Month: October 2026

Melania Trump dazzled on the red carpet at the 27th Annual Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on June 7, 1999, in New York City. The model turned heads in a shimmering lilac sequined evening gown with ultra-thin spaghetti straps, complemented by tousled caramel waves, a soft glossy lip, and a delicate pendant necklace. | Source: Getty Images

The multi-story apartment block where Melania Trump spent her childhood stood under a clear blue sky on November 28, 2016, in Sevnica, Slovenia. The peach-and-beige residential building features rows of stacked balconies and sits adjacent to a grassy lawn and manicured shrubbery in the former First Lady’s hometown. | Source: Getty Images

A direct low-angle view captures the symmetrical facade of the Sevnica, Slovenia apartment complex where Melania Trump was raised, photographed on November 28, 2016. The exterior showcases warm orange vertical accents, orderly balcony railings, and a central entrance stairway leading into the quiet residential building. | Source: Getty Images

A straight-on view captures the former family home of Melania Trump in Sevnica, Slovenia, on November 27, 2016, where she resided with her parents after moving from a nearby apartment block. The modern two-story white stucco residence features black trim, an upper balcony with potted shrubbery, roll-down window blinds, and a paved courtyard driveway bordered by a low curved retaining wall. | Source: Getty Images

An angled street view shows the hillside family home in Sevnica, Slovenia, where Melania Trump lived during her youth, pictured on October 30, 2020. The clean white-and-black split-level house is situated on an elevated green lawn along a quiet residential street, featuring a wide paved driveway, stone exterior stairs, and a dark railing terrace. | Source: Getty Images

A rustic wooden roadside sign adorned with vibrant red geraniums welcomes visitors with the carved greeting “DOBRODOŠLI V SELCE NAD BLANCO” in the settlement of Selce nad Blanco, located within the Municipality of Sevnica, Slovenia. The peaceful entrance marker frames a view of green hillsides, a local roadway, and residential houses in the rural community. | Source: Facebook/Turistična kmetija Rostohar

The entrance of Osnovna šola Sava Kladnika Sevnica, the primary school attended by Melania Trump during her childhood, was photographed on November 29, 2016, in Sevnica, Slovenia. The building features an ochre-and-white facade beneath rows of large horizontal windows, with national and regional flags displayed directly above the prominent school lettering. | Source: Getty Images

A wide landscape view captured on November 29, 2016, shows concrete steps with green handrails leading up to Osnovna šola Sava Kladnika, the elementary school where Melania Trump was educated in Sevnica, Slovenia. Flanked by tall evergreen trees and scattered autumn leaves, the multi-level institutional building sits peacefully under bright blue skies. | Source: Getty Images

The golden Neptune statue atop Janez Kumersteiner’s 1675 fountain stands in the foreground before the striking red brick-and-stone facade of the National and University Library of Slovenia in Ljubljana. Designed by famed architect Jože Plečnik, the celebrated library building rises next to the neighboring classical yellow townhouse and Vžigalica Gallery under a bright blue sky. | Source: Getty Images

Pedestrians and cyclists gather in Congress Square before the ornate facade of the University of Ljubljana on July 14, 2025, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The stately Neo-Renaissance building serves as the central headquarters for the nation’s oldest, largest, and internationally top-rated university. | Source: Getty Images

A commemorative bronze plaque mounted on a post stands before a brick pillar marking 1 Irving Place during an unveiling ceremony on October 11, 2022, in New York City, detailing the architectural history and development of Zeckendorf Towers. | Source: Getty Images

The red-brick high-rises of Zeckendorf Towers flank the historic Consolidated Edison clock tower along Union Square Park, with the silhouetted equestrian statue of George Washington rising in the foreground under a vibrant blue sky. | Source: Getty Images

First Lady Melania Trump stood alongside U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Gunn and Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan as they posed with a newly sworn-in citizen holding his certificate following a Naturalization Ceremony at the National Archives on December 15, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Melania Trump, who delivered remarks at the event welcoming 25 new citizens, wore an all-black belted shirt-style coatdress, standing with Gunn in judicial robes and Shogan in a navy blazer over a floral top. | Source: Getty Images

But as photos from the appearance circulated online, attention shifted from the royal visit to Catherine herself. Some netizens pointed out a detail in her appearance that quickly became part of the conversation.

William and Catherine’s visit centered on the work Leeds Rhinos and its foundation do through sport, including programs that support the local community. The engagement also honored the legacy of the late rugby league star and the continuing push for greater awareness and funding for motor neurone disease (MND).

As they toured the stadium, the couple met young people, club members, and staff involved in the foundation’s programs, giving them a closer look at its work both on and off the field.

Catherine Stepped Out in a Tailored Pantsuit

The Princess of Wales wore a tailored dark green pantsuit over a simple black top. Her blazer featured structured shoulders and silver-toned buttons, while matching wide-leg trousers completed the look.

She wore her long brunette hair down in soft waves and accessorized with drop earrings and her rings. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales matched his wife in darker tones. He wore a navy suit with a light blue striped dress shirt and a patterned blue tie.

The couple appeared in high spirits as they moved through the engagement. Catherine smiled and chatted with people, while William spoke with young members of the community.

According to People, the couple learned how Leeds Rhinos and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation use sport to improve health, education, inclusion, and well-being in the community.

William and Catherine Heard About a Late Athlete’s Lasting Impact

Among those William and Catherine met was Jamie Jones-Buchanan, the CEO of Leeds Rhinos and a longtime friend of Rob Burrow.

Rob spent his playing career with Leeds Rhinos before retiring in 2017. Two years later, he was diagnosed with MND. In the years that followed, he became a prominent campaigner for MND awareness and funding before his death in 2024.

William’s ties to Rob and his MND advocacy predate the couple’s latest visit. In 2024, the prince returned to Headingley Stadium, where he presented Rob with his CBE in recognition of his work raising awareness of the disease.

William’s support continued after Rob’s death. He later officially opened the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and contributed the foreword to a book written by Rob’s wife, Lindsey.

During the latest visit, William and Catherine heard how Rob’s influence remains part of the club. They spoke with some of his former teammates, including Jamie and Danny McGuire, who now works for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation.

Looking back on playing alongside Rob, Danny said, “He was so brave on the field. We followed him, didn’t we? He was the one that we all followed. He inspired us.”

