Author: rznews77

Some dates simply come and go. For Miley Cyrus, however, August 25 has a strange habit of becoming unforgettable — sometimes for triumphant reasons, sometimes for painful ones.

Long before the date took on its latest significance in 2026, Cyrus herself acknowledged that there was something unusually meaningful about it. And once the moments attached to August 25 are laid out together, it is easy to understand why.

Miley Cyrus Previously Explained Why August 25 Matters

In August 2023, while looking back on different chapters of her life, Cyrus revealed that she had deliberately chosen August 25 as the release date for her reflective single “Used to Be Young.”

“I decided to release ‘Used to Be Young’ on August 25th because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career,” she explained in an excerpt shared on her YouTube channel.

At the time, Cyrus did not need to look far for examples. August 25 had already been connected to relationships, family, music, controversy, and some of the biggest turning points of her public life. Here are the moments that made the date stand out.

August 25, 2010: Her First Split from Liam Hemsworth Was Reported

One of the earliest major Cyrus headlines tied to the date came on August 25, 2010. That day, Us Weekly reported that Cyrus, then 17, and Australian Actor Liam Hemsworth had split, with Hemsworth’s representative confirming the breakup while Cyrus’ representative declined to comment.

The pair had met the previous year while filming “The Last Song,” an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel. Months before the breakup report, Cyrus had spoken to Ellen DeGeneres about meeting Hemsworth during a period when she had actually planned to stay away from romance.

“I was actually going through a tough time,” she recalled. “I was like, guys just need to be out of my life for a little while. [I thought] ‘I just need to be alone.'” Then Hemsworth made an unexpectedly strong first impression.

“But I met him, and he opened the door for me, and I was like, I have been in L.A. for three years and I don’t think any guy has actually opened the door for me,” Cyrus said.

“It wasn’t that he wanted the job. That’s just who he is. I was like, ‘Wow, that is super-impressive.’ I actually turned to the director and said, ‘He’s got the job.’ He’s hot and he opened the door. Excellent.” Their relationship would eventually become one of the most closely followed romances of Cyrus’ life. But August 25 was only getting started.

August 25, 2013: ‘Wrecking Ball’ Arrived and Pop Culture Exploded

Three years later, the date became linked to an entirely different kind of Cyrus milestone. On August 25, 2013, the audio for “Wrecking Ball” was released, setting the stage for what would become one of the defining songs of her career.

Yet something else happened that very same day. Cyrus took the stage with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards for a performance that immediately became one of the most debated pop-culture moments of the year.

As Rolling Stone later recalled, just six-and-a-half minutes were enough to dramatically alter the public conversation surrounding both stars. Cyrus performed “We Can’t Stop” before joining Thicke for his hit, “Blurred Lines,” with an over-the-top spectacle involving teddy bears, a foam finger, and plenty of twerking.

The backlash was immediate, but Cyrus effectively turned the uproar into publicity. The following day, she boasted about the enormous online reaction, writing, “Smilers! My VMA performance had 306,000 tweets per minute. That’s more than the blackout or Super Bowl! #fact.” Meanwhile, “Wrecking Ball” was beginning its own ascent.

Its headline-making music video premiered around two weeks later and broke the Vevo record for the most views within 24 hours, while the song ultimately climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — Cyrus’ first chart-topper there.

In other words, August 25, 2013 simultaneously produced one of her biggest controversies and helped launch one of her biggest hits.

August 25 Is Also Her Father’s Birthday

The date has an even more personal meaning for Cyrus. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, was born on August 25. That family connection was highlighted when the country artist shared an Instagram reel celebrating a deeply personal birthday gift from his daughter.

“For my birthday, Miley gave me the gift of music and wrote me a song called Secrets and got my favorite musicians Fleetwood Mac to play on it! I love you Mile ❤️ [sic],” he captioned the post. The touching gesture added yet another layer to a date already filled with milestones. But in 2023, Cyrus deliberately added one more herself.

August 25, 2023: She Chose the Date for ‘Used to Be Young’

Exactly a decade after the VMA performance and the arrival of “Wrecking Ball,” Cyrus released “Used to Be Young” on August 25, 2023. According to Sony Music’s announcement, the reflective track arrived as Cyrus revisited stories from the first 30 years of her life.

Its lyrics directly confronted the way her younger years had been perceived. “I know I used to be crazy,” Cyrus had previously said of the song. “I know I used to be fun. You say I used to be wild. I say I used to be young.”

The timing was particularly fitting. “Used to Be Young” arrived shortly before the 10th anniversary of her “Bangerz” album, the era that produced “Wrecking Ball,” “We Can’t Stop” and “Adore You.”

It also followed another enormous career chapter for Cyrus. Her album “Endless Summer Vacation” featured “Flowers,” which spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, while Sony noted that it also spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on U.S. pop radio and amassed billions of streams.

By choosing August 25 for “Used to Be Young,” Cyrus was therefore doing more than selecting a release date; she was intentionally tying her present to a day already filled with pieces of her past. And then August 25 came around again in 2026.

August 25, 2026: The Date Took on a New, Heartbreaking Meaning

On August 25, 2026, Dolly Parton’s family announced that the country music legend had died. Parton’s nephew Brian Seaver appeared in a video shared through Parton’s official Instagram account, explaining that the announcement was one his aunt had asked him to make years earlier.

“Hey everyone, my name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton-Dean,” he began.

Seaver, who said he had served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, described carrying out her wishes as an honor mixed with enormous sadness.

“But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he said. “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens.” He also reflected on Parton’s influence far beyond her own family.

“Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians, and dreamers from every walk of life and across every continent,” Seaver said. “By her example, we believe that anything was possible. She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the door she opened made and changed history.”

Seaver then shared one particularly intimate request his aunt had made regarding her final rest. “Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest,” he revealed.

He concluded, “Rest in peace, Aunt Dolly, Aunt Granny, Gigi. May God bless Dolly Parton, and may God bless you all. She will always love you.” For Cyrus, the news arrived on a date she had already publicly identified as unusually significant in the story of her own life.

