is embraced. And the last thing to consider in the Logan versus Forrester decision is that the road to her dream is wide open at Logan. At Forrester, she would continue to have to fight tooth and nail with Steffy constantly to keep her line going.

Meanwhile, Katie and Bill invested heavily in her and at the same time gave her creative autonomy. It is a whole different vibe than it is at Forrester, a much better one for her at Logan. And it’s intentional because Katie also felt marginalized at Forrester. Brooke and Ridge brought in outside PR people if you remember and they just started taking over a good chunk of Katie’s job. They didn’t even ask her about it. They just did it and then Ridge and Brooke told her it was the best thing for her.

Bold and the Beautiful: The Cost of Going Back

So, if Hope caved and went back to Forrester Creations simply because Brooke guilted her into it, I think that would be a much worse outcome. Not only would Hope be the girl who did the coup, but she’ll then also be seen as the betrayer, the one who lied and snuck off, saying it was a leave of absence while she was over at Logan. And I do agree that Hope was completely wrong to do it that way.

She should have just told Steffy and Ridge, “I quit.” And then walked out, head held high, keeping it classy. Giving her notice by walking the runway at Logan is a pretty sketchy way to quit your job. I will say that. But at the same time, in the end, Hope quitting Forrester Creations, however it happens, is the best thing for her long term. And I think Logan is where she will thrive.

Jelly Roll’s ex-girlfriend Felicia Beckwith has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge following her 2025 drug arrest, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm.

Washington County court records confirm that Beckwith pleaded guilty to possession of less than 0.5 grams of fentanyl, which classified as a schedule II drug, on June 18. All other charges were dropped. Us can also confirm via the Washington County court clerk that Beckwith was given a sentence of three years supervised probation.

Beckwith, who is the mother of Jelly Roll’s 18-year-old daughter, Bailee, was arrested in February 2025 alongside two additional individuals in possession of drugs, guns and cash.

According to a March 2025 press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, deputies initiated a traffic stop for Beckwith, 37, and the other individuals. Law enforcement found a pistol in the driver’s door, drug paraphernalia and cash on the others’ persons.

Related: Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Over Daughter’s Reaction to Her Mom’s Drug Arrest

Jelly Roll is opening up about the impact addiction has had on his family. During an appearance on the Wednesday, March 26, episode of “The Pivot” podcast, the country singer, 40, shared his reaction to news that his ex, with whom he welcomed 16-year-old daughter Bailee Ann, was arrested for drug possession, according to the […]

There was a total of 52 grams of Methamphetamine, pills and 12 grams of a white powder substance, which authorities believed to be Fentanyl, found in the car. Beckwith was in possession of one bag that contained portions of the Methamphetamine, the alleged Fentanyl and pills.

Following the traffic stop, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a residence believed to be associated with one of the other individuals in the car with Beckwith. Police found 291 grams of Methamphetamine, 16 and a half grams of a substance that was either Methamphetamine or Fentanyl and seven sets of scales at the home. There were also three loaded handguns found. One of the firearms had the serial number removed.

Beckwith and the two individuals were arrested and transported to the Washington County Detention Center. Beckwith was charged with manufacture/delivery/sell/possession of Methamphetamine, schedule II drug violations, two counts of simple possession/casual exchange and unlawful drug paraphernalia.

Jelly Roll, 41, and Beckwith dated before he became a country superstar. During their relationship, the pair both struggled with substance abuse and spent time in prison. Beckwith gave birth to their daughter while Jelly Roll was behind bars. After welcoming Bailee, Jelly Roll turned his life around to be there for his child.

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Related: Jelly Roll’s Family Guide: Meet His 2 Kids and Estranged Wife Bunnie Xo

He may have had an uncontroversial start to fatherhood, but Jelly Roll has always prioritized his family. The country singer welcomed his first child, daughter Bailee Ann, with ex-girlfriend Felicia in 2008. At the time, Jelly (real name Jason DeFord) was serving a prison sentence for a drug dealing conviction. “A guard knocks on my […]

“I’ve never had nothing in life that urged me in the moment to know that I had to do something different. I have to figure this out right now,” he recalled of learning he was a dad during a 2023 interview with Billboard.

