Katie Holmes clearly knows that sometimes, the simplest wardrobe staples can be the most luxurious. At the Chanel Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner, the actress paired a beige top with sleek black trousers and two-toned heels, serving the effortless polish she’s known for. The good news is that a similar quiet-luxury top is on Amazon, and doesn’t cost more than $20!

With its neutral palette, clean lines and slightly slouchy fit, this sleeveless summer knit is a celebrity-approved style that’s actually wearable. It’s something you can casually wear to dinner with friends, not just to an A-lister-packed event, which in short means we’re snagging at least two.

Get the Btfbm Sleeveless Knit Top for $20 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

The Btfbm Sleeveless Knit Top comes in a light khaki shade that channels Katie’s exact vibe, with a relaxed crew neckline and a loose, breezy silhouette. It’s a piece that works as hard as you do, and whether it’s tucked into trousers for dinner, layered under a blazer for the office or paired with denim on weekends, it transforms your look into something luxe.

Related: Katie Holmes Ditched Basic Blue Jeans for This Super Rich Alternative

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Katie Holmes did it again. She skipped a predictable fashion look for something sleeker, richer and so much classier. Her dark-wash denim style reads way more polished than regular blue, and we found the look on sale for just $27 on Amazon! The Happy Hours actress was recently spotted in New York City looking effortlessly […]

The stylish, affordable tank is also incredibly flattering. Aside from visually elongating your figure, the ribbed knit drapes away from your body rather than squeezing or constricting, making you appear slimmer by default. Oh, and it’s stretchy!

One five-star shopper wrote, “The fabric is soft and silky (no shine) and not see-through. The construction is like much more expensive garments . . . It hits at high hip and falls loosely without being tight . . . This top is sophisticated, timeless and classic.”

At $20, this chic wonder is basically begging to become the unsung hero of your warm-weather rotation. Holmes makes minimalist dressing look like an art form, and now you can borrow her formula. A great neutral knit, comfy pants, your favorite shoes and you’re done. No overthinking required.

Get the Btfbm Sleeveless Knit Top for $20 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

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Bloating always comes at the worst times, but with the right blouse, it really doesn’t matter! We found 13 tummy-flattering blouses that fit the description, making you look slim, polished and anything but ‘poofy.’ They should cost hundreds, but our tailored-looking picks start at just $4! The chic, rich mom blouses on our list are […]

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A fourth celebrity will be lacing up their ballroom shoes for Dancing With the Stars season 35.

Jimmy Kimmel announced on the Wednesday, June 17, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! that his onscreen sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez is joining DWTS this fall.

“This September, Guillermo will become the first-ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars,” Kimmel, 58, declared. “Don’t lose a single adorable pound! ”

Rodriguez, 55, has been working on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for 23 years, having started on the show as a security guard. His quirky chemistry with Kimmel led to an on-air role as a sidekick and red carpet interviewer.

A full list of cast members (including stars and pro dancers) is set to be unveiled on September 2 on Good Morning America, with the series premiering this fall on ABC and Disney+. A new dancer from The Next Pro, which is hosted by season 34 mirrorball winner Robert Irwin, will also be joining the series.

Wednesday’s announcement comes one month after DWTS announced that Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson would be joining the show. Weeks earlier, news broke that Summer House star Ciara Miller and Love Island’s Maura Higgins would be trying their hand at the competition on season 35.

Maura, for her part, already has an idea of who she wants to be by her side in the ballroom.

Related: What to Know About Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ So Far: Cast and More

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The Dancing With the Stars ballroom is filling up fast for season 35. While simultaneously confirming the reality competition’s renewal, Hulu shared during the Get Real House event in April that Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would be lacing up their dancing shoes. The following month, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson […]

“The training is meant to be quite grueling,” Maura, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly in May. “That’s why I want Mark [Ballas], because maybe he might go easy on me a bit. But then I do probably need to be pushed.”

While Mark — who connected with Maura on season 4 of The Traitors, which Rob Rausch won — said he’s “not sure” if he would return for DWTS season 35, Maura has a back-up plan at the ready. (After being famously betrayed by Rob, 27, in the finale, Maura was gifted a Birkin for her troubles.)

“If it’s not Mark, I think I’d want Val [Chmerkovskiy],” Maura told Us. “I mean, to be honest, I’m OK to have anyone else. I just don’t want Gleb [Savchenko]. That’s the main thing for me.”

