Dolly Parton, a country music icon whose career spanned generations and genres, had a transcendent global appeal. Born in Appalachia, she became a celebrated entertainer, businesswoman and philanthropist during her 80 years on Earth. Test how much you know about the Queen of Country Music.

A child is among two people who were killed in a house fire in Middlesbrough, in what is feared to be a gangland revenge attack linked to the youths who died in the A66 crash. 

Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the blaze in Grangetown, which unfolded close to the site of the collision. 

Detectives are not ruling out a link between the two incidents, and said this afternoon that they ‘cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time’. 

Officers were called to the house at 5.23am where two people, including one child, were confirmed dead after the blaze, which destroyed the roof of the house.

Another woman is at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in a critical condition and a further three people were being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Redcar and Cleveland local policing commander, Superintendent Emily Harrison, said while they are still working to establish the circumstances of what happened, they ‘cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime’. 

Residents who woke up after the fire took hold revealed some occupants managed to escape. One said: ‘Some people got out, and a few people did not. It’s tragic.’

Paramedics, firefighters and gas engineers were also gathered outside the house in eastern Middlesbrough, just a mile from the fatal crash. Police said the scene has yet to be fully examined.

Ciara Randle, ten, who lives near the property and spoke with her mother’s permission, said: ‘I woke up to screaming, dogs barking and sirens, very early. The sun had only just come up. I told my mum as soon as we got up.

Fire crews investigate following the fire in Grangetown, only around a mile from the A66 crash

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The roof of the home was destroyed in today’s fire, although the property itself did not collapse

Two people died following the major fire at around 5am this morning

Police officers patrol the scene this morning following the residential fire in Grangetown

Cleveland Fire Brigade was called at 5.23am today to the incident in Grangetown

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‘We realised there had been a fire. We’re very shocked. The fire had been put out by then, but there was smoke, and the house was smouldering.’

Her mother Theresa Randle, 42, a carer, added: ‘We don’t know the people in the house very well, but we say hello to them. The poor family. We feel so sad for them.

‘By the time we got up, the fire had been put out. We don’t know what happened. It’s a tragedy, especially so soon after the crash at the weekend.’

Firefighters damped down the smoking roof of the home, and a ladder was propped against a rear upstairs window. 

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘My daughter heard shouting and screaming this morning. The dogs were barking.’

A 20-year-old woman described how residents tried to rescue the occupants from the blazing house.

Ellie, who declined to give her surname, said: ‘I ran down the road screaming. I have lost my voice now. The entire house was scorching. I couldn’t get near the front of the house it was that hot.’

She described holding the hand of a woman who had jumped from an upstairs window, staying with her until paramedics arrived. ‘She was crying,’ Ellie said. She believed that a child was one of the casualties. 

Ellie added: ‘I’m just praying for the family.’ Referring to the rescue attempt, she added: ‘I’m so proud of everyone on these roads.’

The families of the people who died have been informed, and officers said their ‘thoughts are with them and the families of everyone involved in this incident at this extremely difficult time’.

Superintendent Emily Harrison, Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander, said: ‘This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in the deaths of a number of people this morning, and their families are being supported by specially trained officers.

‘We are working to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time.

‘We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident.

‘We encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information regarding the incident in the early hours of this morning, to approach one of our officers or to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously.’

Theo Rae (left) and Cole Worthy (right), both 17, were among those who died in the A66 crash

Jakub Matusiak (left), 23, and Makai Saddington (right), 18, also died in the crash on Saturday

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Michael Cahill, 23, was the only person in the car who had no convictions before the crash 

A Cleveland Fire Brigade spokesman said: ‘Six fire appliances from Grangetown, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Saltburn attended the incident, along with the Incident Command Unit. One appliance remains at the scene on protective standby.

‘We can confirm that six people were inside the property at the time of the fire. Tragically, two people have died.

‘One person remains in a critical condition, while three others are receiving treatment.

‘The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident will now be jointly investigated by Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade’s fire investigation officers.

‘It is with great sadness that we share this update. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone affected at this incredibly difficult time.’

They added: ‘Crews are currently dealing with a house fire, with six fire engines and the Incident Command Unit at the scene.

‘Road closures are in place in the surrounding area, and we are asking members of the public to avoid the area where possible to allow emergency services to work safely.

‘The incident remains ongoing and further updates will be provided when available.’