However, the journey to fatherhood wasn’t easy for the “Son of a Sinner” musician. Jelly Roll, who also shares son Noah with ex Melissa Ann Cowell, went to court to fight for custody of Bailee. He and Bunnie Xo were ultimately granted custody in 2017 and Bailee has since graduated from high school. (Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo called it quits earlier this month after a decade of marriage.)

“She made me go to court to even see [my daughter],” the singer said in his 2023 documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me. “I barely got to see her in the early years because I was traveling so much. I was a very less-than-present father.”

Days of Our Lives has Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) looking back at her time in Salem as Deidre Hall celebrates her 50th anniversary on the NBC soap. This week, her first air date on Days of Our Lives was June 21st, 1976. Can you believe that?

And just a fun side note, the other two current longest-running soap stars are also on Days. Susan Seaforth Hayes has been playing Julie Williams for 58 years off and on. And Suzanne Rogers has been playing Maggie Horton for about 53 years. These are all impressive tenures as soap actors.

And this week we’ve got Marlena looking through a photo album with her and John Black on the cover. His son Paul Narita (Christopher Sean) has come back to Salem this week and he surprises Marlena. If you’ve seen the recent episodes, you know this. And then Belle Black (Martha Madison) shows up too and Marlena says she’s taking a little stroll down memory lane and Belle wants to come along for the ride.

Days of Our Lives: Marlena’s Rise as a Salem Icon (1976-1986)

So, I thought we should take a stroll down memory lane, too. Let’s take a look at some favorite Marlena moments that Days of Our Lives fans have treasured. Starting when Deidre Hall first came on and lasting a decade from 1976 to 1986 was what we’ll call Marlena’s rise as a Salem icon. Marlena Evans came to town as a psychiatrist in June of 1976. She was treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at the time and Marlena quickly got entangled with Don Craig (Jed Allan). They were briefly married and she got pregnant and gave birth to but then lost her firstborn son.

And fans may also recall that during her early years on the show, Marlena was also stalked by the Salem Strangler. And she also met and married Roman Brady (Josh Taylor). Roman had been protecting her and they fell madly in love. And then Marlena turned up pregnant with their twins, Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney). But during Marlena’s first decade in Salem, Roman was presumed dead due to Stefano DiMera’s (Joseph Mascolo) interference.

Next, Marlena fell in love with amnesiac John Black, who later thought that he was Roman. The early to mid-80s in Salem was a really dramatic time for Marlena with a horrific window fall, a coma. And a presumed plane crash that led to her exit.

Days of Our Lives: Dramatic Returns and Supernatural Terror (1987-1996)

The next decade for Deidre Hall on Days from 1987 to 1996 was a time of dramatic returns, epic love, and supernatural terror. Because the late 80s to mid-90s was some of the craziest times in Salem. Wilder than many modern soap opera watchers have seen. After Marlena survived the coma and being held captive by Stefano, she returned to an emotional, poignant encounter with John Black.

But this is when the whole love triangle between John and Roman started after it was discovered that the true Roman Brady was still alive. The connection between Marlena and John, though proved to be stronger. Because Marlena and John had a passionate affair. This was while she was still married to Roman. And teenager Sami Brady caught them in the act. And that was when her little sister Belle was conceived.

The paternity scandal rocked the whole family for years to come. And when it came out that Roman was not the dad and John was, that led to an inevitable divorce for Marlena and Roman Brady. But one of the most iconic soap moments that is still talked about until this day, probably the most well-known story arc in Deidre Hall’s tenure on Days of Our Lives were the Queen of the Night story and the devil possession plot.

We saw Stefano drug Marlena and she full-on levitated in the style of horror film The Exorcist. And then finally, there was a dramatic exorcism performed by Father John Black. Lots of chaos, mind control, and possession. But in the end, true love prevailed.