Related: ‘DWTS’ Exec Teases Season 35 Cast After Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller Join

Dancing With the Stars season 35 may be a few months away, but executives are working on “every single part of it.” “We’re deep into it,” executive producer and casting head Deena Katz told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, April 26. “We’re already deep into casting, we’re talking themes — we’re talking everything.” Earlier this […]

For Maura, not being partnered with Gleb, 42, is important to her after his on-off relationship with her friend Brooks Nader.

“It’s not even being mean. It’s just because I get on with Brooks and that’s that. I’m on Brooks’ side,” Maura told Us, as she referenced her mindset from season 4 of The Traitors. “I’m a loyalist, OK?”

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Ciara, whose casting was announced amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Summer House costar and ex West Wilson’s romance with ex-BFF Amanda Batula, is set on having Val, 40, as her partner.

“I’ve been campaigning for Val,” Ciara told E! News during the May Met Gala livestream. “I don’t know if they hear me, but yeah, sending out some emails, putting my word in. We’ll see where everyone wants to place me.”

Dancing With the Stars is set to premiere this fall on ABC and Disney+. A specific date has not been announced yet.

Jelly Roll‘s daughter, Bailee Ann, is speaking out as fans flood his comment section with STRONG words amid his filing for divorce from Bunnie XO.

RELATED: Watch K. Michelle Eat UP Her Country Music Awards Performance With Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll’s Daughter Speaks Out

According to Page Six, on Tuesday, June 16, Jelly Roll’s daughter, Bailee Ann, took to her Story on TikTok. This, to write, “Oh & one more thing I am disgusted at how invested everyone is in a very clearly private family matter. It’s fkn crazy. Go on somewhere yall. Worry bout your house- not mine. I’m not speaking on it – yet.”

@thebaileeann

what can i say, i get it honest 😂 #baileeann #baileeandbunnie

♬ original sound – SP

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Fans Flood His Comments With STRONG Words Amid Him Filing For Divorce From Bunnie XO

Meanwhile, social media users are gathered in the comment section of Jelly Roll’s latest Instagram post, sharing their “invested” thoughts.

More On Jelly Roll Filing For Divorce From Bunnie XO

As The Shade Room previously reported, Jelly Roll filed for divorce from his wife of ten years, Bunnie XO, on May 18. The filing reportedly surfaced on Tuesday, June 16, and revealed that he cited their separation date as May 9. Furthermore, in his filing, Jelly Roll reportedly noted “irreconcilable differences.”

On June 16, Bunnie XO appeared to react to the news of her divorce by sharing a photo of herself on her Instagram Story with the caption, “She’s getting her sparkle back.”

RELATED: Issa New Chapter? Bunnie XO Teases Getting Her “Sparkle Back” After Jelly Roll’s Divorce Filing Surfaces (VIDEO)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 9 seconds ago

What do you think the biggest plot hole in Star Wars is? You might think it’s the Emperor inexplicably surviving Return of the Jedi, thus making all that “chosen one” stuff from the prequels pretty meaningless. Or maybe Tatooine simultaneously being a crappy little backwater planet and yet a featured location in five franchise films and three television shows. For many of us, though, the biggest plot hole goes all the way back to the beginning, when Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker that Darth Vader murdered the young man’s father. In reality, Luke’s dad was Vader, and his new mentor simply lied.

Or, as Obi-Wan lamely explains later, he told the truth…from a certain point of view. The real-world reason for this plot development is that George Lucas was still trying to figure everything out. In-universe, it’s still a crazy lie, one that Luke was quite literally fated to discover. However, a canceled Star Wars project would have explained this plot hole while adding depth to one of the franchise’s favorite characters. That project was Obi-Wan Kenobi, the film that was shuttered in favor of creating the Obi-Wan Kenobi television show. In the canceled movie, Obi-Wan would have discovered the dangers of passing his own guilt onto young Luke Skywalker, potentially explaining his later omission of the truth.

The Movie That Never Was

The Obi-Wan Kenobi TV show proved to be good, not great. It was fun seeing Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen square off again, but the entire main story (a weird Princess Leia side quest) was completely superfluous. In retrospect, the canceled Obi-Wan Kenobi movie was much, much more interesting. Writer Stuart Beattie had a story where a guilt-ridden Commander Cody, aging twice as fast as other humans, has dedicated his life to protecting Obi-Wan Kenobi. In turn, Kenobi has dedicated his life to protecting young Luke Skywalker, the Force-sensitive child of Anakin Skywalker.