Separately, police have arrested 17 people following the A66 crash on Saturday morning between a Volkswagen Passat, which was heading in the wrong direction on the dual-carriageway, and a marked armed response vehicle.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were the officers killed.

Those in the Passat were Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Passat had been pursued by police following an earlier incident in which a house in the Acklam area of Middlesbrough, linked to Worthy, was rammed by a vehicle. 

PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on

PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, ten seconds after a police pursuit had been called off

The pursuit was aborted when the Passat went the wrong way down the A66. 

A GoFundMe page organised by the Cleveland Police Federation had reached more than £959,000 this morning while another GoFundMe page had reached over £45,000.

Inquests were due to open this morning for the two officers while hearings for the young men in the Passat were scheduled for the afternoon at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Police have previously said that the five young men in the Passat may have had links to ‘serious and organised criminal activity’.

Four of the five young men in the car had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.

Police also previously said that on the morning of the collision, the force received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.

The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo.

Police said both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were picked up by automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.

PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.

Cleveland Police said anyone who may have information or any concerns about the incident should call 101, quoting reference number 170941. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111 

British actor Tim Curry, best known for his iconic performances as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s It, has died at the age of 80, according to US reports

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The British actor, renowned for his legendary portrayals of Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise the Clown in It, has passed away aged 80.

The distinguished performer, whose career encompassed more than five decades across cinema, television and stage, died on Tuesday night, according to reports from America. Circumstances surrounding his passing have yet to be formally disclosed, TMZ reported.

Curry achieved cult status following his portrayal of the exuberant Dr Frank-N-Furter in the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, having first taken on the character during its London stage run.

His show-stopping performance contributed to transforming the musical into one of cinema’s most lasting cult classics, with devotees worldwide still flocking to interactive midnight showings more than half a century since its debut.

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Born in Grappenhall, Cheshire, in 1946, Curry launched his professional life on stage before achieving recognition in cinema and television. His other notable characters included the spine-chilling Pennywise in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s It, Wadsworth in Clue, Rooster in Annie and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, reports Dublin Live.

His filmography also featured appearances in Legend, The Hunt for Red October, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Three Musketeers, while his unmistakable vocal talents established him as a sought-after contributor to animation and gaming projects.

Curry experienced a severe stroke in 2012 which impacted his movement, though he persevered with voice acting work and made sporadic public appearances in subsequent years. Tributes are anticipated to flood in for the performer, whose remarkable career established him as one of Britain’s most distinctive and adaptable talents.

His interpretation of Dr Frank-N-Furter endures as one of cinema’s most iconic cult performances, while countless horror enthusiasts recall his terrifying portrayal of Pennywise.

Curry’s passing represents the loss of a unique talent whose contributions across theatre, film and television cemented his status as an enduring cultural figure.

I now rejoice when my trains are late, which is often. You might even have seen me muttering ‘Yes!’ and thrusting a clenched fist into the air as my belated so-called express crawls into Oxford or Paddington stations, more than 15 minutes late.

After nearly 50 years of being towed daily up and down this decrepit piece of track, inefficiently and often slowly, it is a major change in my life.

Why is this? It is very simple. A system called ‘Delay Repay’ means that I can apply for compensation every time my Hitachi ‘high-speed’ train is more than a quarter of an hour behind its timetable.

I am thinking of fitting a small, cheery bell to my home computer, so that I can make it go ‘Kerching!’ as I file each report. So far, the system has paid without quibble over a fiver each time, and, as I own a season ticket so expensive that I am too embarrassed to tell you what it cost, I have already been handed enough cash to pay for several decent bottles of wine.

What an alteration this is. The journey is only 63 miles each way, but there are so many excuses for lateness: Either someone has driven a lorry into a bridge at Slough or Langley. Or there is a ‘signal failure’, which used to mean that Balkan gangsters had stolen the cables.

Or there is a ‘points failure’. Isn’t it amazing that signals and points, invented by the Victorians more than a century ago, should fail so much?

Or we have a ‘track circuit failure’ whatever that is. Or there are ‘trespassers on the line’. I have also experienced ‘cows on the line’ (I did actually see these, so I know it was true).

Or the amazingly frequent decision of the signal box, many miles away, to cause the hugely expensive Japanese-designed machine in which I am travelling, capable in theory of 140mph, to crawl behind some flatulent 1970s rail bus that stops at every station. I am surprised, in retrospect, that I have never had an actual apoplexy.