William then asked whether Rob had been vocal as a player. Jamie recalled the personality behind Rob’s presence on the team: “He was a massive presence. What he lacked in size he made up for in his voice, he was a comedian as well.”

Catherine Connected With Children Over Sport and Belonging

The visit also gave William and Catherine a closer look at the foundation’s mental and physical health programs. According to The Mirror, they observed a training session with the women’s under-19s team and spent time with players preparing to compete in the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

They also spoke with three Year 6 pupils from a local primary school who were taking part in a PE session.

William asked the children about their sporting ambitions: “Where do you guys want to be with your sports? Do you want to [have] a career with your sports?” After hearing their responses, he emphasized the work required to pursue those goals: “It takes a lot of practice, a lot of hard work.”

Catherine picked up on one boy’s comments about the sense of belonging he found through sport.

“I like what you said about belonging,” she told him. She then reflected on the relationships that can develop between teammates: “It almost becomes like another family.” The conversation shifted when the couple learned that the children did not use social media.

Catherine responded, “That’s so good to hear, that’s because you love your sport, you’ve got other things to be doing.” She later drew William’s attention to the detail, saying, “These guys don’t have social media because they really love their sport.”

The Couple Surprised a Former Rugby Star After His Third Ultramarathon

The day took a more emotional turn when William and Catherine surprised Sir Kevin Sinfield during his latest endurance challenge in memory of Rob.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that the couple met Kevin at Wakefield Trinity’s stadium after he completed his third ultramarathon in as many days. Kevin was attempting seven ultramarathons in seven days to raise money for MND charities in memory of his late friend.

At the finish, Catherine offered a brief message of encouragement: “Well done you.” William reflected on following Kevin’s effort, saying, “It’s been very special to watch.”

Rob’s children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson, attended with his mother, Irene. Kevin became emotional as he addressed his team, supporters, and the royal couple.

Reflecting on the people behind his endurance effort, he said, “The team is everything. I can’t do what I do without all of them.” Kevin then turned his attention to the Waleses and their support for Rob’s family and the wider cause.

“You’ve been such big supporters of the work we’ve tried to do. You’ve been such big supporters of Rob, Lindsey and the full Burrow family,” he said.

He closed that part of his remarks by explaining what their presence could mean for MND awareness: “To have you here today is incredible and brings real credibility and awareness to the MND community. With that credibility, we can do even more.”

A Close Look at Catherine’s Photos Prompted a Blunt Question

Recently, Will Reeve found himself navigating a health crisis that would test his new marriage almost immediately. It began with a change that seemed easy to dismiss, but what followed eventually brought him back to a place already deeply connected to his family’s history.

The 34-year-old ABC News national correspondent is now speaking publicly about the experience for the first time, explaining that the example set by his late parents has shaped the way he is approaching his own difficult chapter.

“I was raised to share one’s struggles if, in doing so, that might help others,” Will told People in its September 29, 2026 report. For Will, the timing of what happened made the experience particularly emotional.

A New Marriage Before Everything Changed

Only months earlier, Will had married Event Planner Amanda Dubin Reeve, 30, following a romance that almost failed to get past the first date. According to Vogue’s account of their nuptials, the pair matched online in the late summer of 2022, although COVID, travel, and scheduling conflicts repeatedly got in the way of meeting.

They finally arranged a date for that fall — only for Will to be unexpectedly sent to the U.K. to report on Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

Amanda later texted him condolences while he was working in London, apparently not initially realizing he was there as a television correspondent rather than because of some connection to the royal family. Will then became so consumed with the assignment that he failed to reply for more than a week.

Once he realized what had happened, however, he explained that he had not meant to ghost her and asked for another chance. Amanda agreed, and they finally met for coffee at Banter on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village.

“It was apparent to both of us right away that there was a connection,” Will recalled. “Even potential for something big.” The couple became engaged on November 8, 2024, after Will organized an elaborate proposal at Ralph Pucci International in New York’s Flatiron District.

With help from Amanda’s mother and Will’s adoptive parents, Ralph and Ann Pucci — who became an important parental presence in Will’s life after he lost his own parents — he arranged flowers, candles, a photographer, and even a harpist. Amanda initially believed they were simply stopping at an event at the gallery.

Will eventually had to tell her, “I’m going to need you to put your phone away,” before leading her through the space and proposing in front of a window overlooking the Empire State Building.

Their wedding followed on January 17, 2026, at the Rubell Museum in Miami, with approximately 300 guests taking part in a weekend filled with deeply personal touches. For Will, many of those details were about making sure his late parents, Christopher and Dana Reeve, remained part of the day.

He wore gold cufflinks that had belonged to his father and a brooch belonging to his mother. Amanda also gave him a pocket square embroidered with the words “I love you” in Dana’s handwriting, taken from an old letter. The newlyweds even wore Christopher and Dana’s wedding bands, which Will’s family had preserved for decades.

Will walked down the aisle to Norah Jones’s “Sunrise,” one of his mother’s favorite songs and one Norah had performed at Dana’s memorial service in 2006. Two chairs at the ceremony were deliberately left empty, each marked with a flower in honor of his parents. “I thought about all the moments in my life they’d missed out on,” Will said, “but also how present they felt in the room and in the ceremony.”

Later, he shared a special mother-son dance with Ann, who, along with her husband and children, had taken him in following his mother’s death nearly two decades earlier. It was the start of married life Will and Amanda had spent years building toward. Then, only a few months later, their vows were tested in a way neither could have anticipated.

The Health Scare That Changed Their Newlywed Year

Will has recently revealed that this past spring he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which later spread to lymph nodes in his abdomen. However, the good news is significant: following treatment, Will said he was cancer-free as of a September 8 checkup. “I’m going to be fine,” he said. “But this was a heck of a chapter.”

The first warning came in April, when Will was taking a shower and noticed a tender lump on one of his testicles. His initial reaction was hardly one of alarm. “I assumed it was nothing or would go away,” Will recalled.

However, Amanda, who had been his wife for only about three months at the time, was less willing to take that chance. “It’s probably nothing,” she told him, “but what if it’s something?” She encouraged him to get an ultrasound — a decision that would soon prove enormously important. “I was stunned,” Will said.

Surgery Came Quickly

By early May, Will underwent an orchiectomy to remove the cancerous testicle, the standard surgical procedure used in cases of testicular cancer. The operation carried another layer of anxiety because Will had barely any personal experience with surgery. “I hadn’t had surgery since I got my tonsils out at 5,” he explained.