Over the years, August 25 has marked a breakup, an explosive career reinvention, one of her most famous songs, her father’s birthday, a deliberately reflective musical release, and now the loss of Dolly Parton.

It is a remarkable collection of coincidences attached to a single square on the calendar. And after Cyrus herself once pointed out just how often August 25 had mattered to her, the date has once again become impossible to overlook.

The news of Parton’s passing immediately sparked an outpouring that crossed political and cultural lines. As Politico reported, Republicans and Democrats alike are mourning the singer, highlighting the universal affection she maintained in an era when even beloved cultural figures can quickly become politically divisive.

Much of that mourning centered not only on Parton’s extraordinary musical career, but also on the philanthropic legacy she quietly built alongside it.

Parton, who rose from poverty in Tennessee, founded the Imagination Library in 1995. The book-gifting program has since delivered more than 200 million free books to babies and young children.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear credited the program with creating “brighter futures for thousands of children across our commonwealth,” saying its legacy will continue “for generations to come.”

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine echoed that sentiment, writing that Parton’s legacy will “live on in the classrooms and communities she uplifted and the beautiful music she created.”

California Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove, who co-authored a bipartisan bill expanding the Imagination Library in California, pointed to something even broader: Parton’s ability to inspire affection across divides. “That’s who she was, and we should all strive to be more like her,” Grove said, praising the star’s “genuine love” for others.

That bipartisan affection is especially striking considering how intentionally Parton had kept herself away from partisan politics.

She previously turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice during Donald Trump’s first administration. Parton later said she also would not accept the honor from Joe Biden because she did not want the gesture to appear political. The reasons behind her earlier refusals, however, were more personal than ideological.

In a previous “Today” show interview, Parton explained, “I couldn’t accept it because my husband was ill and then they asked me again about it and I wouldn’t travel because of the covid,” she said.

As The Washington Post noted, those offers were not the last time Trump would seek to publicly honor Parton, and after her death, the president went considerably further.

Donald Trump Announces an Extraordinary Tribute

On August 25, Trump posted a deeply personal reaction to Parton’s death, and buried inside it was an announcement that immediately elevated the mourning from celebrity tribute to national observance.

In his Truth Social message, Trump called Parton “one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER,” and described her death as “a true loss for millions of people.” “There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” he wrote. Then came the surprise.

Trump announced that he was lowering the American flag throughout the United States in Parton’s honor, saying the one-week period would begin that Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. “Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you,” he concluded, signing the message, “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The gesture is not limited to a social media announcement. In an official White House proclamation honoring Parton’s memory, Trump has ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff at the White House and on public buildings and grounds across the country.

The order also covers all military posts and naval stations, federal naval vessels, U.S. territories and possessions, and facilities abroad.

American flags at embassies, legations, consular offices, military facilities, naval vessels, and stations overseas are also ordered to be lowered. The proclamation specified that the flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on September 1, 2026.

It is a remarkable national tribute for an entertainer who had spent much of her life carefully resisting attempts to turn her into a political symbol. Yet Trump was hardly alone in trying to put into words what Parton’s loss means.

Former presidents, entertainment legends, collaborators, and friends soon began sharing memories of a woman whose reach had stretched far beyond Nashville.

Barack Obama and George W. Bush Remember a Life with an Enormous Impact

Former President Barack Obama focused on the sheer breadth of Parton’s accomplishments. In his tribute on X, Obama wrote that it is “hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton.”

He recalled her beginnings in a one-room cabin before listing achievements that extended well beyond the recording studio. Parton, he noted, earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of children learn to read, and played a role in accelerating research that led to the Moderna COVID vaccine.

“What a life,” Obama wrote. He added that he and Michelle Obama are thinking of Parton’s family and her “many, many fans.”

Former President George W. Bush struck a similarly affectionate tone, but his message centered on the woman behind all those achievements. “Laura and I, along with thousands of her fans, mourn the passing of Dolly Parton,” Bush said in a statement shared by the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

“We loved her music and her style. She was a great entertainer and even greater person.” Bush also praised Parton’s work promoting literacy, advancing health, and strengthening communities, calling her a “talented and hardworking American who will be missed.”

The Bush Center paired the statement with a White House photograph featuring Parton alongside the Bushes and other Kennedy Center honorees.

But some of the day’s most emotional words came from those who had known Parton outside the public glare.

Jane Fonda Reveals the Parton Her Friends Knew and Loved

Jane Fonda’s sprawling Instagram tribute began simply: “I am devastated.” Fonda wrote that she had just learned Parton had died and knew that millions are mourning with her. Yet her remembrance quickly became much more intimate.

“Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever,” Fonda declared. She pointed to Parton’s songs, Dollywood, the movie “9 to 5,” the millions of books she put into children’s hands, and the countless iconic images associated with her.

“And they are all blessings,” Fonda said. But it was Fonda’s portrait of Parton away from the stage that offered something fans rarely got to see.

She called her friend “simultaneously a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of Tennessee and a deep, soulful thinker who could see through people right down to their true selves.”

Fonda described Parton as many things at once: a lyricist, songwriter, instrumentalist, writer, prankster, visionary, and loyal friend. She also remembered someone who was fiercely funny. Parton, Fonda wrote, was a person who would never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard “they’d have to cross their legs.”

Fonda shared that Parton possessed a “survivor’s instinct” and always seemed to know what to do and what to say to make things right. Then came one of the tribute’s most delightfully unfiltered memories: Fonda recalled Parton sticking her “butt out the car window” and mooning Kenny Rogers’ home.

But beneath the jokes, Fonda saw something deeper. “She was the voluptuous embodiment of empathy,” she wrote, adding, “That’s something of hers she’d want us all to take with us.”

Fonda also made a point of delivering a direct message to Parton’s gay and transgender fans. “I want you to know that she loved you,” she wrote. The actress said Parton loved all of her fans and her religion, telling followers not to mourn her but instead to “Dress up and celebrate her spirit.”