However, things go unpredictably sideways. In his zeal to protect Skywalker, Obi-Wan has projected his will onto the kid, which has an unexpected side effect. He loses much of his connection to the Force, leaving him vulnerable, a la the Man of Steel in Superman II. Eventually, he goes to the shrine of a goddess and ends up back on Mustafar, fighting a de-aged version of Mark Hamill as an evil Luke Skywalker. Obi-Wan nearly loses the fight before snapping awake with a revelation: that putting his guilt for failing Anakin and the rest of the Jedi would doom Luke to the Dark Side. He learns to mellow out, restoring his connection to the Force.

Trauma, Drama, And Lightsabers

So, what does this have to do with Obi-Wan lying to Luke about who his father really was in A New Hope? Simple: by this point, the Jedi Master would have spent nearly a decade trying to keep his own guilt from affecting Luke from afar. But actually sitting down with the kid, dishing about the most traumatic days of your life, plus explaining his legacy and pitching a rescue mission? That is a lot for the emotionally stunted hermit to take on in one day. Actually explaining the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader would have been too much, so Kenobi took the easy path and lied. 

It’s not a perfect explanation, of course, and nothing changes the fact that Luke was always going to discover the truth. But this canceled Obi-Wan Kenobi movie does provide a simple, emotionally satisfying reason for the old Jedi Master lying. Basically, he was trying to push past his own trauma and be the mentor Luke needed him to be. Sadly, this Obi-Wan Kenobi movie was canceled, so we’ll never have any adventures between the titular Jedi and Commander Cody. But we do now have some easy head canon that explains the truth of Kenobi’s actions. Truth told in the purest Star Wars fashion: from a certain point of view.

Sarah Jessica Parker has spent decades perfecting the art of looking polished without looking like she tried. Since her Carrie Bradshaw days, she’s mastered that effortless, slightly undone glow. According to a source shared with Us, her secret for maintaining soft, glossy lips is a budget-friendly balm hiding on Amazon.

According to a source for the brand, Parker reportedly keeps the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm in Berry on hand — a $19 Amazon find that blends hydration with a flattering hint of color. The balm offers a sheer, glossy tint while nourishing lips. It’s exactly the kind of practical-meets-pretty staple that fits her signature aesthetic.

Get the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm for $19 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm in ‘berry’ fits seamlessly into Parker’s low-maintenance beauty routine. Instead of layering multiple products, this one delivers a sheer, buildable tint that enhances your natural lip color. The vitamin-rich formula is designed to keep lips hydrated for hours, giving you that soft, glossy finish without constant reapplying.

Related: Martha Stewart’s Go-to Concealer ‘Hides Wrinkle Lines’ — Per Users!

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Martha Stewart has spent decades perfecting that polished, camera-ready glow — so when one of her reported beauty staples surfaces, it’s worth paying attention. The lifestyle icon’s complexion always looks smooth, bright and effortlessly refined, which makes her rumored concealer choice especially intriguing. According to a source who told Us, Stewart uses Charlotte Tilbury AIRbrush […]

What sets it apart is the tone. The cool berry shade creates that just-bitten look that flatters a wide range of skin tones. It’s sheer enough to swipe on without a mirror but can be built up for a slightly deeper wash of color, making it an easy day-to-night option.

Shoppers are just as impressed. One reviewer raved about the “creamy” texture, adding they’ve even used it as “blush in a pinch” for a coordinated, fresh-faced look. Another said they were “blown away” by how “very natural looking” the shade is, noting it makes their lips “look youthful and ever-so-slightly shimmery.”

Beyond the flattering berry tint, this balm works overtime to smooth dryness, deliver lightweight hydration and keep lips feeling comfortable all day. The non-sticky formula glides on effortlessly, while the slim tube makes quick touch-ups easy wherever you go.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s pick proves that achieving soft, polished lips doesn’t require a luxury price tag — just one smart, everyday staple.

Get the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm for $19 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Finding Ferdinand here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: Taylor Swift’s $32 Conditioner Makes Hair ‘Thicker’

Anyone who watched The Eras Tour documentary knows Taylor Swift delivers nonstop outfit changes, choreography and vocals. But fans also spotted a smaller detail backstage: a volumizing conditioner tucked among her essentials. It’s a subtle clue behind her signature bouncy, full-looking hair. While getting ready for back-to-back shows, Swift relied on products that could keep […]

Crime mysteries about missing kids are nothing new. From network procedurals like NBC’s Found to glossy miniseries like Peacock’s All Her Fault, these cases serve as the driving force for many a TV series — and for good reason. The stakes are automatically high when there’s an innocent child in danger. Harlan Coben adaptations have been a staple of streaming for a while as well, from hits like Stay Close, about a journalist, mother, and detective all united by a traumatic event, and The Stranger, starring Richard Armitage and Hannah John-Kamen as a family man and a mysterious woman who knows a plethora of life-changing secrets. No matter what kind of subject matter Coben is tackling, there’s a straightforward but suspenseful style that defines his work, and it’s one that audiences have clearly grown to love. His shows often skyrocket to the top of the Netflix charts and stay there for a good while as people make binge-watching a priority. I Will Find You is bound to be no different.