“So I was more nervous about the unknown of the surgery rather than the overwhelming realization that I would be losing an essential part of my body forever.” Will took several days away from work while recovering.

He has repeatedly credited Amanda with not only encouraging him but persuading him to have the lump checked rather than waiting to see whether it disappeared. “We talk about ‘in sickness and in health,'” he said. “We got an early test of our vows, just a few months in.”

Amanda saw something reassuring in the way they responded together. “The silver lining was that we had validation early in the marriage that we are well-equipped to tackle anything,” she shared.

Another Major Question for the Newlyweds

The diagnosis also forced the couple to confront a subject that was especially important so soon after their wedding: whether they would still be able to have children. Will underwent sperm banking because he and Amanda want to start a family. While he explained that an orchiectomy does not necessarily prevent natural conception, he said they did not want to leave their future plans to chance.

“We do want to start a family,” he said. “And while an orchiectomy doesn’t prevent natural conception, you never know, so you want to be safe.” Will also told “Good Morning America” (“GMA”) that the couple’s ability to become parents had been one of their biggest concerns following his diagnosis.

Because of the steps they took, Will said they will be able to have biological children in the future through medically necessary IVF. “We really want to be parents, and the great joy is that we are going to be able to have children, our own children,” he said. “And that’s what we want to do.”

Then Came More Difficult News

Initially, Will and Amanda hoped the entire ordeal would amount to what he called “a momentary blip in an otherwise great time in my life.” Further testing, however, made clear that his treatment was not finished. Will said 95 percent of the testicular cancer identified was embryonal carcinoma, an aggressive form of the disease.

That finding led to another major procedure. On June 10, Will underwent a six-hour operation to remove dozens of lymph nodes from his abdomen. Three of those lymph nodes tested positive for testicular cancer. That result meant Will would also need two rounds of chemotherapy.

Still, he said the doctors treating him consistently emphasized another word beginning with C. “Every doctor I saw along the way was using what I call the good C-word — ‘cure,'” Will noted. He took roughly two and a half weeks away from “GMA” while recovering from the operation.

His Treatment Brought His Family History Full Circle

There was another aspect of the experience Will could hardly ignore. His father, “Superman” Actor Christopher, had been thrown from a horse when Will was only two years old, leaving the actor paralyzed from the neck down. Will grew up watching Christopher and his mother, Dana, advocate for spinal cord injury awareness and research and establish the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Christopher died in 2004 at age 52. Two years later, Dana died from lung cancer at just 44 years old. Will was only 13.

Will’s own diagnosis therefore led to a surreal and painful coincidence: 20 years after his mother died from cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering, he found himself inside the same institution receiving cancer treatment of his own.

“The irony is not lost on me that 20 years after my mom died of lung cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering, there I was in the same building getting treated for cancer,” he said. The experience, he explained, gave him an unexpected perspective on both of his parents at once. As a cancer patient, he felt he was gaining some understanding of what his mother had endured.

At the same time, relying on Amanda during treatment helped him better understand what life had been like for his father during the final nine years of Christopher’s life, when Dana and the rest of the family helped care for him.

“And there I was with my wife, who, since the day I met her, has reminded me in so many ways of my mom, now playing the role of wife and caregiver,” Will reflected.

Going from ‘GMA’ to Chemotherapy

Even while receiving treatment, Will tried to maintain as much normalcy as he could. On chemotherapy days, he sometimes went directly from the “GMA” studios, where he is a frequent contributor, to the hospital. He also underwent cold-capping in an effort to preserve his hair.

Never one to miss the humor in an uncomfortable situation, Will joked that the helmet “looked like the under side [sic] of a manta ray.” Anti-nausea medication helped considerably. “I never really felt sick at all,” he said, although the side effects did not disappear entirely.

Among them were 24-hour headaches and bone pain, symptoms Will described as a kind of “ailment whack-a-mole.” He completed his second round of chemotherapy on July 31, taking several days off after each round to recover. “My colleagues at ABC are like family to me and have been with me every step of the way,” he said.

Why Getting Checked Mattered Significantly

Looking back now, Will believes one decision made a crucial difference: he did not continue ignoring that first physical change. “I’m fortunate that I caught this early,” he said. “Yes, I had to jump through some flaming hoops to get to the other side, but it could have been much worse had I ignored it or delayed going to the doctor.”

His follow-up care will initially involve scans and bloodwork three to four times per year to monitor for a possible recurrence, with that frequency expected to decrease over time. “The experience has taught me to pay attention to my body,” Will shared. It has also reinforced another lesson: “And lean on your people.”

For Will, that support began with Amanda but extended to his siblings, Alexandra and Matthew Reeve, as well as extended family, close friends and colleagues.

He said the experience has also pushed him to “live even more intentionally and simply.” “It’s easy to get caught up in the madness of modern life and forget what’s most important,” he added.

‘I Learned Grief All over Again’

Will’s life has already included extraordinary loss. He was only a child when his father’s accident reshaped daily life for the entire family, and he later watched Christopher live for years unable to move or breathe independently. “And then he died, and I had to learn what grief was,” Will recalled.

Not long afterward came another devastating blow. His mother — who Will noted had never smoked — developed lung cancer and died. “I learned grief all over again at a different level,” he said. That history, however, also gave Will a model for how adversity could be transformed into something constructive.

“Watching my parents up close take the adversity they faced in their lives and repurpose it into something hopeful left a major impact on my life and how I try to live it,” he said. Now that lesson has become intensely personal.

Will said the love he has received from family, friends, and even strangers throughout his life helped convince him to speak about his diagnosis — not simply to tell people what happened, but in the hope that his experience might help somebody else pay attention to their own body.

And he has one request for those who might feel sympathy for what he has been through. “For all the people who care about me, I’m so grateful and also ask that any sympathy one might have be channeled into love and care for those closest to them,” Will Reeve stated, “because we all need to love and care for the people in our lives.”

The 80-year-old president stepped off Air Force One in New Jersey on September 4, 2026, ahead of a weekend at his Bedminster golf club. At first glance, the familiar swept-back style was still there.

It was another detail, however, that quickly became impossible to miss. The surprising image quickly blew up across social media platforms, sparking endless debates among observers.