I have more than once been tempted to leap from the train and walk home, but of course the doors are now locked and there is no way to do this. Anyway, that would probably make me a ‘trespasser on the line’.

Still, the muttered curses, pounding pulses, grinding teeth and furrowed brows of the past are forgotten. I no longer scowl and snarl at the pathetic announcements and useless apologies that bray from the loudspeakers.

What was the use, I would retort to nobody in particular, of an apology with no intention to mend their ways. If I could bank their apologies, I said, I would eventually become rich.

Well, now I can, in effect, bank them, because as the train once again begins to grow late, I smile complacently at the slowly passing countryside and start to calculate how much I might benefit. Now, this does nothing to make the service better. I confidently expect it to get even worse soon. All my friends on the line tell me it is inevitable, given the way the railways are run. But hasn’t the time come, in decrepit Britain, to accept that not much is ever going to get better, and just demand compensation?

Let us extend the ‘Delay Repay’ scheme to all other aspects of life. Held up at the passport queue on the way back from your holiday? If the Home Office had to shell out an instant tenner to everyone who waited more than 20 minutes, a family of four would get £40. Think of it. I promise you that you’d immediately care less. Spend it on a pizza when you eventually get home.

Forced to hang on for an hour to speak to a government official or a bank? Get 50p for every minute above five that you have to wait (which is coincidently Reform’s position, having announced today a £30 rebate for each caller kept on hold by HMRC for longer than 30 minutes).

That degree they encouraged you to get was useless? Get 25 per cent of your loan refunded. I’d personally like some way of stinging film and TV reviewers for telling me some rubbish is ‘riveting’ or ‘unmissable’ when missing it would actually have improved my life, but I can see that might be hard to calculate.

As for political manifestoes, where do we begin? I suspect that if the government had to give each taxpayer £10 back for every illegal migrant who came ashore in a rubber dinghy, His Majesty’s Treasury – by far the most powerful government department – would make a real effort to stop the boats.

Let us extend the ‘Delay Repay’ scheme to all other aspects of life, writes Peter HItchens 

There I will be, three-quarters of the way home, and the train is running 14 minutes late. Rather than urging it on to make up time, I long for a quick cow on the line. And then ‘Kerching!’

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Apply ‘Delay Repay’, to potholes in the road, or to the failure of the police to pursue drug possession, burglary and vandalism, and you might also get a change of heart at your local police HQ.

I think I could also devise a formula that would allow us to get cash back for every BBC outbreak of partiality.

Something also has to be done about all those super-cautious weather forecasts that predict great gouts of rain and flashes of lightning for days and nights which end up being clear and dry.

The problem, of course, is that people – and I might be one of them – could become so fond of all this extra tax-free cash flowing ceaselessly into their bank accounts that they would get complacent about the problems that cause the delays and failures in the first place. They might even start wanting the problems. This has certainly happened to me.

There I will be, three-quarters of the way home, and the train is running 14 minutes late. Rather than urging it on to make up time, I long for a quick cow on the line, or perhaps to be jammed once more behind that ever-present slow-running service, to bring the delay safely past the 15-minute mark. And then ‘Kerching!’

For really long delays, the payments can be even bigger, and thanks to this a friend of mine has been travelling almost free for some months on an especially troubled route. She seems remarkably cheerful about it, considering the hours she has wasted on contemplating the buttercups growing beside the line.

This is the choice that lies before us. Sort out the country, or demand money off because nothing works. I am sorry to say that it is pretty easy to work out which is more likely.

A striking blonde wig, perfectly done acrylic nails and thousands of glistening rhinestones – Dolly Parton‘s visual legacy is perhaps as memorable as her incredible country voice.

The late singer passed away aged 80 yesterday after a battle with cancer, triggering an outpouring of tributes from across the world.

As famous faces of all ages – including Sabrina Carpenter, Jane Fonda, Eminem and Reba McEntire – remembered her kindness and ardent efforts in philanthropy, many also fondly looked back on her lifelong commitment to ‘more is more’ flamboyancy.

Dolly had always famously quipped that ‘it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!’ and called herself a ‘Backwoods Barbie’.

‘I make jokes about it, but it’s the truth that I kind of patterned my look after the town tramp,’ she once freely admitted.

‘I didn’t know what she was, just this woman who was blond and piled her hair up, wore high heels and tight skirts, and, boy, she was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen. 