Days of Our Lives: Mayhem, Marriages, and the Salem Stalker (1997-2006)

The next decade for Marlena from 1997 to 2006 saw mayhem, marriages, and the Salem Stalker. This era saw Marlena in an on-again off-again relationship with John. And we also had Kristen DiMera’s (Stacy Haiduk) schemes, multiple weddings, as well as separations, kidnappings. And more DiMera threats.

In 2003 to 2004, the Salem Stalker terrified the citizens of Salem. And Dr. Marlena Evans was framed for deaths that never even really happened. This was all one of Stefano’s tricks. But one of epic proportions. All the serial slayer victims weren’t dead. But were on a private island, Melaswen, which is New Salem spelled backwards. This was a huge rating stunt for Days of Our Lives.

And in the same decade, Marlena had to navigate the continued drama for her adult kids, Belle and Eric and Sami. Plus, Marlena was connected to the rest of Salem in her role as a renowned psychiatrist who specialized in talk therapy with a knack for hypnotherapy as well.

Days of Our Lives: Family, Exits, and Returns (2007-2016)

Deidre Hall’s next era, 2007 to 2016, was one where the focus was on family as well as exits and returns. So in 2008 there were big budget cuts on the NBC soap and that led to firings that caused a lot of fan backlash. So, that saw Marlena and John both leave Salem when Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall were both let go. But they returned in 2011 for the dedication of Horton Town Square. Marlena and John eventually built a beautiful life together, including grandkids and the discovery that Paul Narita was John’s biological son. And of course, Marlena also really loved John’s son, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf), as if he were her own.

Just as Marlena cared for Carrie Brady (Christie Clark), who’s the offspring of Roman and Anna DiMera (Leann Hunley). All this time, through personal issues and family drama, Marlena had to deal with the ongoing feud between the Bradys and the DiMeras. And she came to terms with John’s sketchy past. So, Marlena weathered all these storms with style and grace and dignity. She was always a fierce contender if you messed with her or her family.

Days of Our Lives: Legacy, Tragedy, and 50 Years of Excellence (2017-2026)

The decade that brings us to now is 2017 to 2026 and that includes legacy, tragic loss, a second possession. And Deidre Hall’s milestone 50th anniversary on Days of Our Lives. So the past 10 years for Marlena focused heavily on her super couple pairing with John that at times featured a supernatural bond between them. From family weddings to vow renewals, deaths and disappearance, it has all been part of Marlena’s journey from a young woman eager to help the people of Salem to a beloved town matriarch today.

Now many fans groaned in 2021 when the writers brought back the second devil possession storyline that involved Marlena. Not only was she possessed. But the devil also took over her dear friend Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) and her grandson Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). Once the devil was chased out of Salem again though, then we got the heartbreaking news that Drake Hogestyn had pancreatic cancer. The Days of Our Lives actor lost his battle on September 28th, 2024.

But before he was too sick, Drake had given the thumbs up on a storyline that the Days of Our Lives writers came up with for John Black’s character death. And in fact, Drake was still alive when they taped his character John’s death for Days. That aired on June 2nd, 2025, 8 months after Drake had passed away. So, John Black died on screen with Marlena by his side. But another actor playing the role, his face hidden by thick bandages. And of course, John risked his life one last time. And he died a hero, saving his one-time brother-in-law, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).

Sad Milestone on DOOL

And just a few weeks ago, Marlena, Brady, and Belle shared a special day when it was the first anniversary of John’s death. And now Marlena, Belle and Brady along with Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) are investigating the chess set that Stefano left to John and Marlena. This is one last sick game that Stefano is playing from beyond the grave.

Marlena’s core evolution from newcomer psychiatrist to legendary super couple queen and supernatural survivor has honestly been tons of fun to watch over the years. Deidre Hall portrays her character as resilient with strong family ties. And although this soap is no stranger to recast, I don’t think anybody could ever replace the actress who plays Marlena Evans. Maybe this will be the year that Deidre Hall finally wins a long overdue daytime Emmy.