A Familiar Hairstyle Suddenly Looks Different

Trump arrived at Morristown Municipal Airport on Friday before traveling to Trump National Golf Club Bedminster for the Labor Day weekend.

Photos from the arrival showed the president descending the steps of Air Force One, waving toward reporters and, in another moment, flashing a thumbs-up.

Yet his gestures were hardly the only thing drawing attention. Trump’s famous golden-blond hair appeared dramatically darker, with an almost brunette shade replacing the lighter color people have grown accustomed to seeing.

The change stood out because Trump’s hair has been such a recognizable part of his public image for decades. His swooping hairstyle remained familiar, but the much deeper color gave it a strikingly different appearance.

The timing also made the transformation particularly notable. Only days earlier, Trump had publicly addressed a different long-running question about his hair: whether it is actually his.

Trump Had Just Addressed Wig Claims

At a White House Rose Garden dinner on September 2, Trump said he does not wear a wig, according to USA Today. The president referred to a windy 2024 campaign rally in Ohio as evidence.

His point was that the strong wind that day would have quickly exposed a wig. That subject had resurfaced after comedian Rosie O’Donnell alleged during an August 2026 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that Trump’s hair was a wig.

It was far from the first time Trump had faced such speculation. During a 2015 campaign rally, he also denied wearing a toupee. “I don’t wear a toupee; it’s my hair, I swear,” Trump said at the time.

Then, on August 5, 2026, another appearance put his hair back under the microscope. Trump was speaking at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas during an event promoting his administration’s tax-relief initiative. His hair appeared noticeably fuller than usual.

Journalist Aaron Rupar commented on the change on X, writing, “Trump’s hair, uh, has a lot more volume than normal.”

Rupar followed that observation with another question: “Is Trump rocking a wig, or what the hell is going on here?” A month later, it was not simply the apparent volume generating discussion. The color itself had changed enough to become the story.

Trump’s Hair Has Changed Through the Decades

The darker appearance also offered an unexpected callback to Trump’s younger years.

During the 1980s, Trump wore his hair long and considerably darker than the golden-blond shade associated with him in more recent years. Photographs from that period show how much both its color and appearance have evolved over the decades.

At different points, his hair has appeared thick and full, while other photographs have shown it looking thinner. Windblown videos have also repeatedly turned the hairstyle into a subject of pop-culture commentary.

Color has varied as well. In his younger years, Trump’s hair appeared brownish-red or strawberry blond, while more recent appearances have generally featured a straw-colored blond mixed with hints of gray.

That history makes his September 4 look less unprecedented than it might initially appear. The darker shade actually brings his hair somewhat closer to colors he wore decades ago.

One social media user noticed exactly that connection. “He looks like him 20 yrs ago.” The history behind Trump’s hair is not limited to photographs and speculation about its styling.

His Former Doctor Once Discussed His Hair

In 2017, Trump’s longtime personal physician, Dr. Harold N. Bornstein, revealed that the then-president took finasteride, The New York Times reported.

Finasteride is used for prostate-related treatment and is also marketed as Propecia for male-pattern baldness. Bornstein said Trump took a small dose and described the medication as helping maintain the growth of his scalp hair.

Bornstein, who said he used the drug himself, made a particularly direct statement about his famous patient. “He has all his hair,” the doctor said.

Bornstein had served as Trump’s personal physician since 1980. His disclosure offered a documented detail about the president’s hair years before the latest debate over its volume, authenticity, and changing appearance.

Still, the September 4 transformation involved something far easier for the public to see: Trump had stepped off the plane with a much darker look. And people online had plenty to say about it.

The New Look Divides Commenters

After images of Trump’s arrival circulated in an Instagram post about his darker hairstyle, reactions ranged from praise to surprise. One person simply wrote, “He looks great 👍🏼.”

Another was far less convinced by the transformation, commenting, “Not the same person.” Others welcomed the difference. “Change is good,” one user wrote, while another said, “Looks younger.”

A separate Instagram discussion brought more reactions to the dramatic shift. “It actually doesn’t look bad on him!👌😎👑👑👑👑😆,” one commenter wrote.

Another responded, “It’s just… not the same anymore. 😫” One person tied the darker shade to the changing seasons, writing, “His autumn color… summer is over.”

Another commenter focused on how the appearance compared with Trump’s younger years: “He looks like him 20 yrs ago.” And one reaction summed up what many of the photographs made clear: “Well, that’s definitely a different look for Trump! 😁”

The comments were divided, but they shared a common focus. President Trump had made a relatively simple change to one of his most recognizable features, and people noticed immediately.

For a public figure whose hair has inspired questions and commentary for decades, that attention is hardly new. Here is a look at Trump’s hair transformation through the years, from his darker locks in the 1980s to the signature blond style that became instantly recognizable.

1980

1985

1990

1995

1999

2005

2012

2016

2021

2024

2025

2026

That transformation came into sharp focus when John Goodman stepped onto a Los Angeles red carpet with his wife, Anna Beth, and new photos prompted strong reactions online.

Goodman’s weight-loss journey stretches back more than a decade. In 2010, People reported that Goodman had lost more than 100 pounds after making major lifestyle changes. He had stopped drinking three years earlier, cut sugar from his diet, and was exercising six days a week with health coach Mackie Shilstone.

At the time, Goodman explained why he wanted to change the way he was living.

“I know it sounds sappy, but it was a waste,” he told the publication. He explained that constantly thinking about food consumed too much of his time and energy, and he wanted to change his habits so he could live a healthier, more fulfilling life.

By 2016, Goodman was trying to break an old cycle of losing weight and eventually returning to his previous habits. During an interview with ABC News, he recalled dropping 60 or 70 pounds over several months before rewarding himself with beer and falling back into old patterns.

This time, he wanted a more sustainable approach. “Then this time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise,” he said. “I’m getting to the age where I can’t afford to sit still anymore. And it gives me the energy to work, ’cause work is very draining.”

For Goodman, the changes went beyond diet and exercise. He has also spoken candidly about his past struggles with alcohol and the emotional patterns he associated with drinking and overeating.

In a 2018 interview with AARP, Goodman looked back on his state of mind after “Roseanne” and how sobriety eventually changed his perspective.

“I was in pretty bad shape when I left Roseanne, to be honest,” he told the outlet. “I had a lot of resentment. I just didn’t care. It was a terrible character fault of mine. I always wanted more of something.”

