Entertainment
Jason Tartick and Kathryn Hurley’s Relationship Timeline
Jason Tartick and girlfriend Kathryn Hurley are a paw-fect match after meeting in the cutest way possible: through a dog adoption.
After adopting his golden retriever Teddy in March 2025 — through Wags & Walks Nashville, which Hurley founded and where she serves as the executive director — Tartick exclusively told Us Weekly that his dream girl’s “gotta love dogs.”
“[She] has to be a fan of Teddy and the idea of rescuing. That’s so important,” the Bachelor Nation alum said of his ideal girlfriend in July 2025.
Four months later, Us exclusively confirmed that Tartick and Hurley were dating after being spotted spending time together in early November 2025.
Scroll down for a look back at Tartick and Hurley’s romance from the start:
March 2025
Tartick announced on March 4 that he adopted dog Teddy from Wags & Walks Nashville after previously sharing two golden retrievers with ex-fiancée Kaitlyn Bristowe. (Tartick and Bristowe announced their split in August 2023 after four years together.)
“Not sure who rescued who, but we got each other! Thank you @wagsandwalksnashville,” he captioned the Instagram video of him signing the adoption papers and officially becoming Teddy’s owner.
Hurley, who founded Wags & Walks Nashville in 2019, told People in a statement at the time that the organization was “thrilled to have helped Jason find his forever pup!” (It is unclear whether they had any direct contact with each other at this point in time.)
She explained, “At Wags & Walks, we believe every rescue dog has a perfect match, and seeing them find that connection makes our work so rewarding. Jason’s decision to adopt not only changes his dog’s life forever but also helps raise awareness about the importance of giving rescue dogs a second chance.”

Jason Tartick, Kathryn Hurley. Courtesy of Kathryn Hurley/Instagram
April 2025
Us understands that Hurley amicably split from musician husband Rajiv Dhall after nearly five years of marriage. The exes finalized their divorce later that year.
September 2025
After living in Nashville for a few years, Tartick announced on September 23 that he and dog Teddy moved to New York City.
November 2025
The Bachelorette alum was spotted getting cozy with Hurley at the opening of the restaurant Craig’s in Nashville on November 11, according to a photo shared by hospitality guru Dante Deiana via X.
Days later, a source exclusively confirmed to Us that Tartick and Hurley were a couple.
December 2025

Jason Tartick, Kathryn Hurley. Courtesy of Jason Tartick/Instagram
Tartick confirmed his and Hurley’s relationship on December 12 in honor of her birthday. “From the dogs you save every day to the people whose lives you change, you make everything around you more beautiful. Happy Birthday Kathryn!” he wrote via Instagram.
That same month, Hurley reflected on her and Tartick’s romance by sharing a few photos from their time together. “So happy here 🤍,” she wrote via Instagram on December 15.
The couple ended the month by ringing in the new year together. “Can’t wait to do 2026 with you @jason_tartick 💘,” Hurley captioned a video of the pair kissing while sitting on a car tailgate, among other video clips.
“The best ending to 2025, so excited for 2026 ❤️,” Tartick wrote in the comments section. He also shared his own New Year’s Eve post, which showed him kissing Hurley at a party in Nashville on the holiday.
January 2026

Jason Tartick and Kathryn Hurley Tommy John
The twosome enjoyed a road trip to New York City to start the year, according to social media. Tartick and Hurley made their red carpet debut during the trip for Netflix’s The Rip premiere on January 13.
Tartick and Hurley jetted off to Miami less than one week later to attend the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Indiana Hoosiers beat the Miami Hurricanes 27-21. “Taking a break from the NFL. Go Hoosiers,” Tartick wrote via Instagram after his beloved Buffalo Bills lost to the Denver Broncos on January 17, knocking them out of the playoffs.
On January 23, Tartick and Hurley partnered with Tommy John on the brand’s latest Valentine’s Day campaign.
February 2026
Tartick and Hurley attended Super Bowl LX together at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
“Manifesting a Bills/Lion Super Bowl in 2027! So excited to be here!” Tartick captioned photos of himself and Hurley at the game.
June 2026

Jason Tartick and Kathryn Hurley Courtesy of Jason Tartick/Instagram
The couple attended CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee, together before Tartick took to Instagram to reveal that they were set to embark on a vacation through Europe.