Internet users are mentioning Taina Williams after Ari Fletcher shared a message about weddings.

RELATED: Who Dis Fa? Some Social Media Users Think Jayda Cheaves May Have Reacted To Ari Fletcher’s Recent Words

Ari Fletcher Dropped A Message About Weddings

On Monday, June 22, Ari Fletcher took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a quick message with her more than 2.9 million followers. Furthermore, Fletcher wrote, “I have a whole saved album of wedding inspo. I want a magical wedding. 👰🏽💍”

Internet Users Are Mentioning Taina Williams After Ari Fletcher’s Wedding Message

Social media users slid in TSR’s comment section with reactions to Ari Fletcher’s tweet. Many mentioned Taina Williams.

Before She Dropped A Message About Weddings, She Addressed Speculation Involving Tuson

Before Ari Fletcher dropped a message about weddings, she had addressed speculation involving her former friend Tuson. As The Shade Room previously reported, last week, Fletcher and Tuson both appeared at an apparent audition for the Zeus show, ‘Bad Boys.’ Afterward, Tuson appeared to speak about a physical altercation.

Ultimately, social media users began speculating that Tuson’s claims were aimed at Ari Fletcher. This prompted her to address the speculation.

RELATED: Whew! Ari Fletcher Seemingly Responds To Rumors That She Had Tuson Jumped At ‘Bad Boys’ Auditions (VIDEOS)

“The View” is rallying its audience to take immediate public action against the FCC, which is threatening its broadcasting independence. 

The network launched a widespread media campaign to defend the program’s right to choose its own on-air personalities and guests without external political interference. 

This update comes shortly after the popular talk show hosted Vice President JD Vance during an episode that drew significant public scrutiny for the way it was handled. 

During a recent broadcast, “The View” launched a promotional campaign designed to raise viewer awareness regarding ongoing legal proceedings with the federal agency. The video segment, as seen on YouTube, opened by honoring the legacy of the late series pioneer Barbara Walters.

It depicted a vintage recording of her explaining her fundamental vision to assemble diverse women with contrasting perspectives. 

An announcer in the clip noted that the morning program has consistently featured beloved personalities while tackling important societal matters for nearly three decades. The media campaign warned that government officials are now seeking unprecedented oversight regarding the specific individuals permitted to participate in the program. 

“Now, the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show,” the announcer stated. “Viewers, use your voice,” they added.

In direct response to these regulatory threats, the broadcast introduced a digital scanning matrix on the screen that links home viewers directly to the agency’s formal web portal. Audiences are encouraged to use their collective power to submit electronic feedback regarding a designated regulatory file.

The network expanded this public outreach initiative by embedding identical digital links within the video descriptions of the broadcast clip on YouTube.

FCC Supported Donald Trump’s Calls To Fire Seth Meyers

The public mobilization and promotional campaign launched by “The View” directly follows a broader pattern of federal scrutiny targeting major broadcast networks.

An intense dispute escalated between Donald Trump and “Late-Night” host Seth Meyers, prompting calls for immediate professional termination.

The political leader expressed sharp disapproval on his social platform, claiming the host lacked ability and stating that the entertainment program was a commercial failure, per The Blast. 

Following these public statements, the FCC commissioner demonstrated support by sharing Trump’s grievances on social media, signaling his support for the president’s statements. 

Whoopi Goldberg Has Reportedly Been Under Pressure To Be Removed From ‘The View’

The fight against talk show hosts extended to Whoopi Goldberg, as there have reportedly been “efforts” to push her out of the show. 

According to The Blast, insiders noted that the pressure to remove Goldberg from the show may likely stem from Trump’s allies, who are not fans of “The View” or its hosts.

“Many believe that a continued effort is being made to put negative news out there to get a reaction,” the source noted. 

Notably, despite the external pressure, producers remain fully committed to maintaining the current commentators.