Goodman said he eventually became better at recognizing the sense of emptiness he once tried to satisfy. “You recognize it and go, ‘There it is.’ You don’t have to fill it with another pork chop or another drink,” he said.

His physical transformation continued in the years that followed. By 2023, Goodman told Rolling Stone that he had lost 200 pounds and had taken up boxing.

He described how he was staying active through the sport. “It’s usually just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork,” he told the publication. “It’s great.”

Three years later, that long-running transformation was clearly visible during another red carpet appearance.

Goodman attended the Los Angeles premiere of “Digger” with his wife, Anna Beth Goodman, on September 28, 2026. Page Six reported that the 74-year-old actor portrays the U.S. president in the new satire starring Tom Cruise. The film is set to arrive in theaters on Friday.

Cruise was also at the Los Angeles event, where Riz Ahmed, Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Emma D’Arcy, and Robert John Burke joined director Alejandro González Iñárritu for the premiere.

Goodman wore a classic black suit with a white striped dress shirt, dark patterned tie, and black dress shoes. His gray hair was swept back as he smiled for photographers with his hands clasped in front of him.

Anna Beth stood beside him in a flowing plum-colored midi dress with short sleeves and a softly gathered waist. She paired the dress with a delicate necklace and a black clutch, while her long, highlighted hair fell in loose waves.

The couple posed closely together, but Goodman’s solo photographs provided the clearest view of his noticeably lean frame. Full-length images showed his slim silhouette beneath the dark suit as he stood against the premiere’s red backdrop.

Those images soon shifted the conversation from the event itself to how different Goodman appeared.

On Facebook, one netizen expressed concern, saying, “He does not look well 😳.” Another user focused on how difficult Goodman was to recognize: “Omg hardly recognised him 🙈.”

A commenter connected the difference to his weight loss while also expressing surprise about his marriage, writing, “He looks so different. I knew he lost weight. He actually looks older with the weight loss. I love him though. I didn’t know he was married, let alone married to a 50 something year old.”

Other viewers responded more positively.

One netizen interpreted Goodman’s appearance as the result of an effort to improve his health, saying, “Good for Goodman for working hard to get healthy. Very nice picture of them❤️.”

Another user thought the change appeared more dramatic than expected: “Losing weight is right but maybe this is a bit too much.” Someone else remarked, “Omw [sic] he looks so different!!”

Another commenter said the difference made them take another look: “Had to look twice he looks different.” One person offered a shorter assessment: “Omg too thin.”

The reactions eventually moved beyond his weight, with one user speculating about what might explain his appearance: “Something about him looks scary. In the eyes I’m happy for him but kinda wonder if it’s drug induced.”

Another netizen acknowledged the change while still seeing the actor they remembered: “He doesn’t look like the old John Goodman.., but still the same.. 🌹Bless u John [sic].”

On a separate post on the platform, one viewer focused on Goodman’s eyes and offered a positive reaction, “It’s in the eyes. He looks great!” Another user was struck instead by how unfamiliar he appeared: “He looks unrecognizable!! Wow!! He doesn’t look like himself 🤷‍♀️.”

But the discussion did not stop at his weight or overall appearance.

On Instagram, some users turned their attention to Goodman’s facial expressions. One commenter asked, “What’s going on with his mouth?” Another raised a similar question: “Someone can explain me why he Opens [sic] his mouth like that ???”

A third user described the expression as unusual: “Why is John Goodman acting like this with his mouth open and it’s weird really weird.” Another commenter offered their own interpretation of what they were seeing: “He looks nervous and trying to unfreeze his face.”

Someone else went further, writing, “He seems to have problems with his balance or something and his facial expressions are odd.”

The appearance offered a new look at a transformation Goodman has discussed for years. But in his own reflections, the changes have extended beyond weight and appearance to sobriety, family and a greater appreciation for his life.

Looking back on what he had learned with age and experience, Goodman told AARP, “When you’re younger, you don’t know yourself that well. I’ve maybe not learned a lot, but I’ve learned to appreciate things that I should have before.”

See how Goodman’s transformation unfolded through the years in the photos below.

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For John Goodman, the changes over time have been about more than what shows in photos. As he has reflected on his journey, he has spoken about learning to appreciate his health, his family, and the life he has built.

The country music icon has died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. News of her death has sent fans back through the small handful of appearances she made in her final months, replaying them for anything that might have hinted at what was coming.

Two moments in particular now sit at the center of that search: one behind a podium, one behind the wheel of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, three months apart and worlds apart in how much of herself she was able to show. Neither was billed as a farewell at the time. Both are being watched that way now.

A Fragile Ribbon-Cutting in Cornersville

The earlier of the two came on June 24, 2026, when Parton made a surprise stop at the ribbon-cutting for Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee.

The gas station and travel center carries her name, and she showed up in person to help open it, a detail fans latched onto immediately: she wore a name tag for the occasion, as if the crowd gathered around her needed reminding who she was.

“So cute that she wore a name tag. Like we wouldn’t know otherwise. ❤️,” one commenter wrote. “She’s wearing a name tag – how Dolly is that!” another added, treating the gesture as a small, familiar piece of her showmanship rather than anything to worry over.

Photos and video from the event told a more complicated story once they started circulating again this week. Parton needed help getting into the ceremony and staying upright once she was there, with two men positioned close beside her for support as she held a pair of oversized scissors to cut the ribbon.

“I remember she had 2 guys helping her in. She looked great but seemed like she might have had balance issues. RIP,” one fan wrote. Another was blunter: “They had to hold her up and help her walk that day I watched it on TV.. Sad.. A beautiful woman inside and out. Heaven gained a new Angel today and it will never be the same.”

The scissors themselves became their own small flashpoint in the comments. “His right hand placement in this photo is odd,” one person observed, while others read the same image as one man simply keeping her steady rather than posing for a photo op.

“She literally had to be held up,” a third commenter wrote. “She [could] hardly stand up when she did this,” said another. The reaction to People’s coverage of the same event landed in similar territory, with fans parsing the placement of a hand at her back and reading it now as support rather than affection.

“People saying that man is copping a feel but it looks to me he is holding her up and helping her hold up the scissors,” one comment read.

“I can’t help but notice that she is being ‘spotted’ in the pics. Hand behind her back, and helping her hold up one scissors. There were signs 😢,” another wrote. A third simply noted, “They’re holding her up 😟.”