Sharing two snaps of himself cozying up to Hurley, Tartick wrote, “One last Nashville night at CMA Fest before our 20 day journey in Europe begins!”
Entertainment
Pink’s Best Outfits While Hosting the Tony Awards 2026
Pink was the queen of Broadway while hosting the 2026 Tony Awards — and she certainly had the wardrobe to prove it.
“For some reason, I’m your host, Pink,” the rock star quipped in her opening monologue during the ceremony held on Sunday, June 7. “I am here to celebrate the hardest working people in showbiz — mostly the people who sew Luke Evans into that [Rocky Horror Picture Show] corset. Tonight, I am here as Broadway’s biggest fan, well, second biggest next to my daughter, Willow.”
Pink’s 15-year-old daughter, Willow, is an aspiring theater performer, who dreams of one day conquering the Broadway stage.
“I did not take this job so my kid could get Broadway selfies, although,” Pink added, trailing off and flashing a montage of Willow’s personal photos at Great White Way shows throughout the year. “And a couple for Mama.”
Keep scrolling to see Pink’s best outfits during the 2026 Tony Awards:
Entertainment
Inside Callum Turner and Dua Lipa’s 2 Wedding Celebrations
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are doubling down on their wedding bliss.
One week after officially tying the knot, the couple hosted a second star-studded wedding ceremony in June. The pair previously confirmed their engagement in 2025, after sparking dating rumors the year prior.
“It’s very exciting,” Dua Lipa told British Vogue for a cover story at the time. “This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever — it’s a really special feeling.”
The “Levitating” singer also revealed that Turner customized her ring after consulting her friends and sister.
“I’m obsessed with it,” she gushed at the time. “It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.”
At the time, Dua Lipa noted that she and Turner hadn’t set a date for their nuptials due to their busy schedules.
“I want to finish my tour, Callum’s shooting, so we’re just enjoying this period,” she said. “I’ve never been someone who’s really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. All of a sudden I’m like: ‘Oh, what would I wear?’”
Scroll down to learn more about Dua Lipa and Turner’s two celebrations:
Where Did Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Initially Get Married?
Multiple outlets reported that Dua Lipa and Turner made things official during a civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall. Days later, Dua Lipa confirmed the news while sharing several photos from their special day — including one of her sitting on Turner’s lap as they shared a kiss. In another image, the couple held hands as they exited the town hall building.
“31.05.2026 🤍,” she captioned the Instagram post.
Dua Lipa stunned in a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture ensemble featuring an ivory blazer, asymmetric matching skirt, sculpted blush bustier, white gloves and an oversized hat. Turner, meanwhile, donned a custom Ferragamo look featuring a double-breasted navy jacket, coordinating shirt, pants and tie.
Where Did Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Have Their Second Wedding Ceremony?
Dua Lipa and the Masters of the Air star hosted a second wedding ceremony at Villa Valguarnera in Sicily, per Vanity Fair.
Who Attended Dua Lipa and Callum Turner’s Second Wedding Ceremony?
The star-studded celebration reportedly included Elton John serenading the couple with a rendition of “Your Song,” according to Vanity Fair.
Entertainment
Tony Awards 2026 Nominees and Winners: See the Complete List
Broadway’s biggest night is bringing together this year’s nominees and past winners for an unforgettable 2026 Tony Awards.
Pink made her Tonys hosting debut during the Sunday, June 7, ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! lead this year’s nominees with 12 nods each. Ragtime follows closely behind with 11 nominations, while Death of a Salesman, Cats: The Jellicle Ball and The Rocky Horror Show are each up for nine awards.
Scroll down for the complete list of 2026 Tony Awards nominees — and look for the bold names to see who won each category:
Best Play
The Balusters
Giant
WINNER: Liberation
Little Bear Ridge Road
Best Musical
The Lost Boys
WINNER: Schmigadoon!
Titaníque
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Book of a Musical
The Lost Boys
WINNER: Schmigadoon!
Titaníque
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
The Lost Boys
WINNER: Schmigadoon!