Meghan McCain Strongly Rebuked The Daytime Presenters Over Controversial On-Air Conduct

The coordinated campaign to undermine Goldberg matches the intense public hostility expressed by Meghan McCain, who criticized the current panel of “The View.” Immediately following a high-profile political segment with Vance, she publicly condemned the broadcasting group’s professional demeanor. 

McCain, who left the talk show in 2021, took to X to express deep dissatisfaction with how the hosts managed their conversation with the vice president, as reported by The Blast.

The commentator asserted that despite their long careers in broadcasting, the panel members consistently mishandle basic facts and cannot complete a broadcast segment without arguing. 

Ana Navarro Recently Addressed Her On-Air Clash With Whoopi Goldberg

McCain’s public critique of the interview with Vance also highlighted a tense moment between Ana Navarro and Goldberg, when the latter cut the former off, preventing her from asking the politician a question. 

Breaking her silence on the matter, Navarro clarified the reality behind the commercial break disagreement. She dismissed rumors of a deep personal rift, explaining that the sharp interaction resulted entirely from the high-stress constraints of live television. 

Navarro clarified that she wanted to ask Vance for his perspective on a derogatory comment aimed at Michelle Obama during a recent sporting event. However, she defended Goldberg for cutting her off, noting that managing a strict broadcast schedule is a core requirement of the role, especially when segments face severe time limits. 

The Blast confirmed that show producer Brian Teta also supported this explanation. The producer revealed that while the production team was working under intense time pressure, the entire cast moved past the brief disagreement immediately after. 

Young and the Restless has Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) vibing with Matt Clark (Roger Howarth), and soon he asks Phyllis out on a date, and I’m betting that she says yes. Phyllis may not say yes the first time he asks, but in the end, she likes Matt enough to give him a chance.

They’ve got chemistry. They’re both town pariahs and they’re both lonely. But I think when those in Genoa City who know Phyllis find out that she is dating Matt, it will not be pretty.

Young and the Restless: Phyllis and Matt’s Unlikely Connection

So, you saw at first that Phyllis was using Matt as leverage against the Newmans. But after he saved Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) life, everything changed for Phyllis when she looked at him because now she firmly believes that Matt is not a monster anymore. And Phyllis is so grateful to Matt for saving Nick, who is the father of her daughter, Summer Newman (Allison Lanier). As you know, Phyllis once loved Nick very much. And in her heart, you know, Phyllis will always love Nick in some way as co-parents, as friends, as humans. I mean, heck, it wasn’t even that long ago, if you remember, Phyllis was actually trying to get Nick back.

And I think this is all part of why she’s protective of Matt now. So, remember, Phyllis was worried about what would happen to Matt if authorities went through with the trial and she wound up thrown in prison. And now Phyllis hates the idea of Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) using Matt to destroy Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn). It’s not really about Cane, though. Phyllis doesn’t trust that Victor isn’t playing Matt and suspects he will ruin both Cane and Matt.

So, this week we’re going to see him telling Phyllis a sweet little once upon a time tale. Matt is talking about a man with no memory asking a woman he met out on a date. So, of course, that’s about him asking Phyllis out indirectly, and we’ll have to wait and see how exactly she reacts. I can definitely see Matt and Phyllis starting something real, though, especially because I don’t think there’s a single person in Genoa City that would date either of them. And Victor can’t keep Matt under his thumb forever.

Young and the Restless: What’s Ahead for Phyllis and Matt

With the criminal charges dropped, I think it’ll be a lot harder for Victor to try and restore them and bring them back after getting rid of them. But also, I do suspect Matt will be under Victor’s thumb for a while yet, just not forever. So, as I said, Matt asks Phyllis out this week, and we’ll see how that goes. There’s a chance she may tell Matt no at first because she may be rightly concerned about the optics of it, but eventually I do think Phyllis will say yes to Matt. We could even see Phyllis dating Matt on the sly at first, keeping it on the down low. But Phyllis and Matt would eventually either go public or wind up outed if they do start dating.

So, with that in mind, we’re going to talk about what could come next for Matt and Phyllis because it looks like they may begin dating, getting closer, and could be starting a relationship soon, possibly secretly.