She ended by encouraging people to watch the final episode of “Grace and Frankie,” in which Parton appears as an angel. “RIP, beautiful woman. We love you,” Fonda concluded.

Oprah Winfrey Remembers the Girl Who Dreamed Bigger

Oprah Winfrey’s tribute reached back to Parton’s roots, and to one of their shared moments of pure show-business fun. “One of my fondest memories with @dollyparton: Having a hoot and a holler while wearing Bob Mackie gowns on her show Dolly,” Winfrey wrote in her Instagram remembrance.

But Winfrey’s message quickly moved from that memory to the enormous distance Parton had traveled. “This girl from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee dreamed a life and then lived a life bigger than she could have ever imagined,” she wrote. Winfrey said Parton gave generously to others “in ways we saw and ways we didn’t.”

“No one like her,” she added. “She brought the light, and we are all better because she was here.” Her final message was just as tender: “God bless you, Dolly — you earned your wings.”

For Billy Ray, however, the loss is tied to decades of personal memories, including one particular moment from 1992 that he never forgot.

Billy Ray Cyrus Reveals Parton’s Last Message to Him

Billy marked Parton’s death with an Instagram carousel filled with images from their years together. The collection includes photographs of Billy and Parton, as well as pictures featuring his daughter — including memories connected to their time on “Hannah Montana.”

“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start,” Billy began. “Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms.”

He then shared a story from the year his own career exploded. “In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her,” Billy recalled.

Parton’s response, according to him, was classic her. Rather than becoming angry or uncomfortable, she simply looked at him, winked, and said: “Honey, this trash sells records!”

It was the kind of quick, funny response that echoed Fonda’s description of Parton as someone who instinctively knew exactly what to say.

But Billy’s tribute ended on a much more emotional note. He revealed that Parton had recently sent him a message telling him that she loved him “with her whole heart.”

“I will always love her in the same way,” he wrote, adding, “with my whole heart … and I always will.”

The tributes differed wildly in tone — presidential proclamations, memories of dressing rooms, old television appearances, philanthropy, jokes between friends, and stories of a woman who could apparently make a room collapse in laughter.

Yet taken together, they capture something Parton’s career had demonstrated for decades: She could be embraced by presidents from different parties, Hollywood royalty, country stars, children receiving their first books, and fans who felt she had somehow spoken directly to them.

Perhaps that explains why the response to her death became so unusually broad. Parton spent years refusing to be neatly claimed by one political camp, one generation, or even one corner of entertainment. In death, the people mourning her seem just as varied as the audiences she had spent a lifetime bringing together.

People confirmed that Parton passed away on Tuesday, August 25, surrounded by loved ones. Representatives said she spent her career “bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched.”

Her team pointed to her Imagination Library, which has sent free books to children for three decades, and to her role in funding research that helped speed up the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Both accomplishments would come up again and again in the tributes that followed.

Among those remembering her was actor Ricky Schroder, who had a particularly personal connection to the country music legend.

A Hollywood Connection That Went Back Years

Schroder and Parton worked together on the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, in which he played her father.

The film was based on Parton’s childhood and her upbringing in rural Tennessee, bringing the two stars together for a story that was deeply connected to her own life. IMDb describes the movie as a warm adaptation of the singer’s remarkable upbringing.

That history made Schroder’s tribute especially notable. On August 26, he turned to Instagram to remember Parton, sharing a message that began as a reflection on the opportunity she had given him.

Schroder wrote, “I didn’t agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me, Dolly, to be your Movie Daddy.” The wording quickly became the focus of the post.

The Tribute Had a Message of Its Own

His words and entire message drew strong reactions from people who felt a memorial message was not the place to emphasize political or cultural disagreements with someone who had just died.

One commenter criticized the wording and said, “‘I loved her anyway’ what a strange tribute. Good Lord.” Another commenter reacted even more bluntly, saying, “Wow… you should have said nothing.”

A third person questioned why Schroder had chosen to make the disagreement part of his remembrance, writing, “Imagine being the first (and probably only) person in the whole world to post something negative about Dolly. NOT COOL.”

The reactions were not entirely negative toward Schroder, however. One commenter defended the idea that Parton could have friends who disagreed with her, saying, “Loved that movie, Ricky! She would be ok with you having different views than her. RIP Beautiful Dolly!”

Another person similarly pushed back against the criticism and wrote, “I think she was all about including everyone! She was not one to judge! She will be greatly missed!”

Still, several commenters remained uncomfortable with the decision to include the political references. One person told Schroder, “Honestly dude, please just sit down and be quiet. Honor her or don’t. This is weird.” Another commenter simply said, “No need to even post that..”

A further reaction called the tribute “Tone deaf” and added, “Dolly advocated for love and not judging anyone.” One commenter also connected the controversy directly to Parton’s message of acceptance, writing, “Wow, how disappointing. Dolly is in a better place where love is love. When we all get and understand that message, the world will be a better place.”

Why the LGBTQ+ Reference Hit Differently

The response to Schroder’s post was particularly striking because Parton had spent decades publicly speaking about acceptance and embracing people who were different from her.

In a 1984 conversation with Interview magazine, Parton addressed her large gay following directly. She said, “I got a huge gay following and some really macho-looking women,” before explaining her philosophy:

“To me, people are people. … Many of my friends are gay, male and female. I don’t judge people. I don’t care what people do in their bedrooms, and people shouldn’t care what I do in mine.”

Her relationship with LGBTQ+ fans was not limited to a single interview.

Parton recorded the queer-affirming song “Family” for her 1991 album Eagle When She Flies, adding a musical expression of acceptance to a career in which she repeatedly emphasized the importance of treating people with humanity.

That history helps explain why some commenters saw Schroder’s wording as particularly jarring.

Another Tribute Highlighted a Very Different Side of Dolly

Brandi Carlile offered another perspective on Parton’s legacy in her own tribute. Carlile wrote that Parton “had a way of deeply belonging to every one of us, and yet somehow still not being of this world.” She added, “I loved Dolly with all my heart.”