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Revival of a Play
Becky Shaw
WINNER: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Every Brilliant Thing
Fallen Angels
Oedipus
Best Revival of a Musical
Cats: The Jellicle Ball
WINNER: Ragtime
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Will Harrison, Punch
Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
WINNER: John Lithgow, Giant
Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing
Mark Strong, Oedipus
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels
Carrie Coon, Bug
Susannah Flood, Liberation
WINNER: Lesley Manville, Oedipus
Kelli O’Hara, Fallen Angels
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Nicholas Christopher, Chess
Luke Evans, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
WINNER: Joshua Henry, Ragtime
Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
Stephanie Hsu, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
WINNER: Caissie Levy, Ragtime
Marla Mindelle, Titaníque
Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime
Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot
WINNER: Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Richard Thomas, The Balusters
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Liberation
Marylouise Burke, The Balusters
Aya Cash, Giant
WINNER: Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
June Squibb, Marjorie Prime
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
WINNER: Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys
André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Bryce Pinkham, Chess
Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime
Layton Williams, Titaníque
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
WINNER: Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
Hannah Cruz, Chess
Rachel Dratch, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!
Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus
Takeshi Kata, Bug
David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon
WINNER: Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
David Rockwell, Fallen Angels
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Dots, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
WINNER: Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon
Qween Jean, Liberation
WINNER: Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels
Emilio Sosa, The Balusters
Paul Tazewell, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Linda Cho, Ragtime
Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!
WINNER: Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Ryan Park, The Lost Boys
David I. Reynoso, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon
Natasha Chivers, Oedipus
Stacey Derosier, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Heather Gilbert, Bug
Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13
WINNER: Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Chess
WINNER: Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Jane Cox, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Andre Honoré and Donald Holder and 59 Studio, Ragtime
Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!
Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellice Ball
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13
Josh Schmidt, Bug
WINNER: Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys
Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
WINNER: Kai Harada, Ragtime
Brian Ronan, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!
Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, Giant
Robert Icke, Oedipus
Kenny Leon, The Balusters
WINNER: Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Whitney White, Liberation
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
Lear DeBessonet, Ragtime
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
WINNER: Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Best Choreography
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys
WINNER: Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Ellenore Scott, Ragtime
Ani Taj, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Best Orchestrations
WINNER: Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!
Ethan Popp, Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez, Gabriel Mann and Kyler England, The Lost Boys
Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder and Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Brian Usifer, Chess
Entertainment
DWTS’ Mark Ballas and Wife Joke About 1st Trip Without Son
Dancing With the Stars pro Mark Ballas and wife BC Jean made their first trip to New York City without 2-year-old son Banksi in tow — and he’s unbothered by his parents’ absence.
“This date night is, like, usually there’s one with us,” Ballas, 40, told Us Weekly exclusively while attending the 2026 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7, “He was like, ‘See ya, whatever.’ He’s having the best time [without us].”
Banksi might not have been around for this red carpet moment, but Ballas and Jean, 39, told Us that he’s already displaying signs of following in their musical footsteps.
“I think we have a drummer on our hands,” Ballas said. Jean added, “I said that when he was in the belly.”
Ballas continued, “He’s always hearing drums and me isolating them. When the drums are going he wants to be involved in that.”
Jean also told Us that Banksi is “definitely loving being in the studio” as the couple records their upcoming album.
“Every instrument, he likes to touch all of them and hear the sounds,” Jean continued, “[He’s] starting to move a little bit.”
Sports could also be in Banksi’s future.
“He also has an arm,” Ballas said. “For a 2-year-old, you should see him throw a ball. It’s pretty impressive.”
Jean added, “We’re proud parents.”
While they’re celebrating their son’s milestones, Ballas and Jean are also gearing up for a major milestone of their own. The couple will be celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary this upcoming November.
“For us, I don’t know if there’s a secret. I feel like it’s marry your best friend,” Jean told Us about their relationship. “Not just someone that you love, but someone that you can fight with and get through the hard times with. Mainly someone that you can laugh even through the dark stuff.”
Ballas agreed, noting that being “best friends” was the “root” of their relationship.
“We do a lot of things together,” he added. “I love her more and more every day. It’s just marry your best friend.”
Part of their longtime romance will be showcased on their upcoming album, Jean teased.
“During the pregnancy and since having Banksi, we have been creating this album,” she said. “The other day we were listening to our songs, trying to be like, ‘OK, which ones are making the album, what are we thinking? What are we missing from the album? What do we want to do?’ We’re just actually really proud. We’re excited to share it.”
Entertainment
Why Fire Country’s Leven Rambin Is Undergoing IVF at 36
Fire Country’s Leven Rambin is opening up about her decision to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF).