What Is ‘I Will Find You’ About?

I Will Find You centers on David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), whom we meet in prison. He’s been there for the last five years, after being found guilty of killing his young son Matthew (Ashton Cressman), though he maintains his innocence. Things get more complicated when his sister-in-law, Rachel (Britt Lower), visits him in prison with a recent photograph of a child who looks exactly like Matthew. David’s friends on the inside, a father-son duo named Philip (Peter Outerbridge) and Adam Mackenzie (Jonathan Tucker), agree to help break David out so he can discover the truth, which he attempts to do while evading a nationwide manhunt, originally led by Max Williams (Chi McBride) and Sarah Greer (Logan Browning).

In typical Coben fashion, there’s far more to this story than originally meets the eye. We’re introduced to characters like old-school crime boss Nicky Fisher (Clancy Brown), the ultra-wealthy and commanding Gertrude (Madeleine Stowe), Rachel’s influential on-again-off-again boyfriend Hayden (Milo Ventimiglia), David’s grieving ex-wife and pediatric surgeon Cheryl (Erin Richards), and more, most of whom are keeping a secret or two and could be connected to the mystery in some way.

‘I Will Find You’ Has Some Pacing Issues, but It All Pays Off By the End

Image via Netflix

One of the biggest strengths of I Will Find You is its commitment to shooting on location. From filming the prison (and eventually prison break) sequences in a former penitentiary to going to Times Square, there’s a natural immersiveness you simply can’t get with sound stages and green screens. As a result, it’s grittier and less sleek than similar shows, for better and for worse. While there is some impressive stuntwork, tense moments of suspense, and thrilling action sequences, I Will Find You never develops much of a distinct visual style. More often than not, the direction and cinematography fall flat, with standard camerawork and bland colorization. It feels like a missed opportunity to elevate the aspects that make the show unique.

I Will Find You’s pacing can also land a bit strangely. Despite the car chases and shootouts, the first half drags a bit, with some repetitive beats and information relayed multiple times to various characters. At the same time, a slew of new people are introduced in quick succession without a ton of context, making relationships and alliances difficult to keep track of.

Luckily, by the midway point, it’s easier to follow the tangled web of characters, and the show manages to find its groove. Something admirable about Coben’s work is that, while the twists can veer towards the outlandish and the cliffhangers are undoubtedly shocking, there’s still an authenticity that grounds things in reality. The pieces all fit together without too much force, and there’s a throughline of rationality through all the wild reveals. There’s a refreshing lack of cheap tricks or cheating, with everything coming together in a hard-to-believe but still logical and satisfying way.

‘I Will Find You’ Has a Solid Cast, but the Characters Feel a Bit Generic

Image via Netflix

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Casting directors Lyndsey Baldasare and David Rapaport deserve credit for assembling the actors they do. Not only do the cast members embody their characters well, but they also have solid chemistry with one another. Worthington has followed in the footsteps of actors like Liam Neeson and Alan Ritchson, carving out a niche of rugged action stars who have a paternal warmth simmering under the surface. He does what he does best as David, bringing nice emotional depth to the role. Stowe, too, leans into what people have come to love about her performances, sinking her teeth into the juicy campiness of Gertrude. It’s a delicious treat to watch.

Lower and Ventimiglia’s will-they-won’t-they dynamic is both exciting and electric while also comfortable and lived-in. It’s easy to buy into the fact that Rachel and Hayden have a long, complex history with one another that’s rooted in a deep, lasting love. They are at the center of many of the series’ most impactful and interesting moments. The relationship between Max and Sarah is engaging, too, with some moments of genuine emotional impact, though the show withholds too much information regarding their past in favor of more cliché, by-the-book police work scenes. There’s something fascinating brewing between them, but the show stops shy of thoroughly exploring the complications until it’s too late, which lessens its potential impact.