Carlile also recalled that she had loved Parton even before meeting her because the “Coat of Many Colors” singer had accepted her. She wrote, “Before I met her, I loved her because she took a risk and accepted me (and all of us) for being gay in a time where she didn’t need to say anything.”

According to Carlile, Parton consistently chose to focus on compassion rather than getting drawn into every controversy surrounding her.

She wrote that Parton had been asked to comment on “MANY things” over the years, but chose to speak about matters that brought “love and mercy to real people.” Carlile also remembered Parton as “obscenely generous, whip smart” and described her as “a bona fide rockstar, a preacher and the quickest comedian I ever took a shot from.”

Schroder’s tribute may have sparked the sharpest debate, but it was only one small part of the enormous outpouring that followed Parton’s death. Across Hollywood, country music, politics, and beyond, celebrities were also choosing their own ways to say goodbye — and some tributes stood out for very different reasons.

As we previously reported, in the hours that followed, condolences poured in from politicians, pop stars, and fellow country legends, each trying to capture what Parton meant to them.

Yet among thousands of posts, two specific celebrity messages grabbed everyone’s attention for entirely different reasons. One was hailed as the ultimate farewell, while the other left fans utterly speechless and deeply offended.

World Leaders Send Their Condolences

Former President Barack Obama shared a tribute on Instagram, noting that Parton was born in a one-room cabin, earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, and helped millions of kids learn to read, and helped speed along the vaccine research. He added that Michelle and he were thinking of her family and her many fans.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris commended her legacy, calling the East Tennessee native a true American icon. She traced her path from a “little girl from up in East Tennessee” to global superstar.

Harris singled out the more than 300 million books distributed through the Imagination Library as her favorite of Parton’s accomplishments, alongside her 11 Grammys, an Emmy, and an honorary Oscar.

Former President George W. Bush, in a joint statement with his wife, Laura, said they mourned alongside thousands of fans. He praised Parton’s music and personal style, and specifically thanked her for her work promoting literacy, advancing health, and strengthening communities, calling her “a talented and hardworking American who will be missed.”

Country Music Mourns One of Its Own

Reba McEntire wrote that she had just learned her “buddy” had passed “onto the higher and greater side,” recalling their first meeting and their final conversation.

She thanked Parton for everything she gave from her “huge huge heart,” adding that she believed Parton was now in heaven singing with family and friends who had gone before her.

Tim McGraw described Parton as the blueprint for every entertainer who came after her, “head and shoulders above anyone that came before her.” He said everything she did, she did with kindness, grace, and her famous wit and smile, and admitted it had been hard to stay out of tears all day.

Trisha Yearwood said there weren’t words to describe what Parton meant to the world. She told fans their job now was to keep Parton’s light alive by living out “WWDD” — What Would Dolly Do — adding that Parton “walked the walk” and would be missed more than words could say.

Wynona Judd called Parton family, recalling that Parton showed up for her personally after the death of Judd’s mother. She wrote that Parton’s mark on music and culture was greater than anyone could hope to leave behind, signing off “from one mountain woman to another.”

Blake Shelton said the loss felt personal after spending real time with Parton while working alongside her and Gwen Stefani on “The Voice.” He described her as exactly the person fans hoped she was — “the funnest, most loving, most caring and closest member of your family.”

Kimberly Williams Paisley recalled first meeting Parton when she recorded “When I Get Where I’m Going” with Williams Paisley’s husband, Brad Paisley, saying Parton’s voice “pierced my soul.”

She also described filming a windy, rain-soaked scene for Netflix’s “Heartstrings” series, joking that when Parton arrived, the storm seemed to stop around her, and not one hair moved out of place.

Billy Ray Cyrus remembered apologizing to Parton in 1992 over false tabloid rumors linking the two of them romantically, only for her to wink and tell him, “Honey, this trash sells records!” He added that Parton had recently sent him a message telling him she loved him with her whole heart, and that he would always love her the same way.

Marie Osmond called Parton a trailblazer and a beautiful soul who touched generations with her music, kindness, and spirit. She shared a photo of herself with Parton and Betty White, taken with Paul Mitchell cofounders, calling the two women “national treasures” and asking Parton to give White a hug on her behalf.

Hollywood Pays Its Respects

Jamie Lee Curtis said the saying “don’t meet your heroes” didn’t apply to Parton. She pointed to Parton’s decision to write “I Will Always Love You” as an example of her bravery — a way of thanking and loving someone while still choosing to move on to new work and new possibilities.

Anne Hathaway wrote that heaven had gotten one of its own back. She said Parton left behind so many melodies, lyrics, stories, jokes, and performances that it was now up to everyone else to follow in her “brilliant, adorable, one-of-a-kind, bedazzled footsteps.”

Katy Perry remembered Parton as someone who defied stereotypes for decades, proving that a big voice and a big heart could exist in one small package.

She recalled once dreaming of having Parton join her for a Super Bowl performance, popping out of a giant rhinestone cowboy boot, and said that when Parton couldn’t do it, she sent Perry’s team a handwritten note by fax back in 2015.

Vera Wang called Parton “a modern and independent woman way ahead of her time,” describing her as beautiful, gifted, honest, and a joyful, consummate performer.

Goldie Hawn shared a memory from the day she first met Parton, saying she was already “lit up like an angel” back then. She asked Parton to rest and, in her own words, “keep the angels creating music and singing in the heavens.”

Oprah recalled wearing Bob Mackie gowns together while appearing on Parton’s talk show, “Dolly,” calling it one of her fondest memories.

She said a girl from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee had dreamed a life and then lived one bigger than she could have imagined, giving generously in ways people saw and in ways they never did.

Priscilla Presley shared a more personal memory, recalling that after she and Elvis left the courthouse following their divorce, he sang “I Will Always Love You” to her as they walked down the steps together.

She said she later shared that memory with Parton herself, and that it was Parton’s warmth, humor, and enormous heart — not just her music — that made her one of a kind.

Jane Fonda posted an extended tribute describing Parton as more present, powerful, generous, and playful than anyone she had ever known, woven permanently into the memories of “9 to 5,” Dollywood, and the millions of books she put into children’s hands.