“I’m going to talk to you a little bit about why I’m going to do IVF at 36 years old,” Rambin, 36, began a Friday, June 5, TikTok. “Some of y’all think it’s kind of young. Some of y’all think it’s kind of old. Depends on who you talk to. Depends on what doctor you talk to. One doctor said I was old and barren and decrepit. The other one said I was the youngest patient she’s had. So it really depends on what environment you’re in.”
Rambin went on to admit she wished she had frozen her eggs when she was younger, potentially when she was single and “didn’t have as much going on” and “didn’t feel like I was under the gun.” (Rambin tied the knot with husband Dawson Smith in 2025.)
“Because now I would have those eggs and they could just mix ‘em up. That being said, I am a good candidate for natural still,” she said. “However, I feel like I’m just waiting for this. I feel like I’ve run out of patience — it’s not a strong suit, and I want to continue to act and go on sets and be away for months at a time. So, I can’t be hanging around my husband all the time.”
Rambin explained that she is undergoing surgery for endometriosis, to see if she is diagnosed with infertility “in order for insurance to cover it.”
“You’ve been so supportive and so many comments of like, ‘I did IVF.’ And just sharing your stories, so thank you,” she said. “I think it’s a fascinating topic, a fascinating journey and I want to share it with you guys. So stick around for more updates.”
Rambin captioned the upload, “Y’all are so helpful and supportive thanks ladies xx #ivf #endo #fertility #fyp.”
Days prior, Rambin filmed herself after leaving a gynecologist’s office. In the TikTok video, Rambin shared that her doctor told her she was within the average range of women getting pregnant and reassured her that her body was normal.
“She was like, ‘This could be your lucky month but if you want to be efficient you can go ahead and do the IVF. I’m also going to get the endometriosis diagnostic surgery. So that should be fun. She said the best time to get pregnant is right after that,” Rambin said in the Wednesday, June 3 upload. “So let’s go ladies.”
Entertainment
Pink Gives Daughter Shout-Out in 2026 Tony Awards Monologue
Pink’s daughter, Willow Sage Hart, was living her biggest dreams alongside her mom at the 2026 Tony Awards.
The Grammy winner, 46, hosted the Sunday, June 7, ceremony at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, opening the awards show with a sweet shout-out to her daughter, 15.
“Tonight, I am here as Broadway’s biggest fan — well second biggest next to my daughter, Willow,” the rock star quipped in her opening monologue. “I don’t know where she is [in Radio City], but I did not take this job so my kid could get Broadway selfies, although [we have backstage before tonight ] … and a couple for mama.”
Willow even joined her mom on the red carpet, where they were joined by Pink’s husband, Carey Hart, and son Jameson.
Pink previously shared that Willow — whom the singer shares with Hart, along with Jameson — gave her mom the stamp of approval for her Tonys hosting gig.
“When I was asked to host the Tonys, I immediately thought, ‘I have to get permission from my daughter,’” Pink said in an April statement. “I’ve never been on Broadway, and shouldn’t you have to have been on Broadway in order to host? That seems fair and right. But when I asked my daughter, she was really excited about being able to have a ticket to go to the Tonys, so I’m hosting the Tonys and I’m really, really excited and very nervous because that girl is a tough crowd!”
Earlier this month, Pink explained her family’s decision to relocate to New York City so Willow could pursue her Broadway dreams.

Judith Moore, P!NK, Jameson Hart, Willow Hart and Carey Hart attend The 79th Annual Tony Awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
“She is musical theater obsessed. She has followed me around the world her whole life, on and off tour, and I told her, ‘It’s your turn. We’ll follow you,’” she recalled during her Tuesday, June 2, appearance on CBS Mornings. “That’s what we do for our kids. We show up.”
As Pink gushed over her “phenomenal” and “very talented” daughter, she insisted she was not exaggerating when it came to Willow’s star potential.
“I would be like, ‘You can’t do that,’” she said of how she would handle her daughter’s aspirations if she didn’t think she could make it. “I would say it in a nicer way. I’d be like, ‘Maybe? Also, science.’”
Pink went on to compare Willow to herself as a teenager, revealing that she was so nervous as a young performer that she made her friends’ parents turn their backs when she sang for them.