That Tennessee ribbon-cutting would end up being the last time Parton appeared in person before the public. Everything after it happened at a distance, through a screen.

A Serene Final Message of Gratitude

Eight weeks later, on August 19, the Academy of Country Music Awards honored Parton with its Poet’s Award during a ceremony in Nashville. She was never scheduled to attend that event in person. It was one of several recent honors she had accepted remotely, joining by prerecorded video rather than stepping onto the stage herself.

The Nashville ceremony that night also celebrated work from Eric Church, Ella Langley, and Kacey Musgraves, along with the Carter Family, the Taylor Sheridan series “Landman,” executive Leslie Fram, and the late songwriter Brett James. Singers Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, and Kaitlin Butts performed a cover of Parton’s own “9 to 5” as part of the tribute built around her award.

Parton’s acceptance speech played on video for the room. “Dolly here, and I just want to send a very special thank you to the Academy of Country Music for honoring me with the Poet’s Award,” she began. She went on to reflect on what songwriting had meant to her across her career.

“You know, I’ve been able to do many things throughout my life, but at my core, songwriting has always been the most important part of who I am creatively,” Parton said. “Every dream I ever had and all the dreams that I’ve been able to see come true in life, well, they all started with a song.”

She added, “Songwriting has been my therapy; songwriting has been my release, my joy. Songwriting has been a gift from God that has allowed me to touch people with words and music. So, thank you, God, and thank you, fans around the world and everyone at ACMs, for giving me this very special award.”

The video, posted to her Instagram, showed her seated and composed, dressed head to toe in white. It drew a different kind of comment section than the one from Cornersville, one focused less on her movement and more on how she looked.

“She looks like an angel all in white,” read one reply. “Her face looked tired?” asked another, less certain than the rest. Most comments leaned toward reassurance rather than concern.

“A week before her death, and still looked beautiful! RIP Dolly 😭,” one fan wrote after the news broke. “No one ever would have known!!!” said another. “She looked as beautiful as always,” read a third.

A separate clip of the same acceptance, shared as a Facebook reel, drew shorter, simpler reactions from viewers watching her deliver the speech: “She was so good,” one comment read. “All I can say is wow,” said another.

That video message turned out to be the last time the public saw or heard from Parton at all. Six days after it aired, on August 25, 2026, she died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer.

As we previously reported, a source close to Parton’s family revealed why the country legend spent her final months out of the public eye.

The Warning Signs Fans Missed

Parton had been open, to a point, about health struggles tied to grief. Her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at age 82, and she later admitted the loss had taken a toll she hadn’t fully reckoned with.

Then, in July 2026, tragedy struck again: her older brother, Coy “Denver” Parton, passed away. Just four days before her own death, Parton gave what would become her final interview, telling People she was “dealing with some health issues” she hadn’t prioritized while caring for Carl.

She downplayed the severity, insisting, “it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health before.” She was admitted to the hospital that same Friday, August 21. She died four days later.

But according to insiders who spoke to the Daily Mail, the public version of events was far from the full story. Sources say Parton had been seriously ill for months — not weeks — and had deliberately kept the truth from all but a tight inner circle.

“She didn’t want the world to know that she was very sick,” one source revealed.

Another insider said Parton had allowed the narrative to center on grief and self-neglect after Carl’s death, rather than the truth. “It’s true his death took its toll severely on Dolly, but she’s been sick and receiving treatments for months,” the source said.

Retreating Behind Closed Gates

For much of the past year, Parton reportedly barely left her sprawling Tennessee estate. She turned down travel, visitors, and new projects, insiders say, focusing entirely on managing her health in private.

“There were whispers it was cancer, but no one would confirm it,” one source noted, describing how even people close to her operations were kept in the dark for months.

Publicly, Parton attributed her absences to more manageable issues — dehydration, dizziness, kidney stones, digestive trouble. “We knew it was much more serious than that,” a source said. “But it was ‘shhhh, don’t ask’ from her circle.”

The Illusion She Worked Hard to Maintain

Even as her condition worsened, Parton continued releasing occasional social media updates, appearing polished and reassuring. Behind those videos, sources say, was an enormous effort to preserve her image.

“She relied heavily on filters, makeup and lighting to look good,” one insider said. “It was a top priority for her.”

Sources say Parton was fully aware of how serious her prognosis was, even while telling fans she was healing. “She tried to reassure her legions of fans that she wasn’t critically ill. But she knew her time was almost up,” one source said. “She was being her brave Dolly self, not wanting to let her fans down.”

In May, she canceled an upcoming Las Vegas residency, addressing it in a video where she appeared fully done up in wig and makeup. She had also already missed a concert celebrating her 80th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry, and a planned appearance at Dollywood.

Parton was supposed to help open Dollywood’s newest attraction in person a little over a week ago, but a doctor’s order forced her to change plans.

The country icon still found a way into the celebration from Nashville. When she appeared on the theater screen, her choice of presentation gave new meaning to what she told the crowd.

Dollywood opened its new NightFlight Expedition attraction without Dolly Parton physically at the Tennessee theme park. Parton had been scheduled to attend the August 19, 2026 celebration in person, according to TMZ.

Video from the ceremony showed Dollywood President Eugene Naughton arriving onstage in a themed prop vehicle. He appeared to look around for Parton before the presentation shifted to the large screen behind him.

“Well, hey Eugene! And I’m here…kinda,” Parton said as she appeared virtually.

She apologized for being unable to make the trip and acknowledged that the remote appearance was a change from the original plan. “I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned,” she said.

Parton Explained What Stopped Her From Traveling

Parton told fans that she had been dealing with symptoms that made traveling inadvisable.

“Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues, and sometimes I get a little dizzy and I get dehydrated,” she said. “And so, my Nashville doctor has kind of clipped my wings, saying ‘you ain’t traveling this week,'” Parton said.

Parton’s ‘Clipped My Wings’ Joke Came With a Visual Twist

Parton appeared on the large screen framed by oversized fairy wings in pink, purple and blue, making her doctor’s “clipped my wings” remark literal.

The 80-year-old wore her blond hair teased high, with dark eye makeup, pink lipstick and sparkling drop earrings. Her pale pink top had a plunging neckline bordered with rows of glittering embellishments.