Fonda called her simultaneously “a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of Tennessee” and a deep, soulful thinker who could see straight through people to their true selves, someone who always seemed to know just what to do and say to make things right — and then, in Fonda’s words, “stick her butt out the car window and moon Kenny Rogers’ home.”

Fonda also had a message for Parton’s gay and trans fans, telling them Parton loved them, and urged everyone to celebrate her spirit rather than mourn, pointing fans toward the final episode of “Grace and Frankie,” in which Parton played a working-class angel in heaven.

Kelly Osbourne thanked Parton for paving the way, not just for women in music but for women everywhere to be unapologetically themselves. She said Parton proved it was possible to be ambitious and kind, strong and soft, fearless and authentic all at once, and called working with her one of the greatest honors of her life.

Lauren Sanchez wrote that Parton gave meaning to her Courage and Civility award, rather than the other way around. She recalled Parton saying she always tried to put her money where her heart was — with kids — and pointed to three decades of free books mailed to children who had none, a cause Parton pursued because her own father never learned to read.

The 41-year-old singer has opened up about finding romance with a former world leader, sharing what she wanted from love and what she had to leave behind first.

Perry reflected on the past 16 months in a People interview published September 2, 2026. Her Lifetimes Tour kept her on the road through a period of considerable personal change.

By late July 2025, Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 54, were drawing attention after they were spotted having dinner in Montreal. Two days later, Trudeau attended one of her concerts with his daughter.

Perry Explains What She Found on the Road

Perry said the tour ultimately helped her reconnect with her sense of purpose and brought an unexpected change to her personal life. She called meeting Trudeau “the greatest gift” from that period and referred to him as “the love of my life,” adding that things “shifted” after they met.

Her hopes for a new relationship had also been put in writing months earlier. During the video interview, Perry pulled a handwritten list from her phone case and revealed that its final entry was “True Love,” which she said reflected where she believes she is now.

Their romance gradually became more public. Perry and Trudeau stepped out together for her birthday in Paris in October 2025. In June 2026, they made their red carpet debut at the Tribeca Festival premiere of “Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live From Paris.”

Perry Shares What Had Been Missing

Before meeting Trudeau, Perry had been examining what she felt was still missing from her personal life. She said:

“I always wanted this epic legendary love, and I was talking to my therapist about it: Everything in my life is epic, but this is kind of the missing puzzle piece — then it showed up.”

As their relationship developed, Trudeau became a regular presence at Katy Perry‘s performances. He attended 10 of her 20 recent summer shows. Perry described what his support at those concerts has meant to her.

“He knows the words, he’s supportive, and he’s in awe; it’s super healing,” she said, adding, “he is really heart-centered, and I think that we align in that way. I’m so grateful.”

Perry Looks Back on a Painful Turning Point

Before that new chapter, Perry was navigating the end of her nearly decade-long relationship with Orlando Bloom. Their split was confirmed while she was still touring in 2025.

One stretch in Australia proved especially difficult. Far from her friends at home, Perry recalled feeling isolated while continuing with the tour.

“It was probably the hardest time. My friends were all hanging out back home. I was crying and just feeling far away,” she said. Perry also reflected on what she took from her nine years with Bloom.

Rather than dismissing their time together, she described the relationship as a source of lessons. “I wouldn’t have stayed in something for nine years if there wasn’t really important things to learn. Each relationship is a teacher, right?” she said. “I had to let it go so I could move forward.”

Perry and Bloom Confirmed Their Split After Months of Change

Speculation about Perry and Bloom’s relationship had intensified by early July 2025. On July 3, TMZ reported, citing unnamed sources, that Bloom was expected to attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding festivities as a single man. Perry, who was on tour, was not attending.

Later that day, representatives for Perry and Bloom officially confirmed that their engagement had ended. They said the former couple had been “shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting.”

The statement said Perry and Bloom would continue to spend time together as a family and described raising their daughter, Daisy Dove, as their shared priority. Their representatives said they intended to do so with “love, stability, and mutual respect.”

Bloom Has Also Moved Forward

Bloom has since entered a new relationship. In July 2026, E! News reported that he was dating Swiss model Luisa Laemmel, 28, after the pair were photographed holding hands during an outing in Forte dei Marmi, Italy.

The two had previously fueled romance speculation when they were seen leaving the 2026 Super Bowl together. The relationship is Bloom’s first publicly reported romance since his official split from Perry.

Bloom has also spoken about how he views the end of his nearly decade-long relationship with Perry. During a September 2025 appearance on “Today,” he said he was doing well and focused on what remained important to him.

“I’m great,” Bloom said. “I’m so grateful. We’ve got a beautiful daughter. When you leave everything on the field like I did in this movie, I feel grateful for all of it.”

As both exes moved ahead with their personal lives, Perry’s relationship with Trudeau continued to draw attention. An earlier report captured just how closely their outings were being watched.

Their Boat Outing Became Surprisingly Hands-On

Perry and Justin were photographed with friends in the South of France on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, only days after she finished the European leg of her tour.

The pair spent the day soaking up the sunshine aboard a boat, where their comfort around each other was hard to miss. At one point, the former Canadian prime minister helped apply sunscreen to the singer’s chest while she held open her top.

The rather intimate task placed Trudeau’s hand inside Perry’s outfit, making the photos considerably more revealing than the average vacation snapshot. Perry looked completely at ease as he helped protect an area from the sun.

Her outfit suited the relaxed setting. The “Firework” singer wore a light blue spaghetti-strap sundress with oversized earrings and sunglasses, and she kicked up her bare feet while lounging on the boat.

Trudeau kept his own look casual in a long-sleeved olive green shirt, tan pants, and brown sandals. The couple later stood together for cheerful selfies, appearing delighted as they posed against the waterfront scenery.

Their day continued on the dock, where Perry checked her phone while Trudeau walked nearby carrying a large tote bag. The getaway came at an ideal time for Perry. She had completed her Euro Summer Festival tour only three days earlier, wrapping the run with a Saturday performance in Switzerland.