“She’s more talented than I ever was at her age. And she’s also just really earnest, she’s a hard worker, she’s an A-plus student. She once said, ‘I want to get Broadway out of the way so I can be a trauma surgeon,’” she shared. “She’s so confident, and she walks through the world with such poise and grace. I’ve seen her on stage and I’m like, ‘Who is that person?’”
The following day, Pink offered an update on Willow’s pursuit of her theater dreams.
“She is now finally at the age where she would like to do her own thing, which I think is boring,” she joked in a Wednesday, June 3, interview with E! News. “She’s doing the damn thing. She’s in cabarets for charity, she’s in workshops, she just did Carrie the musical, which was dark. She’s killing it. It’s fun to watch. I told her she just has to work hard and be a good person, and show up and be a good teammate and work hard.”
Entertainment
How Mariel Molino Cut the Tension With Costar Before Kiss
Mariel Molino is pulling back the curtain on her creative process, revealing how she cut the tension before kissing her NCIS: Origins costar Austin Stowell.
“I was like a giddy little 13-year-old, and I think we were all nervous because it’s been so much leading up to this moment,” Molino, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly while walking the 2026 Tony Awards red carpet. “It’s been, like, two years, and then the final moment of season 2, we finally kiss, and I think everyone – including myself, Austin and the rest of the crew — were all nervous. It’s like the first day of camp!”
For the uninitiated, on the May 5 episode of the NCIS prequel, the Camp Pendleton office was in danger of being shut down. In an effort to save the office, members of the team considered different future possibilities, including Lala (Molino) who weighed a potential move to be closer to Manny. Her contemplation took Gibbs (Stowell) by surprise.
In the episode’s final scene, Gibbs arrived at Lala’s house, where they finally shared a kiss.
“In the foreseeable future, we can enjoy the ride a little bit and see what happens,” Molino previously teased to Us regarding her character’s budding romance. “Romantically, I would say, however, that I know the writers love a curveball.”
While taking in the 2026 Tony Awards on Sunday, Molino revealed how she got over those pre-kiss nerves with Stowell, 41.
“Oh, we both went out and had a cigarette and a Diet coke,” she said, laughing. “A cigarette and a fridge cigarette, that’s what we did. We were like, ‘Ok, this is happening, we need to, like, cut the tension here real quick.’ And then it was great. You can see it for yourself.”
Now that she has an on-screen kiss with a fellow cast member under her belt, Molino is also sharing with Us what she hopes to achieve next in her acting career.
“OK, so I got my first fight this year, which is a first for me,” she said. “I’d never done such a complicated action scene, but next year I want, like, a knife fight. Like, I want to pull out a knife from some corner of my body that you don’t see, and I want to just, like, have a knife fight.”
As for her onscreen character, Molino told Us she simply hopes Lala will have some “fun” in the upcoming season.
“She’s been through so much that I’m hoping that this next chapter in season 3 just gives her and Gibbs a very fun romantic dynamic, where maybe they’re, you know, trying to hide their relationship because it’s like, you know, will they, won’t they?”
She added, “We finally do, but they know we’re coworkers! So it’s kind of, like, not the best look. So I’m hoping to see that maybe we’re getting to hide in little closets and just make it, like, a torrid affair.”
Entertainment
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Reinvents Itself With a Thrillingly Chaotic Premiere
Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Vampire Lestat Episode 1.
It’s officially my favorite time of year: the moment we reiterate how Interview with the Vampire isn’t only a masterpiece of Gothic character drama, but one of the 21st century’s best television shows, full-stop. I’ve held this stance since the AMC series first premiered in 2022, and Season 3’s first episode shows no indication I should change my tune. Overall, the third season of showrunner Rolin Jones‘ adaptation of Anne Rice‘s The Vampire Chronicles novels marks a crucial turning point — not a rejection of its established identity, but a reframing that injects even more nuance into an already complex ensemble.
Jones has taken his cues from Rice’s 1985 sequel book The Vampire Lestat, from retitling the third season to match and switching perspectives from the original unreliable narrator Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) to Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) — the toxic love of Louis’ life and an equally unreliable storyteller in his unique, theatrical way. Compared to the meditative and mournful tone that defines the first two seasons, Episode 1, “Detroit,” written by Jones and Hannah Moscovitch and directed by Craig Zisk, is as uproariously electrifying, tantalizing, and painful as you’d expect for a non-linear ride through the eponymous protagonist’s damaged psyche.