‘Momma used to say, “Aw, she’s just trash”, and I thought, “That’s what I want to be when I grow up. Trash.”‘ 

Growing up in what she has called ‘extreme poverty’ in rural Tennessee, Dolly confessed she had to get creative when it came to her cosmetics as a young girl growing into a woman.

‘I’d find ways to create my own makeup with pokeberries and stuff that grew wild in the fields,’ she wrote in her book, Behind The Seams: My Life In Rhinestones.

‘I think all people that grow up in the mountains learn how to improvise with what you don’t have. I would strike Mama’s old kitchen matches to make eyebrows and my beauty mark.

‘Still, I find myself mixing and matching different makeups for different colours.’

While Dolly began performing as a child – having appeared on local television shows by 10 years old and already recording singles aged only 13 – it wasn’t until the 1960s, after she signed with Monument Records at 19, that she began curating her signature stage style.

‘When I moved to Nashville in 1964, I already had some ideas about what I wanted to look like onstage – and off,’ she wrote in her 2023 book.

‘Country stars had to have big hair and some sparkles, and you had to have a Cadillac. I had the big hair but not yet the Cadillac – or enough sparkles.’ 

Even though her label attempted to ‘flatten’ her big hair, she ‘hated everything about it’ – and ‘felt naked’.

Over the years, it became clear that any attempts to dilute Dolly’s image would be for nought.

1965: When Dolly signed with Monument Records at 19, that she began curating her iconic stage style

1975: Dolly poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California. Even though her label attempted to ‘flatten’ her hair, she hated it and felt ‘naked’

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1977: Dolly always made sure to add an element of country-Western to her ensembles

Each stage look was every inch as glam as the one before, but some memorable ensembles stand out, including a 1977 hot pink spandex jumpsuit, which she wore to the Grammy Awards.

True to her Southern roots, it was adorned with a white vest and sequins. 

However, her memorable looks could sometimes also be more understated.  

In the 80s, as her wigs got bigger and her presence got bolder, Dolly also starred in the comedy film titled after her hit song, 9 to 5.

Playing a secretary who wants to get revenge on her egoistical, sexist boss, the star won over audiences in a peach knitted dress, golden hoops and stunning platinum curls.

Elsewhere, in her more laid back looks Dolly was also fond of cowboy-style plaid shirts, hats and denims. 

Her ensembles did not calm down with age.

If anything, they only ramped up as Dolly enjoyed cinched waist lines, short skirts, high heels and low-cut tops well into the 90s, 2000s and beyond. 

1980: Dolly at the premiere of Nine to Five, in which she played a secretary who wants to get revenge on her egoistical, sexist boss

1977: Dolly wore a hot pink spandex jumpsuit to the Grammy Awards, adorned with a white vest and sequins

1978: Dolly was a fan of bold colours, always incorporating them into her ensembles

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At 52, while performing on the Tonight Show in 1998, she oozed glamour in a figure-hugging glittering silver mini dress – and two years later, wore a bright yellow embroidered skirt and blazer to a White House luncheon. 

Dolly also refused to shy away from candid conversations about beauty and ageing. 

‘If something is bagging, sagging or dragging, I’ll tuck it, suck it or pluck it,’ she told the Guardian in 2011.

‘I’m not trying to be fashionable. Never was! I got some clothes that I’ve had for 25 years. People say, oh, that’s Dolly, Dolly does what Dolly does – and Dolly does!’

In 2019, Dolly also admitted that she didn’t mind if people thought she looked ‘artificial’.

‘It is true that I look artificial, but I believe that I’m totally real,’ she told CBS Sunday Morning.

1987: Dolly Parton in Dolly, a variety show with guest stars including Tom Selleck and Oprah Winfrey

1989: Dolly at the Steel Magnolias New York City Premiere at Ziegfeld Theatre

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‘My look is really based on a country girl’s idea of glam. I wasn’t naturally pretty, so I make the most of anything I’ve got.’

It comes as Dolly’s private cancer battle has been revealed following the heartbreaking news of her death.

The legendary country singer’s death shocked the world and came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing. 

Those close to the singer said she had both become increasingly reclusive and secretive about her ill health in recent months. 

And now, Parton’s representatives revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer‘ in a statement to People, though they did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

‘Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,’ the statement read.

‘After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.’

Her representatives also highlighted the extraordinary reach of Parton’s ‘unmatched generosity,’ noting she touched the lives of countless people she would never meet and was always ready to ‘offer a helping hand.’ 