Her affectionate interaction with Trudeau might have been expected to dominate the response. Instead, some viewers looked closely at Perry’s body and began speculating about whether the couple could have another reason to celebrate.

Fans Zeroed In on Her Figure

Several photographs showed Perry from the side as she relaxed in her pale blue dress. The angle and the loose fit of the material prompted questions about her stomach.

Still, commenters on Facebook quickly began examining the images closely. One asked, “Is that a bump!?” Another focused on a different part of Perry’s appearance, writing, “What’s going on with her arm 😳.”

The pregnancy questions continued beneath the same post. One person wrote, “Is she pregnant?” while another declared, “She look pregnant [sic].” Similar remarks appeared on Instagram. One commenter said, “She looks pregnant 🤰,” and another asked, “Is she pregnant?”

The photos alone do not establish that Perry is expecting, and there has been no confirmation from the singer or Trudeau. Clothing, posture, and camera angles can easily affect how someone appears in a still image, particularly when that person is seated or moving around on a boat.

Still, the intense reaction revealed how quickly attention surrounding Perry and Trudeau has shifted. Less than a year after their relationship first became public, people are already wondering whether they might be preparing to expand the family they have begun bringing together.

Joe Kent has resigned from his role as Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center under Donald Trump, following years of military and counterterrorism work shaped by firsthand experience in conflict zones.

His personal life has unfolded alongside that career, including a previous marriage, a loss during the war on terror, and a later remarriage. Each reflects a different stage of his life and service.

A Resignation Rooted in Conviction

Joe did not step down quietly or without explanation. In his recent statement posted on X, he made clear that his decision was driven by a fundamental disagreement with U.S. involvement in Iran and would take effect immediately.

He argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the U.S. and suggested the conflict was being shaped by outside pressure rather than direct national interest. He also pointed to what he described as a coordinated effort to influence public perception and build support for escalation.

Joe tied this stance directly to his own experience, referencing his years of combat deployments and the personal loss he suffered during the war on terror. He made clear he could not support sending another generation into a conflict he believed was unnecessary.

His professional background provides additional context for that position and how it was formed over time.

The Career That Led Him There

Joe’s perspective did not form in policy briefings alone. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he is an Oregon native and a graduate of Norwich University, where he studied Strategic Defense Analysis.

He spent 20 years in the Army and completed 11 combat deployments across the Middle East and other high-threat regions. During that time, he served with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

These roles placed him in high-risk environments where operations depended on timing and intelligence. Over his career, he received multiple commendations, including six Bronze Stars.

After retiring in 2018, he continued his work as a paramilitary officer in the CIA’s Special Activities Center, focusing on operations targeting high-level threats.

He later became Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, where he oversaw U.S. counterterrorism and counternarcotics efforts and served as a principal adviser to the president.

But beyond his official roles, his personal life has also drawn attention.

What We Know About Joe Kent’s First Wife

Shannon Kent is Joe’s first wife. Her work placed her in the same shadow world of counterterrorism operations. As a Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, she specialized in human intelligence and operated in environments where visibility meant danger.

According to the Global SOF Foundation, she deployed multiple times with SEAL teams and became known for working directly among local populations to identify ISIS cells. She helped locate targets by tracking movements and passing critical intelligence to units carrying out strikes.

She was part of a unit known as “The Mohawks,” where missions required blending into hostile environments and building sources under constant threat. If exposed, the risks included torture or death.

In January 2019, she was killed in Syria by an improvised explosive device while conducting operations against ISIS. The mission was not routine, and much of the detail surrounding her work remains classified.

In a statement shared via the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Joe described the immediate aftermath, including raising their two young sons as a single parent.

Her death was not just a personal loss. It was the kind of sacrifice that defines the hidden side of modern warfare. But that loss would not be the end of his story.

A Closer Look at Joe Kent’s Second Wife

Years later, Joe rebuilt his life with his second wife, Heather Kaiser, a woman whose background closely mirrors his own. She served nearly 11 years on active duty in the Army, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to her official biography.

A graduate of West Point, she later pursued a career in art while continuing to engage with themes shaped by her military experience.

Her artist statement focuses on trauma, moral injury, and the long-term impact of war, reflecting a perspective grounded in lived experience. She wrote:

Pam Bondi’s public career has long kept her in the spotlight. Recently, however, attention briefly shifted to the man standing beside her.

From occasional social media posts to rare public appearances, glimpses of Bondi’s longtime partner have surfaced over the years. But one moment in particular brought the private businessman into the public eye.

The Moment That Drew Attention at Pam Bondi’s Swearing-in

Wakefield was present during Bondi’s swearing-in ceremony as U.S. Attorney General at the White House in February 2025.

Photos from the Oval Office show him standing beside Bondi as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office. Bondi’s mother, Patsy Bondi, was also in attendance during the ceremony.

While introducing Bondi during the event, Trump made a joking remark about Wakefield that quickly sparked curiosity.

“I just wanna introduce her very, very handsome husband. I hate being around him, he looks too good,” Trump said in a Fox News broadcast, drawing laughs during the moment.

In another moment from the event, Trump was seen congratulating Bondi after the swearing-in while Wakefield stood nearby.

Curiosity followed Trump’s remark because Bondi and Wakefield have not publicly confirmed that they are married.

Trump also described Wakefield as an important presence in Bondi’s life, saying he has been a tremendous factor for her and that the two share a “beautiful relationship.”

For some viewers, the moment briefly shifted attention to the man standing beside the former Florida attorney general.

A Closer Look at John Wakefield

According to his LinkedIn profile, Wakefield works in real estate private equity in Tampa, Florida, focusing on investment partnerships and development projects.

He currently serves as Executive Vice President at Ellison Development, where he works with the investor community and helps lead new multifamily development initiatives.

Wakefield is also a founding principal of Varner Wakefield Equity Partners, overseeing asset management for a value-add real estate portfolio located in Florida and South Carolina.