Lestat Kicks Off a Chaotic Tour in ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Episode 1
After a psychedelic new title sequence set to one of series composer Daniel Hart‘s original songs, “Detroit” opens not with guts and gore, but at a somber, posthumous auction of Lestat’s most prized items. Attendees include the wealthy elite, an official representative from the Vatican (Carlo Adamo), Raglan James (Justin Kirk) of the Talamasca, Armand (Assad Zaman) wearing an eyepatch over his wounded left eye, and Louis, who now walks with a cane to assist his prosthetic left leg. The auctioneer (David Patrick Flemming) opens the bidding for an elaborate “music box” complete with speakers, wine, blood, vinyl pressings, and a series of audio recordings called “The Failures.” His notes describe the latter as “an omniscient history of the events of [Lestat’s] 2025 album and supporting tour and the consequential global catastrophes that sprung from said album and tour, as narrated by said the Vampire Lestat himself.”
As the bidding starts in earnest, with Armand and Louis exchanging small smirks as they repeatedly outbid each other, Lestat’s voiceover launches the story back into the spring of 2025. Said vampire and his four human band members — Larry (Noah Reid), the jealous lead guitarist, his “more talented” brother Alex (Seamus Patterson), bassist Salamander (Ryan Kattner), and TC (Sarah Swire), the foul-mouthed drummer — have embarked on their multi-city tour of future apocalyptic renown, and are serenading an enraptured crowd for the first of two nights in Detroit. Loyal groupies aside (whom he’s dubbed the Beautiful Unwell), Lestat’s annoyed about playing cramped venues instead of sold-out arenas. The worldwide vampire community isn’t taking his viral fame well, either; a few like him, others despise him, and most have orders to kill him on sight for flaunting the Great Laws. On cue, Tim (Dorian Grey) and Rus (Elise Bauman), two unimpressed local vampires, swap telepathic insults with Lestat from the audience.
Off-stage, Lestat banters with his lackluster musicians, annoys his manager, Christine Claire (Jeanine Serralles), and sends out his body double, Jarda Klapek (also Reid), a former construction worker from the Czech Republic. Jarda, in particular, helps keep Lestat’s true murderous nature as discreet as possible. Seeing the so-called nocturnal immortal out in daylight encourages people to keep believing what they’re already inclined to — that the band is a “cash grab” chasing the juggernaut success of Daniel Molloy’s (Eric Bogosian) bestselling pseudo-fiction book. Naturally, Lestat despises Louis’ characterization of him as “a mayonnaise villain with sociopathic tendencies.” When an ardent fan asks for his autograph, he opens Daniel’s book to the page that relays Lestat cornering Claudia (Bailey Bass) on the train and scrawls, “Lies.”
Watching ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Gave Me a TV Hangover | Review
The third season of the retitled ‘Interview with the Vampire’ premieres June 7 on AMC.
Lestat Hires Daniel Molloy To Tell His Side of the Story in ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Episode 1
If a concert tour isn’t enough of a statement, Lestat’s also filming a documentary — with Daniel on board as the director. Daniel awaits him on the bus, sitting alongside Dr. Fareed Bhansali (Gopal Divan, returning from Season 1’s sixth episode). The two vampire divas proceed to have a combative diva-off that barely passes muster as an interview. Lestat exchanges flirty texts with an unnamed recipient and ignores Daniel asking after Louis, who’s gone radio silent on his old frenemy. Lestat then accuses Daniel of having “transformational trauma” surrounding Armand turning and abandoning him, which Daniel refutes. As for how Lestat’s band formed, the venture began on Halloween night in his Montreal apartment, where Lestat and Louis were sharing a pleasant chat over FaceTime until Lestat read an article spotlighting Daniel and his infamous Interview with the Vampire book.
You can imagine how awkward things get from there. Louis only discovered the book’s existence last month — “I burned [Daniel’s] laptop!” he exclaims. “I didn’t know he had it saved in the cloud!” — and tries to reassure Lestat that the sensationalized response will blow over. Incensed, Lestat storms into the nearest bookshelf to procure a copy and finds the two employees talking trash about him while gushing over Armand. He spends hours yelling, annotating the pages, and greeting trick-or-treaters dressed like Louis, Armand, and Claudia. His terrible evening culminates in him stomping next door and crashing his future bandmates’ practice session. Temper tantrum aside, they’re impressed by his guitar skills and rash attitude.