1993: As Dolly grew older, she refused to tone down her aesthetic, instead leaning into it more

1996: If anything, they only ramped up as Dolly enjoyed cinched waist lines, short skirts, high heels and low-cut tops well into the 90s, 2000s and beyond

‘Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.’

Despite her cancer battle, Parton remained optimistic and leaned on her deep Christian faith for strength in the last few months.

‘From the time that Dolly Parton was born, she was surrounded by faith, by God, by Jesus. Her grandfather was a preacher. Even in her Broadway show, she shows how much faith means to her,’ a source told People.

‘And so it’s natural for people of faith to believe that God is in control. It doesn’t matter what doctors may say, people may say. It’s not over until God says it’s over. I think she lived every day working and as long as God hadn’t called her home, she was here and she had more work to do.’

Parton previously told the outlet that she prayed every day in a 2020 interview: ‘To me, it’s my salvation. It helps me through everything.’ 

2004: Dolly sporting a glittering mini dress at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden

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2011: Dolly has never shied away from figure-hugging ensembles

2015: Dolly has always had a stunning set of nails on – and was rarely seen without high heels

2018: She always added a touch of glitz with rhinestones and sequins

2019: Bold patterns and cuts were on the par for Dolly’s stage style

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2022: Four years ago, Dolly showed she is a true rockstar in a figure hugging leather outfit

2023: Dolly joined the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in a performance at half-time during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders

2025: The singer was sporting her signature looks well into the last years of her life

The star’s death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

She died on Tuesday morning after being hospitalised on Friday at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

As news of Parton’s rapidly deteriorating condition spread, her loved ones raced to Nashville to be by her side, but not all were able to reach her while she was alive. 

‘This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,’ Seaver said.

He hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’

The helicopter was seen landing in the County Durham town after 12.30pm on Wednesday (August 26).

A Great North Air Ambulance spokesperson said: “Our critical care team was activated at 12.33pm to reports of a medical incident in Bishop Auckland.

“We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 12.43pm.

“Our team worked alongside NEAS to assess and treat a patient.

“The patient was taken to hospital by a NEAS road crew, accompanied by our team.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to a medical incident at a private address in Bishop Auckland.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital by road.”

Kennedy Caitlin, a Dolly Parton tribute act, was lucky enough to meet the music superstar and paid tribute to the singer.

Visibly emotional Kennedy, who lives in Harwood, said that generations contacted with Dolly because “she’s always been authentically her.”

Kennedy remembers Dolly Parton (Image: Kennedy Caitlin)

Kennedy who has performed at Bolton Food and Drink Festival, met Dolly in 2016 during the singer’s Pure and Simple tour across North America and Canada, describing her as “funny and quick-witted.”

She said her inspiration came from Dolly’s famous quote: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

She became emotional while explaining her own interpretation of the quote:

Kennedy said:“She made my life worth living and she gave me the living to make a life.”

Recalling when she met Dolly, Kennedy, 30, said: “I told her that I was a tribute to herself, and she said, ‘I wish I was as beautiful as you.”

Fans often tell her that her performances feel uncannily close to the real thing.

Kennedy remembers Dolly Parton (Image: Kennedy Caitlin)

Kennedy said: “A lot of people say to me after that I closed my eyes and felt like I was back there with Dolly”

In her own tribute shows, Kennedy often recreates Dolly’s iconic 2014 Glastonbury performance.

She calls it one of the singer’s “biggest moments” in the UK.

Dolly famously drew the largest crowd that Glastonbury had ever seen.

Her work as a tribute artist has taken her across the UK, as well as to Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, and she has even received offers to perform in Dubai.

Kennedy’s favourite song to perform is the legendary “I Will Always Love You.”

She said that people often “don’t realise that [Dolly] wrote it.” When she sings the ballad, she said you can hear a “pin drop”.

The Bolton News previously featured Kennedy Caitlin in 2015 following her appearance as Dolly Parton on the Stars in Their Eyes revival series.

Kennedy performs as Dolly Parton on Manchester River Cruises every month and will be singing at Grosvenor Casino Bolton on the 2 October as part of “A Night in Vegas.”

Stan Wawrinka will play at this year’s US Open after all after a withdrawal opened up a wild card spot for the 2016 champion.

The USTA initially confirmed at the start of the week that Wawrinka, the three-time Grand Slam winner who is retiring at the end of the season, was not on their list of eight wild-card spots.