Young and the Restless: Daniel Loses His Mind

So, the first thing I want to think about is Daniel Romelotti’s (Michael Graziadei) reaction if Phyllis starts dating Matt. At this point, Daniel has just about had it with his mom. He’s ready to walk away from Phyllis once and for all. He and Summer would have been justified if they never spoke to Phyllis again after, if you remember, her faking her death. That was during the whole Jeremy Stark scheme. Phyllis made Summer and Daniel grieve her needlessly by faking her own death. And I don’t know if they will ever fully forgive Phyllis for that. It took a long time for Daniel and Summer to let her back into their lives.

And then when Phyllis pulled this whole thing with stealing Newman Enterprises with Cane, that just sent Daniel and Summer right over the edge because Phyllis was hurting people that they cared about while she was chasing revenge and power and profit. And even before that, she had already pushed Daniel and Summer too far. So Daniel may be absolutely horrified to find out Phyllis is dating Matt. And of course, he would run to Summer. And even though Phyllis gave Newman Enterprises back to Victor, we know that Daniel still hasn’t forgiven his mom because he knows Phyllis didn’t do it for the right reasons.

Young and the Restless: Matt Really Changed?

Although, I will say Matt does truly seem to be a changed man and he wants to be a better person and he wants to make amends to those he hurt. But I don’t think Phyllis’s kids are going to care about any of that. Just her dating Matt, somebody who’s done unspeakable things. I think her kids will be appalled that Phyllis is getting close to Matt. There’s always a chance that he could end up reverting back to his old evil self. I don’t think he will because Josh Griffith seems to love Roger Howarth. I’m a fan of his, too. And for him to stay on Y&R, Matt’s either got to be really good or really bad and remain a villain.

Young and the Restless: Potential Fallout and Reactions

The second thing I could see ahead for Phyllis and Matt is that Phyllis gives Matt a job at Arabesque or another company. That would annoy Victor and would probably annoy Cane also. And we know Phyllis loves to ruffle Victor’s feathers and she also loves an excuse to poke at Cane as well. And I think Victor would absolutely go through the roof. Can you imagine if Phyllis brought Matt into a company and then Matt, you know, walked away from all the schemes? Because Victor’s got his own big plans to use Matt. And I think if Phyllis circumvented him, that would drive Victor absolutely nuts, which Phyllis would love, but it would put her at war with Victor again.

Another thing to think about is Sharon Newman’s (Sharon Case) reaction. That’s important to consider. This one will be hard to process if Phyllis agrees to date Matt. I mean, there’s no way that Sharon wouldn’t be bothered, right? It’s understandable because Matt tormented and terrorized Sharon for years. In their younger years, Matt raped her. Then he tried to rape her again. And he nearly killed her. He tried to kill Nick.

And Matt tried to frame Nick for murder. And more recently, Matt terrorized her again, tried to kill her son, Noah Newman (Lucas Adams). Plus, Matt tried to blow Sharon, Noah, Nick, and Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) all to smithereens. Plus, Matt got Nick hooked on fentanyl. I mean, the list of Matt’s crimes goes on and on and on. It’s all just horrible, terrible things.

Young and the Restless: Sharon & Phyllis Finally Buried the Hatchet

Plus, don’t forget very recently Sharon and Phyllis had that nice hug it out moment where Sharon was telling Phyllis she could always count on her and she’s there for her and she cares about her. It’s surprising, but Sharon and Phyllis have actually become friends after years of rivalry and plotting and bickering.

It’s a big moment, but Phyllis dating Sharon’s rapist is icky and something that she might be really angry about and she may chew Phyllis out. But I think more than that, Sharon would be scared for Phyllis that Matt might hurt her. However, Sharon is a very forgiving person. So, it’s not beyond the realm for her to see that Matt had mental health issues before and is a different man now. So, we’ll see how it all plays out, but I can see Phyllis and Matt becoming a legit couple soon, and the reactions would flip Genoa City upside down.