The elaborate look brought Parton’s familiar sense of humor to an appearance prompted by a more serious issue. Some viewers responded to that underlying concern instead.

On Instagram, one netizen said, “Im officially worried.” Another user shared, “What’s wrong with Dolly.”

Another Virtual Appearance Came Months Before Dollywood

Parton appeared by video at the 2026 BRIT Awards to honor the late Ozzy Osbourne, E! News reported. The February 28 ceremony at Co-op Live in Manchester posthumously honored the Black Sabbath frontman with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Ozzy Osbourne dedicated his entire life to music and his legacy has left a permanent imprint in the fabric of music lovers everywhere,” Parton said in her video message. “Now talk about stealing the show.”

She also highlighted Osbourne’s theatrical approach to performing.

“Ozzy knew how to get your attention with his love of theatrics, his musical gifts—he could turn any occasion into a full-blown show,” she said. “And at his very core, Ozzy Osbourne was a showman.”

The BRIT Awards tribute came as Parton was already limiting some public appearances amid health concerns.

Parton Previously Explained What Her Treatment Was Doing to Her

In a May 2026 Instagram statement, Parton said she was responding well to medication and treatment despite having to step back from performing.

“The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day,” she said. Recovery, however, was taking longer than she wanted.

“Now the bad news is, it’s going to take me a little while before I’m up to stage-performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swimmy headed, as my grandma used to say,” Parton explained.

She quickly turned the side effect into a joke about the practical demands of her performance. “And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars, and such on five-inch heels – and you know that I’m going to be wearing them,” she said.

Parton continued, “Not to mention, all those heavy rhinestone outfits, the big hair, my big… uh, personality. Lord, those – that would make anybody swimmy headed!”

She also disclosed that she had struggled with kidney stones and said her immune and digestive systems had “got all out of whack over the past couple three years.” Her treatment was aimed at strengthening those areas, and she said doctors had assured her that her ailments were treatable.

Parton also made clear that treatment had not stopped her from working altogether. She said she remained involved in plans for a museum and hotel in Nashville and the forthcoming Broadway production “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” expected to open in New York later this year.

Her Final Days

Despite her declining health, Parton reportedly remained deeply invested in DOLLY: A True Original Musical, an autobiographical Broadway production still scheduled to open on what would have been her 81st birthday, January 19, 2027.

“She was working on [the musical] in New York, but could not travel to check on it,” an insider said. “She really cared about the project and did not want to jeopardize it.” In her last weeks, Parton was largely confined to her bed, according to sources close to the family.

“Her last few days were spent in bed. She was not doing well,” a source said. “She had lost all her hair, which she didn’t have much of anyway as she relied on wigs most of her life. And she was very thin. She was skinny.”

Family remained by her side throughout, including her younger sister, Stella Parton, now 77. “Her sister was always there for her,” one insider said. “She is very sweet and nurturing. She was by her side all the time.”

Longtime concert promoter Arny Granat, who worked with Parton for years, said the family’s discretion was deliberate to the end. “They never spoke negatively,” he said. “They didn’t talk much about her health issues.”

A Magnificent Empire and Lasting Legacy Parton Left Behind

Parton built an extraordinary career and fortune over more than five decades, selling over 160 million albums worldwide since her 1967 debut, Hello, I’m Dolly. Her hits include “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5.”

Her net worth has been estimated between $450 million and $650 million, built through music royalties, songwriting, film, television, and her stake in the Dollywood empire. Details of her will and estate plan have not been made public.

She is survived by six of her siblings, along with the charitable legacy of the Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library, which has donated hundreds of millions of books to children worldwide.

For those who loved her, insiders say there’s some comfort in how Dolly Parton chose to spend her final chapter: protecting others from her pain, right up until the end.

“She made it seem like she would get better,” one source said. “But that was Dolly. She really didn’t want to share bad news. She was always up and up.”

RIP Dolly Parton!

Those closest to Dolly Parton knew the country legend had been struggling with her health. What they apparently did not expect was how soon everything would change, and just days before her passing, Parton herself was still talking about the future in a way that now carries an entirely different weight.

According to TMZ, Parton’s family and friends knew she was sick but believed she would pull through. That reportedly makes her death at 80 a shock even within her inner circle. The outlet reported that Parton had been hospitalized in Nashville for four days before her passing after dealing with several health problems in recent months.

News of her death quickly prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow stars and longtime friends. Jane Fonda, who starred alongside Parton in “9 to 5,” remembered her longtime friend as funny, generous, and completely one of a kind.

Reba McEntire also shared an emotional tribute, saying there will “never ever be another” Parton as she reflected on their decades-long friendship. But the announcement of Parton’s passing carried an especially personal detail from within her own family.

A Shock Announcement After a ‘Brief Battle’

Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Her representatives confirmed that her death followed a “brief battle with cancer,” though the specific type was not disclosed.

Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, broke the news in an emotional Instagram video, identifying himself as “her head of security for more than two decades.” He said the video was something Parton herself had asked him to record years earlier, “before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.”

Seaver described the moment as carrying both “absolute pride and great sadness,” adding that the sadness belonged to those left behind — “not with Dolly.”

Four Days Earlier, Parton Was Looking Ahead

Against that backdrop, one of Parton’s final public statements becomes especially poignant. Just four days before her death, she spoke candidly to People about the health problems she had been navigating.

What became her final interview was not framed around giving up, however. Instead, Parton explained that some of her health concerns had taken a back seat while she was caring for her late husband, Carl Dean.

“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” the late songstress shared with People. Parton also stressed that enduring health struggles was not entirely unfamiliar territory for her.

“Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” she explained.

Even then, Parton approached the attention surrounding her condition with the humor fans had come to know so well. She noted how differently health updates can spread in the social media era compared with earlier decades of her career.

“But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” she said. Then came a characteristically Parton joke: “I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI!”

Yet beneath the humor was a revealing update. “Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!” she said. That determination makes what Parton said next particularly difficult to read in hindsight.

“You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner,” Parton shared. “I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

Four days later, Dolly Parton was gone. For a woman whose career had been built on seemingly endless creativity and ambition, her final words were strikingly consistent with the way she had lived: still dreaming, still working, and still thinking about what she wanted to bring to life next.

A Surprise Nobody Had Been Expecting

Just two months before those final reflections and her death, Parton had unexpectedly appeared before fans in Tennessee. And according to several people who were there, nothing about her mood suggested what was to come.