The 41-year-old had even penned an emotional message on social media, marking the end of his Grand Slam and US Open career, but the withdrawal due to injury of Patrick Kypson on Wednesday, previously awarded a wild card, has handed Wawrinka and the USTA a reprieve.

Wawrinka said: “I’m incredibly excited to accept the wild card for the 2026 US Open and look forward to competing in front of the fans in New York once again.”

It means Wawrinka will make one last major appearance in the main draw at Flushing Meadows in New York. The tournament starts on Sunday, with the draw taking place on Thursday at 5pm (BST).

The initial decision not to award Wawrinka a wild card was much-criticised across tennis circles, particularly given the Swiss player had featured at every other major this year – and impressed in a run to the third round at the Australian Open.

Wawrinka’s world ranking has dropped to 127, putting him just outside the window for direct main draw entry. He could have played in qualifying, as Grigor Dimitrov has opted to do, but he has now been vindicated by his choice.

Wawrinka won the last of his three Grand Slams in New York, after triumphing at the Australian Open in 2014 and the French Open in 2015.

The Swiss player has already confirmed that he plans to bow out at his home tournament, the Swiss Indoors event in Basel, in October.

Bill Gates is hitting the panic button on the ‘insane’ AI wave that could dream up new bio-weapons, bombs, create pandemics and unleash them on the human race.

In a 6,000-word essay titled ‘The Turbulent AI Era Is Here – The Choices We Make Are Critical’, the former Microsoft boss warned AI is developing far faster than humans can control.

He insists people will need to protect global economies by ring-fencing ‘human reserved’ jobs like doctors and carers before robots take over everything.

‘AI will either be the greatest equaliser ever invented, or the worst source of injustice,’ Mr Gates wrote.

‘Even under the best circumstances, the transition to this new AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history.’

He claims AI has all the tools it needs to create bombs, bioweapons and computer viruses and could become capable of using that information without human permission.

‘Although AI will lead to lifesaving advances in drugs and vaccines, it will also make it easier to design a deadly new disease,’ he said. 

‘Again, the positive capabilities are hard to separate from the dangerous ones. This is a global problem.

‘The risks I’ve just mentioned are all about how AI will empower bad actors who have relatively little power now. The same tools will also concentrate power in places where it already exists.’ 

‘Autonomous weapons, for example, will make governments even more capable of using deadly force without a human being part of the decision,’ Mr Gates added.

‘Monitoring and manipulating public opinion will be easier and cheaper, and more effective too.’

‘Because it can see, listen, speak, and reason and will eventually do physical work just as smoothly as any human, it will not just affect one sector,’ the tech leader said.

‘AI will take on work in law, customer service, medicine, software, and manufacturing. It will hit these industries rapidly, over the course of a decade rather than a few generations.’

He urged the adoption of ‘human reserved’ jobs protected from AI, fearing huge numbers of jobs vanishing forever.

He continued: ‘I like the phrase human reserved because it makes me think of nature reserves – places where we could put buildings and roads, but we choose not to because the loss would be too great.’

He referred to the doctors who cared for his father as he died of Alzheimer’s disease six years ago.

‘Something in the care they gave my dad was irreplaceably human, no robot could or should have done it,’ he said. 

‘Imagine a robot giving you the awful news that you have an incurable disease. There’s no technical reason why it couldn’t. Yet it shouldn’t.’

After publishing the blog, he told Semafor he had changed his mind on the benefits of AI to the human race.

He added: ‘I am in a state of shock that I’m sort of the first one saying, “This is crazy. This is insane,” he said. ‘I’m just deafened by the silence.’

Gates had been a proponent on the positives AI can bring to medicine and global food production.

Gates had become entangled in the Jeffrrey Epstein scandal after appearing in Epstein files after the paedophile billionaire presented himself as someone who could connect wealthy donors to global health causes. An affair was revealed and ultimately his association with Epstein led to his divorce from Melinda Gates.

Gates told 9News: ‘You know, in retrospect, that was a dead end and I was foolish to spend time with him. I am one of many people who regret ever knowing him.’

The Microsoft co-founder added: ‘I was only at dinners… I never went to the island, I never met any women, and so, you know, the more that comes out, the more clear it’ll be, that although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.’

In late February, Gates admitted to having extramarital affairs with two Russian women but denied any involvement with the financier’s activities.

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The Lloyds banking app went down for some users in the UK this afternoon, with hundreds reporting issues on DownDetector – there were also issues reported with Halifax