I Will Find You is grounded in its characters and their arcs, but there is ultimately a genericness that permeates, leaning into tropes and archetypes — the persistent reporter, the shady benefactor, the rogue cop, etc. — instead of creating more well-rounded, fleshed-out individuals. At the end of the day, the show’s focus leans toward crafting a shocking plot rather than delving too deeply into the psyches of its characters. The result is a show that’s not particularly revolutionary but still a solid way to pass the time that will satisfy those who love to binge Coben’s shows the day they premiere.

I Will Find You is now streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

June 18, 2026

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Network

Netflix

Showrunner

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Robert Hull

Directors

Adam Davidson, Maggie Kiley, Maja Vrvilo, Brad Anderson

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Writers

Robert Hull, Harlan Coben

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Pros & Cons

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• The action is well-done, with impressive stuntwork and on-location filming that gives the show a gritty, authentic feel.
• Lower and Ventimiglia?s chemistry is especially excellent in a cast that?s solid across the board.
• The twists and cliffhangers are executed well, leading to shocking moments that don?t feel cheap.

• The direction and cinematography fall flat, with the show never finding an interesting visual style.
• Repetitive conversations and randomly introduced characters can make the pacing confusing and difficult to follow.
• The characters can fall into generic clichés rather than feeling like surprising, three-dimensional people.

University of Kentucky football player Nic Smith exhibited worrying behavior in the days before his death by suicide at age 20.

A Fayette County Coroner’s Office report exclusively obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, June 15, determined that the defensive lineman from Loganville, Georgia — who redshirted his first season — took his own life on June 8, 2026. Investigators discovered his body in his dorm room at around 10:40 a.m local time.

Law enforcement’s subsequent investigation revealed that Smith had previously spoken to friends about suicide and allegedly crashed his car while driving drunk in the days before his death. According to friends, Smith struggled following the death of his sister, Keitlynn, in April 2026.

“I post this to let those who knew my son and loved him of the passing of our gentle giant,” Smith’s mother, Genedra Rountree, announced via Facebook on June 9, 2026. “I know there are more people that I can call or think who loved and cared about my son and was rooting for him.”

Police reports obtained by Us offered key details into Smith’s state of mind before his death and disclosed new information about the aftermath.

Keep scrolling for more information on the investigation into Smith’s death.

Police Detailed a Distressing Scene at Nic Smith’s Dorm Room

Officers were called to conduct a wellness check when a resident assistant in Smith’s dorm could not make contact with him. Once Smith’s locked bedroom door was opened, he was found unresponsive.

Firefighters on the scene tried to administer life-saving efforts but were not successful.

Police Reports Shed New Light on Nic Smith’s Final Days

A police report filed on June 9, 2026, documented an investigator speaking with someone who recalled a phone conversation with Smith from June 7, 2026. In that conversation, Smith allegedly told the friend that “he was not sure if he could continue.”

This friend initially asked Smith’s roommate to knock on his locked bedroom door on June 8, 2026, but there was no response. The roommate went off to a workout but shared his concerns with others.

Nic Smith Allegedly Crashed His Car While Drunk Days Before His Death

A friend relayed to University of Kentucky police on June 10, 2026, that he’d witnessed some distressing behavior from Smith during the last weekend of his life.

Smith drove the two to a party on June 5, 2026, but the football player “was drunk and accidentally wrecked his vehicle by hitting a curb,” his friend alleged.

“After Nicholas crashed his vehicle, [the friend] told me Nicholas said he wanted to off himself,” the officer wrote. “[The friend] believed Nicholas didn’t mean anything by it and was just drunk and pissed off that he wrecked his vehicle.”

Smith attributed his talk of ending his life from the previous night to frustration over crashing his car.

“[The friend] told Nicholas he should continue for his [late] sister [who died in April] and that Nicholas was crying at this point,” the report read. “[The friend] didn’t tell anyone else about this due to being afraid Nicholas might get in trouble with the coaches and that he didn’t want to look like a snitch.”

Nic Smith Allegedly Sent Alarming Social Media Messages Before His Death

The football star attended the Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 7. His ticket was paid for by the friend who’d witnessed the drunk driving crash.

“At the concert after 1:00pm he saw Nicholas drink at least a few drinks, possibly Beatbox ones, and that he told Nicholas to not drink due to early morning workouts the next morning,” the friend recalled to police for a June 10, 2026, report.

The friend observed that Smith was “acting normal, happy, acting country and enjoying himself” all day at the festival, except for one moment where the friend group were all talking to girls.