Parton attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop outside Cornersville, Tennessee, on June 24.

Miss Grand Tennessee 2026 Amanda Bell told Page Six that Parton “surprised everyone in attendance” because she was not “announced to appear at all.”

For those lucky enough to be there, the country legend’s arrival instantly became the moment to remember. Nashville Concert Reviewer and Content Creator Stacy Best said Parton “seemed very happy” and was still her usual “funny self.”

Perhaps even more strikingly, Best recalled that the singer appeared “not in pain at all.” “She was in her typical gorgeous perfectly [sic] curated outfit and super high heels. Legend,” Best added.

Bell noticed something similar, although one particular detail stood out to her. “When she came out to speak to the crowd, she didn’t move particularly fast, but she was wearing her signature stilettos. I can’t imagine still wearing them at her age, but I love that she still did!” she recalled.

It was a small observation, but one that feels especially poignant now. Even as Parton moved slower, the image witnesses remembered was still quintessentially her: towering heels, polished glamor and a determination to show up looking exactly like herself.

Bell said Parton “seemed her trademark happy, spunky self, cracking jokes during her few minutes of speaking.” Still, her appearance was brief, Bell noted, and the weather was “very hot” that day. She nevertheless came away feeling “very grateful” that she had been able to see the “legend” in person.

‘She Was Very Dolly That Day’

Brooks Ramsey of Smoky Mountain Faith, Food and Fun offered another firsthand account. According to Ramsey, Parton “seemed fine” and still displayed “the same kind of energy” people had long associated with her.

“She talked just like she normally did. She was very ‘Dolly’ that day,” he said. Her visit apparently went beyond simply walking out for the ribbon-cutting. Ramsey said Parton also “filmed a promotional in the store,” another sign that she was still actively participating in the launch surrounding the travel stop.

But there was one detail he noticed behind the scenes: Ramsey said the singer-songwriter’s handlers “were careful with her that day.”

That attention was significant because Parton had reportedly been dealing with unspecified health problems for roughly three years. Still, once the microphone was in her hand, she sounded remarkably familiar.

“I wanted to welcome all of you and say thank you for coming,” Parton told the crowd. “We’re very excited about our truck stop, The Tennessean Travel Stop.” “I’ve spent my whole life traveling on the road, so anyway, I wanted to welcome all of you and say thanks,” she continued.

Then came the sort of punchline longtime fans knew to expect. “I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton joked. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers. I had to throw my spurs in there myself!”

The line was a playful nod to rival convenience-store chain Buc-ee’s and its famous beaver mascot. Parton made clear, however, that she was “not trying to compete” with anybody.

“We don’t think we’ll have to. We think we’re gonna have everything you’ll want or need,” she concluded. “So thank you so much for coming. We’re gonna cut the ribbon and make it official!”

At the time, it looked like another characteristically spirited appearance from a woman who had built a career on being able to charm a room within seconds. What happened during the weeks that followed made those memories more bittersweet.

Parton’s Health Began Affecting Her Schedule

By August, Parton’s health concerns were becoming harder to keep separate from her public commitments. She canceled an August 14 appearance at her Dollywood amusement park because of what she called “a few little health issues.”

In a video message to attendees, Parton explained that she could sometimes become “dizzy” and “dehydrated.” Her doctors, she said, had told her she “ain’t traveling this week.”

It was an unusually candid glimpse into the physical limitations she was navigating, even though her trademark humor remained intact.

Five days later, on August 19, Parton appeared virtually to accept the Academy of Country Music Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors. Her message focused not on illness but on the creative force that had shaped virtually every chapter of her life.

“Every dream I ever had and all the dreams that I’ve been able to see come true in life, well, they all started with a song,” she said. Parton described songwriting as her “therapy,” her “release,” and her “joy.”

“Songwriting has been a gift from God that has allowed me to touch people with words and music,” she added. It would become one of her final public messages.

A Remark from Two Weeks Earlier Now Hits Differently

There was another moment shortly before her passing that appeared completely innocent when Parton said it. On August 11, the official Instagram page for the Dolly Musical shared a video of Parton answering a fan question about whether she planned to attend performances of her Broadway musical beyond opening night.

“Well, I plan to be in New York as much as I can be while we’re working on the show,” Parton began. She explained that she did not expect to be there quite as frequently as she had been during the Nashville phase of the production because she had been involved there “almost every single day.”

“But I will be there as much as I can be,” she continued. Then came a phrase deeply rooted in Parton’s familiar Southern way of speaking, but one that now sounds particularly haunting:

“Of course, good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will definitely be there on the opening night, and I’ll be there as much as I can be during the previews as well.”

There was no indication in the video that Parton intended the remark as anything other than her usual turn of phrase. But just two weeks later, the hope contained in those words would never have the chance to unfold as she envisioned it.

Parton’s Final Days

Parton was reportedly admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on August 21. According to TMZ, she had been hospitalized with “kidney and autoimmune issues.” She died at the hospital days later.

A cause of death had not been publicly disclosed at the time of the reports. That leaves the memories of people who saw Parton in Cornersville on June 24 carrying even more emotional weight.

There were indications that those around her were being careful; there was the slower movement Bell noticed, the health concerns that eventually forced Parton to cancel travel, and the medical issues that reportedly resulted in her hospitalization.

Yet those witnesses also remembered something else just as clearly: She was “happy,” “not in pain at all,” and she was cracking jokes.

One Last Song, Buried and Waiting

Even in death, Parton is not quite finished. According to Variety, back in 2015, Parton and her team buried a chestnut box filled with physical copies of a brand-new song — in both cassette and CD formats, along with corresponding players — beneath her Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa.

The song is titled “My Place In History,” and a placard within the box states it “will not be opened until Dolly’s birthday on January 19, 2046,” which would have been her 100th birthday.

Parton confirmed the song’s existence in a 2022 appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,“ acknowledging openly that she might not be around when the box is finally unearthed.

What clearly did bother her was the thought of the song deteriorating before anyone ever got the chance to hear it. “It’s a really good song,” she told Clarkson — adding with her trademark humor that she still wasn’t entirely sure whose idea it had been to seal it away in the first place.

With Parton now gone, “My Place In History” is certain to arrive as a posthumous gift: a fresh, unheard Dolly Parton song waiting nearly two decades to play.