Earlier in his career, Wakefield held corporate strategy and business development roles at Lykes Bros. Inc., and previously worked in corporate and investment banking positions at SunTrust Bank and Wachovia.

His profile also lists an MBA in international business from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Charleston.

Beyond business, Wakefield’s profile also notes his philanthropic involvement. He founded Tampa Oyster Fest, a charity event supporting the youth nonprofit Frameworks of Tampa Bay, where he previously served as board chair.

Outside of his professional background, little information about Wakefield’s personal life is publicly available. His Instagram profile offers one small glimpse, with a bio that reads, “3 monster children are roaming the world,” though it does not identify their mother.

Details about his relationship with Bondi have also appeared sparingly on social media. She first publicly shared a photo of them with friends in an October 2017 Instagram post, writing, “Great night at Bruno Mars w Chillura’s and friends.”

Bondi has occasionally shared photos of the two of them online over the years.

What Pam Bondi Shared About John Wakefield

In 2017, she shared a selfie of them smiling together, captioning her Instagram post, “Happy Birthday John!” Another photo from the same post showed Wakefield relaxing in a pool with his children and a dog, offering a rare glimpse into his family life.

A December 2018 post featured multiple photos of the couple posing inside the White House during the holiday season, including images with Trump, near a decorated Christmas tree, and inside one of the building’s formal rooms.

Years later, Bondi shared another image in June 2022 from an event in Doonbeg, Ireland, where the two appeared dressed formally and smiling together.

Outside social media, Bondi and Wakefield have occasionally been spotted together at public events.

The Few Times Pam Bondi and John Wakefield Have Been Seen Together

Photographs have captured Bondi and Wakefield together at several high-profile events over the years.

The pair were seen watching the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey in July 2025, sitting together in the stands during the match.

In December 2025, they attended the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., arriving side by side on the red carpet, with Bondi wearing a dark brown evening gown and Wakefield in a black tuxedo.

Donald Trump posted something online that made netizens try to piece together a mystery themselves. As speculation spread across social media, a response from a family member and subsequent reporting began to point toward a woman with longstanding ties to Donald and New York’s Republican circles.

Why Donald Trump’s Caption Sparked So Much Confusion

Donald stirred widespread curiosity after sharing a vintage photograph of a smiling blonde woman on Truth Social with the caption, “Great daughter. My Honor!!! President DJT.”

Shared ahead of Father’s Day weekend, the post included no explanation. Donald did not identify the woman, say when the photograph was taken, or explain why he chose to share it.

At the center of the post was a photograph of a younger blonde woman reclining on a sofa inside what appears to be an elegant residence.

She smiles toward the camera while resting her head on one hand. The room features red upholstered furniture, bookshelves, lamps, and indoor plants. Draped across the sofa is a blanket bearing an official seal, a detail that prompted closer scrutiny.

The photograph was reportedly taken at Camp David during the Clinton administration, with the Arkansas state seal —former President Bill Clinton’s home state — visible on the sofa.

Much of the early reaction centered on Donald’s caption. Because he referred to the woman as a “great daughter” without identifying her, many people initially assumed he was referring to one of his own children.

Donald has five children from three marriages, according to People. With his late first wife, Ivana Trump, he shares Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump, all of whom have been involved with the Trump Organization.

He and his second wife, Marla Maples, have a daughter, Tiffany Trump, who is a lawyer. Donald and First Lady Melania Trump share one son, Barron Trump, who graduated from high school in May 2024.

Donald has 11 grandchildren: Kai Madison Trump, Donald John Trump III, Arabella Rose Kushner, Joseph Frederick Kushner, Theodore James Kushner, Tristan Milos Trump, Spencer Frederick Trump, Chloe Sophia Trump, Eric Luke Trump, Carolina Dorothy Trump, and Alexander Trump Boulos.

The unanswered caption quickly turned into an online search, with social media users offering their own theories about who the woman might be.

Social Media Users Thought They Knew Who the Woman Was

Online, several netizens offered a range of theories. On Facebook, one user wrote, “It’s weird that he even found that image to share it. What do you suppose he was looking at?”

A second chimed in, “Or maybe she’s REALLY his daughter and something more that has been hidden from the public.”

Another commented, “My guess is someone saw the photo and thought it was one of his daughters. Donald posted without really looking at the photo.” Someone bluntly stated, “Daughter from yet another mother??”

Others focused on the wording of Donald’s caption rather than the woman’s identity.

On Instagram, one user wrote, “Great daughter doesn’t mean his daughter, it could be she’s a great daughter to one of his friends. 👏” Another questioned the post itself, asking, “Can we ask him if he remembers posting this?”

Some commenters took the discussion in a different direction, speculating about Donald’s personal life. One wrote, “Cheating on his 1st lady,” while another commented, “The President of the United States cheating on his wife that’s just crazy 🤔.”

Others, however, believed the mystery had already been solved.

One Instagrammer wrote, “identified the woman as Margo Catsimatidis … whose daughter, Andrea Catsimatidis, is the chairwoman for the Manhattan Republican Party.” Another simply added, “Is it really a mystery? It’s not.”

The online speculation shifted after a woman with firsthand knowledge of the family publicly responded.

On X, Andrea Catsimatidis thanked Donald for inviting her to his birthday celebration. The chairwoman of the Manhattan Republican Party described the event as a patriotic tribute and thanked him for his work on behalf of the country.

Andrea did not explicitly identify the woman in the photograph. However, The Independent later reported that the woman was her mother, Margo Catsimatidis.

While Donald has not commented further on the post, Andrea’s response and the newspaper’s reporting largely resolved the question that had dominated social media.

Why Margo Catsimatidis Was a Familiar Face to Donald Trump

According to her official biography, Margo was born in Indiana and was invited to dance with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet at age 12, becoming its youngest invited dancer at the time.

In 1971, she moved to New York to pursue a ballet career, studying under a renowned Russian instructor and appearing in theatrical productions.

After a dance-related injury ended those plans, she joined Red Apple Supermarkets, where she met businessman John Catsimatidis.