With that information in hand, Daniel diagnoses “this whole tour” as “just some Byronic reaction to my book.” Lestat confirms as much, but with the caveat that “the songs are my story, your documentary the liner notes.” Overlooking Detroit’s cityscape from his hotel room, he drafts a vulnerable message to his earlier texting partner, then sends a simpler, “It’s been too long.”
Lestat’s Past Catches Up to Him in ‘The Vampire Lestat’ Episode 1
During the next evening’s performance, Lestat competes against Larry for the spotlight. The moment he’s prepared to publicly kill his lead guitarist for trying to upstage him, Lestat hallucinates various faces and memories. A lifetime’s worth of muses “[hammer] away at the performative vampire persona I had welded into armor“ until his shields shatter. Newly vulnerable, the live music synthesizes into the magic Lestat’s been craving. He feeds on Baby Jenks (Ella Ballentine), an enthusiastic fan who leaps onto the stage. Thanks to the LSD and MDMA in her system, he envisions her floating on the ceiling, lecturing him about his incessant need for love and enigmatically warning him that “They’re coming.”
Following that especially dramatic show, the road crew, Daniel, and Baby Jenks attend a Detroit boutique hotel’s “grand-ish” opening as VIP guests. Lestat continues to spiral along one heck of an acid trip, during which he reveals the chest scars Louis omitted from his recollections, hits the urinals (vampires pee blood, if you’d ever wondered), and has a foursome with Dee (Amaka Umeh), Baby Jenks, and a bellhop in the elevator. Lestat and Dee exit on the eighth floor, ready to join the band and Christina at an exclusive separate party, only to find the Fang Gang waiting — eight vampires, led by Tim and Rus, who revere Armand and aim to kill Lestat for telling vampire truths to mortals. Lestat easily slaughters some of the ten but doesn’t do his normal best, considering the circumstances.
With perfect timing, Daniel and the downstairs party’s “oddly familiar” DJ — Sam Barclay (Christopher Geary), the only surviving member of the Théâtre des Vampires — arrive and save Lestat’s undead life. Inconveniently, however, their brawl means they crash the party. Covered in blood and guts, the alternatively shocked or delighted humans can’t ignore how Lestat’s vampire gimmick is, in fact, not a gimmick. In true Lestat fashion, rather than face a difficult problem, he throws himself out the window and flies away. He pukes up blood in a cheap hotel room and begs his unseen texting partner to visit him. When she arrives, Lestat half-preens and half-cries, sliding back into his stutter over her name — Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle), his vampire fledgling, mother, and lover. (Yes, they definitely went there.)
- Release Date
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June 7, 2026
- Network
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AMC
- Writers
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Jonathan Ceniceroz, Ryan Kattner, Anusree Roy, Hannah Moscovitch, Kevin Hanna, Rolin Jones
Cast
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Jacob Anderson
Louis de Pointe du Lac
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- Episode 1 embraces a distinctly explosive style that’s suitable for Lestat but still retains the show’s established themes and rhythms.
- Sam Reid lets loose and nails every passing emotion, from Lestat’s familiar irreverence and his sultry frontman persona to aching uncertainty.
- Daniel Molloy makes for the perfect sparring partner, and it’s entertaining to see him revel in his vampiric life.
- The intriguing framing device will surely spawn theories.
Entertainment
If You Love ‘Midnight Mass,’ Apple TV’s Stellar 10-Episode Horror-Comedy Was Made Just for You
It’s been five years since Netflix’s horror masterpiece debuted, and the impact has still not subsided. Midnight Mass was Mike Flanagan’s magnum opus, a limited series that follows a small religious community on a remote fishing island that becomes overrun with vampires. The horror tale was a masterclass in storytelling, charting the drama of many damaged characters as they overcome their personal flaws in the service of something bigger than themselves: fighting vampires.
Midnight Mass still hits home with viewers and is practically flawless, but a new series has just hit the airwaves, looking to take its crown. Airing on Apple TV, another Stephen King-inspired show has taken a different angle on horror. Widow’s Bay is a horror series on the slightly more comedic side, but it still captures the former glory of Netflix’s best limited series.