“Nicholas didn’t have [a girl] to talk to and he started walking away, but that [the friend] pulled him back to the group and told him they were there to have a good time and not to worry about it,” police noted.

As the group left the festival, “Nicholas told them he was very thankful to him for taking him to the concert.”

“Nicholas continued to say he appreciated them and was thankful for them being good to him and eventually saying he loved them as well,” the police report specified. “[The friend] told me he asked Nicholas if he was alright, to which he told them he was good. [They] said they went to WG4 [Woodland Glen Four dorm at UKC] together and that was the last time he saw Nicholas Sunday night.”

However, while at the concert, Smith allegedly posted an Instagram Story at around 11:30 p.m. that read, “IDK if i should continue on.”

The friend explained to University of Kentucky police that he’d have reported any unusual behavior, but didn’t notice anything worrying at the festival.

Nic Smith’s Dorm Roommate Shared Key Details About Athlete’s Final Days

Smith’s roommate spoke to investigators on June 10, 2026. During their discussion, the roommate recalled having a brief conversation with Smith in their dorm the night before his death.

“Nicholas had told [the roommate] about wrecking his vehicle over the weekend, but that he didn’t know much information other than that he damaged his vehicle and seemed mad at himself over it,” the report read.

Smith and the roommate agreed to switch morning workout times for June 8, 2026. While heading out for his workout, the roommate received a call telling him Smith had not shown up on time for practice.

The roommate told police that he returned to the dorm to find Smith’s bedroom door was locked, which he described as “unusual.”

“[The roommate] banged on the door very loudly, even worrying about Nicholas getting mad, and even played alarm sounds through a small Bluetooth speaker to try and wake Nicholas up,” police wrote. “Nicholas never answered the door.”

Police Found Goodbye Messages on Nic Smith’s Phone

University of Kentucky police detailed an examination of Smith’s iPhone on June 11, 2026. They found multiple messages from the night of the Railbird concert, where he shared that he was “pissed.”

“And honestly I wanna say f*** everything … I’m tired of ts,” he wrote to a redacted person.

The device confirmed that Smith texted both his mother and father that he loved them on the morning of his death, though those messages were not delivered.

Nic Smith’s Wallet Was Missing at the Time Of His Death

Kentucky police noted on June 10, 2026, that they’d spoken with Smith’s mother and two sisters about his death. One key line of questioning involved Smith’s wallet being missing from his dorm bedroom.

“[His mother] did not know what kind of wallet it was, or exactly what was in it aside from ID cards and bank cards,” the officer noted.

The officer mentioned that Smith’s mother “expressed concerns” about his father and stepmother though the exact reasoning was redacted in the report.

A Friend Offered Insight on Nic Smith’s Family Dynamic

A second friend spoke to police on June 10, 2026, about having phone conversations with the athlete “up to 3 or 4 times a day.”

He described the Smith’s allegedly complicated family dynamic, claiming that “Nicholas’ mother only seemed to call him when she wanted money and always asked for money ‘constantly.’”

“One time recently Nicholas’ mother called Nicholas and told him it was her anniversary and that he should send her money for it, to which [the friend] believes Nicholas sent several thousand dollars,” the friend alleged. “This relationship would stress Nicholas out and put further stress on him regarding money.”

On the flipside, this friend said that “everything seemed fine” between Smith and his father.

This friend admitted “he didn’t understand why Nicholas didn’t call him if he was upset or going through something Sunday night.” Smith allegedly referenced suicide to this friend in the past, even claiming that he’d unsuccessfully tried to end his life once before.

“[That incident] served as a wake up call to Nicholas to never do something like that again, but that he would still call him if he was feeling depressed,” the friend insisted.

However, this same friend acknowledged that Smith had recently told him, “When I go, I want you to take all of my stuff.”

Smith was in contact with this friend after his alleged drunk driving crash on June 5, 2026.

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“Nicholas told him he was drunk driving Friday night or Saturday morning and hit the curb on Sports Center Drive and damaging some of his tires,” police wrote in their report. “[The friend] said Nicholas was pissed at himself for damaging his vehicle. [The friend] told me he was working with Nicholas to get the vehicle towed and fixed and that he reassured him they would figure it out, but that Nicholas was stressed out and upset with himself.”

Nic Smith Was Recorded on UKC’s Security Cameras Before His Death

Security cameras in UKC’s Woodland Glen Four dorm building recorded Smith several times over the final two days of his life, yet police wrote in their June 10, 2026, report that “nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary” was observed.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.