Married for more than 30 years, the couple helped grow Red Apple Group into a company with interests in supermarkets, real estate, aviation, energy, and media.

Beyond her business career, Margo has spent decades supporting charitable and civic organizations, including the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.

Her biography also notes that she and her husband have hosted presidents, governors, and other political leaders over the years.

Her husband now serves as chairman of Red Apple Group and owner of the New York City supermarket chain Gristedes.

According to Forbes, he expanded the family business into oil refining and broadcasting after opening his first grocery store in 1969. His real-time net worth is at $4.8 billion, ranking him No. 889 in the world as of June 25, 2026.

The same publication also reported that he donated more than $515,000 to Donald’s 2020 presidential campaign.

Those business, philanthropic, and political ties help explain why Donald has appeared alongside Margo and her husband at public events over the years.

Recent White House Photos Show Their Continued Relationship

Images from the White House’s Greek Independence Day celebration on March 26, 2026, place Margo and John among the guests who joined Donald during the annual event.

The photographs show the couple standing near the president alongside Archbishop Elpidophoros and then-U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. Other images capture Donald greeting the Catsimatidises during the ceremony, illustrating that the family has remained part of his public circle.

The event also offered insight into how Donald speaks about the couple.

The United States will mark 25 years since the September 11, 2001, attacks with an intensely emotional ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City on September 11, 2026. Every president still alive is expected to be there except one, and the reason behind his absence has made an already historic day feel even more politically charged.

A Sacred Ceremony Leaves No Room for Politics

For the families gathering on the 9/11 Memorial plaza, the morning will center on the people who went to work, boarded flights, responded to calls for help, and never came home.

Relatives will read the names of 2,983 men, women, and children killed in the September 11 attacks and the February 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center. The recitation will continue for hours, turning each individual name into a reminder of the lives behind a number that can otherwise feel impossible to absorb.

According to the memorial, six moments of silence will correspond with the times each World Trade Center tower was struck and fell, the attack on the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

A seventh silence will honor those who later died from illnesses connected to 9/11. Their losses continued accumulating long after the smoke disappeared from lower Manhattan, extending the tragedy into the lives of responders and families for decades.

The anniversary carries another painful reality. Approximately 100 million Americans are now too young to remember September 11, placing greater responsibility on those who witnessed it to explain why the day changed the country so profoundly.

The 9/11 museum is framing the 25th anniversary around remembrance and service, with an emphasis on teaching a new generation about the aftermath Americans witnessed. The public will be able to watch the private family ceremony online before the Memorial reopens later that afternoon.

Yet the most powerful rule governing the gathering is remarkably simple: elected officials do not give speeches.

Political figures once read poems and historic documents, including the Gettysburg Address, during the ceremony. Since 2012, however, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum has refused to allow politicians to address the crowd.

Instead, leaders from opposing parties stand quietly together while bereaved relatives speak the names of the dead. The decision has helped protect Ground Zero from campaign messages, political disagreements, and attempts to make the morning about anyone other than those being remembered.

That long-established boundary is now at the heart of why one leader will apparently commemorate September 11 somewhere else.

One Requested Role Changed the Presidential Gathering

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden are expected to attend the Manhattan ceremony.

Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush are also among the anticipated guests, along with former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Joe’s attendance was confirmed on September 2, completing an extraordinary lineup of living former presidents at the site of the fallen towers.

President Donald Trump is the one living president not expected at Ground Zero.

His absence is particularly striking because he was born in New York City and has spoken frequently about September 11, including during his 2016 presidential campaign. His team had even conducted advance visits at the Memorial, while officials in New York and Washington initially received indications that he intended to appear.

The plan reportedly shifted after President Trump expressed interest in delivering a speech on September 11. Memorial organizers have spent more than a decade keeping political remarks out of the ceremony, and they did not abandon that rule for the sitting president.

Four people familiar with the discussions told The Times that Donald did not plan to attend the Manhattan event, with his desire to speak contributing to the decision. His interest in addressing the gathering had reportedly been communicated to organizers during the preceding weeks.

That means Bill, George, Barack, and Joe are expected to stand at Ground Zero together while the country’s current president, and the only one of the five born in New York, is somewhere else.

The White House did not directly answer a question about President Trump’s schedule. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly instead described how he would observe the anniversary.

“On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the president will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans,” she said.

The president is now expected to mark September 11 at the Pentagon, which was also attacked that morning in 2001. His appearance there would still place him at a site of profound national loss, although it would leave the sitting president noticeably separated from his living predecessors in Manhattan.

The Absence Prompted Blunt Reactions

News that President Donald Trump was not expected at Ground Zero quickly drew responses focused on both his New York roots and the reported disagreement over speaking.

On Instagram, one commenter wrote, “Shocker…” Another person believed the decision revealed something deeper, commenting, “That should say everything 😢”

Someone else pointed directly to the geographical connection that made the absence so conspicuous: “The only one from NY isn’t going???” A person reacting on Facebook reduced the situation to a single sharp word: “Sulking.”

New York Will Remember Across All Five Boroughs

The gathering at Ground Zero will anchor a much broader schedule of commemorations throughout New York City.

The public events began on September 6 with the Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance in Manhattan. Father Judge, an FDNY chaplain killed while ministering to firefighters at the World Trade Center, was recorded as Victim 0001.

Two commemorative films are also being screened during the anniversary period. “Remembering Judge” examines his life and legacy, while “Resilience” addresses the lasting health consequences suffered by FDNY members involved in the rescue and recovery operation.

On September 10, a candlelight vigil at the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance in Coney Island will honor first responders killed during the attacks. Firehouses and EMS stations across the city will also welcome visitors for an open house, giving the public an opportunity to meet firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.

The FDNY will hold its official 25th anniversary ceremony at FerryHawks Stadium on Staten Island privately for families of those lost on September 11 and in the years that followed.

Other public observances on that day include a ceremony at the FDNY Firefighters Memorial in Manhattan honoring the 343 department members who passed two and a half decades ago. Staten Island residents who died in the attacks will be remembered at the Postcards Memorial.