Hamish Linklater Returns to Form as the Steward of a Haunted Island in ‘Widow’s Bay’
It is without a doubt that Hamish Linklater was the standout in Netflix’s Midnight Mass. He covers all the colors of the emotional spectrum as Father Paul Hill, a new priest who comes to Crockett Island and changes everything forever. Linklater sows suspicion in the role, playing on the typical evil priest archetypes before revealing that the character is much more human beneath the surface.
Linklater returns to a similar role in Widow’s Bay, another island similarly afflicted with spooky happenings. Instead of vampires, the titular island has every horror imaginable at its beck and call, and it all starts with the town’s founder, Richard Warren. Linklater stars as the haunting patriarch in Episodes 6 and 7. Where Paul cleverly pulls a hat trick on audiences, however, Warren pretty much does the opposite.
Episode 6: “Our Town” delves into the history of Widow’s Bay and shows the evil pact Warren made to ensure the safety of the town. This isn’t a bid to pull the wool over fans’ eyes, but it is pretty much exactly as it seems. The Apple TV show excels on streaming because of this and becomes superior to any haunting story. Widow’s Bay uses these tropes to comedic effect, casting Warren as just another entity that needs to be disposed of.
Warren’s pact ensures that he can never die while on the island and is still alive and kicking — for the most part — hundreds of years later when modern citizens unearth his grave. Linklater is almost unrecognizable, bearded and coated in dust as the skeletal founder of the town. He is creepier than ever, and yet his malice has an edge of humor to it as he refuses to go quietly into that good night.
Widow’s Bay hits on all these horror tropes well, but is so indisputably charming in its characters. Matthew Rhys, in the role of Mayor Tom Loftis, is the most reluctant everyman. He goes from being a nonbeliever to teaming up with Stephen Root’s wise local character, Wyck, and forcing Warren back into the grave. Widow’s Bay is certainly self-aware enough to understand all these tropes and subvert them — humorously so. Linklater is just another feather in the cap of the series that cannot be missed on Apple TV.
- Release Date
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April 28, 2026
- Network
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Apple TV
- Showrunner
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Katie Dippold
- Directors
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Sam Donovan, Andrew DeYoung, Hiro Murai, Ti West
- Writers
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Alberto Roldán, Neil Casey, Kelly Galuska, Colton Dunn, Dave Harris, Katie Dippold, Mackenzie Dohr
Entertainment
Corbin Bleu, Sasha Clements Reveal Secret to 10-Year Marriage
Corbin Bleu and his wife, Sasha Clements, are still blissfully in love after 10 years of marriage.
“We always do a thing that’s called updating our terms and conditions,” Bleu, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly at 2026 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7, before Clements, 36, explained that the pair like to check in with each other every year.
“You know, so it’s whatever you might need, want in that period of time, it’s just communication, truly,” Bleu added to Us of the secrets of their lasting romance. “It’s being open to communicating and being aware of each other’s wants [and] each other’s needs. I would say, you know, obviously, there’s compromise that happens, but so much of it is also just being aware.”
Bleu and Clements, both actors, first crossed paths in a grocery store in 2011. The High School Musical actor, fittingly, popped the question to Clements three years later while visiting Walt Disney World. The duo ultimately tied the knot in July 2016, since sharing the screen on multiple occasions.
Thanks to their frequent “check-ins,” Bleu and Clements’ relationship has been better than ever.
“We’re not the same people that we were last year,” Clements said. “So, every year we do a check-in and it’s been working … and then [having] two bathrooms!”
For Bleu, he stressed that having individual space is “very important” for a happy union.
Clements has also been Bleu’s biggest cheerleader upon his theater return. Bleu currently stars as Nick Carraway in Broadway’s The Great Gatsby, a role he originated across the pond on London’s West End.
“There’s elements of [Tobey Maguire’s movie character in my portrayal], but for me, my Nick portrayal is very close to the book,” Bleu told Us of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the same name. “I grew up loving the novel, and I wanted to keep my portrayal as close to the novel as possible.”
Bleu’s portrayal even earned a Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical nomination at the Olivier Awards earlier this year.
“I’m so honored. I’ve been in this industry for a very long time,” he told Buzzfeed last month. “I started professionally as a child actor, and I’ve now been working on Broadway for more than 15 years. My pursuit has always been prioritized by respect over popularity. To be nominated for this honor feels like a turning point in my career, and I’m so happy and excited.”
Bleu, however, lost the category to Tom Edden in Paddington the Musical.
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