Month: October 2026

Dylan Carter had worn many hats by the time he was 24. The South Carolina native was a “The Voice” alum, a nonprofit co-founder, a realtor, and a beloved fixture of his local music scene.

When news of his death broke on social media Sunday afternoon, the grief came fast and from every direction. The tributes that followed painted a picture of someone whose impact ran far deeper than a single television appearance.

A Star Born From Heartbreak

Dylan was not just another face in the crowd when he stepped onto the big stage for Season 24. A native of St. George, he had actually auditioned for NBC’s “The Voice” three times before finally getting his big break.

His persistence paid off in a massive way when he performed a soul-stirring rendition of “I Look to You” by Whitney Houston. The performance was a deeply personal tribute to his mother, who had passed away only a year earlier.

“My mom, she, anytime that song came on the radio, or she would play it, she would stop everything and say, ‘Dylan this is the song I want you to sing at my funeral,’ and that day came a little too soon,” Carter shared in a 2023 interview.

He had tried to sing it at her funeral but was too emotional to finish it. On the national stage, he finally powered through, earning a rare four-chair turn from the superstar coaches.

The Coach Who Changed Him

When it came time to choose a team, Carter didn’t hesitate. Reba McEntire had shared something personal about her own mother during the audition — and that sealed it.

“Reba had that last thing to say to me about her mom, and it just hit me, I had to go with Reba,” he said. The mentorship that followed left a lasting mark.

Under McEntire’s guidance, Carter said he learned to control his nerves, shape his voice, and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

“I learned so much from her; she’s taught me how to control my nerves, how to control my voice, and how to touch people’s hearts,” he said, “and I’m never going to stop doing it because of her and because of my mom.”

Walking off stage after his four-chair turn, Carter described feeling something he hadn’t felt since losing his mother:

“I felt my mom with me. I heard her, but then walking off that stage and after hearing and seeing them all turn, I just, my confidence grew. I felt on top of the world. It was crazy.”

More Than Just a Singer

After “The Voice,” Carter returned home and kept performing across the Lowcountry — but music was only one part of who he was. He was also a licensed realtor and a part-owner of an RV park and campground near Lake Marion in the Santee community.

He co-founded The Local Voice, a Santee-based nonprofit that supports women fighting breast cancer through a local singing competition. The organization’s tribute said everything about the kind of man he was.

“Dylan was the heart of what we do,” the post read. “He believed every voice matters and lived that every day. Through his music, his kindness, and his smile, he brought people together and made everyone feel seen.”

Reba McEntire’s Heartfelt Tribute

When McEntire learned of Carter’s passing, she posted his cover of “I Look to You” — the very song that had introduced him to the world — alongside a tribute that said it all:

“We will miss Dylan so much. He was a brilliant, kind and talented young man who brought a huge ray of sunshine to The Voice. Rest in peace, my dear friend.”

Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton was equally gutted. “Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter,” he wrote on Monday. “He was much more to our family than an entertainer — he was our friend and we are deeply saddened.”

What Happened Saturday Night?

Carter died following a single-vehicle crash on a rural Colleton County road late Saturday night. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. He was 24 years old.

On Instagram, his profile — @dylancarter843 — now stands as a quiet archive of a young man who had only just begun.

Carter’s story was one of persistence, shaped by personal loss and fueled by determination. From audition setbacks to a four-chair turn, he built his path step by step.

He once described singing as a way to stay connected to his mother — a thread that ran through his performances and resonated with audiences.

That authenticity became his signature.

Now, as fans revisit his performances and messages continue to surface online, his legacy is being defined not just by talent, but by the way he made people feel.

A singer who once said he wanted to “touch people’s hearts” has, in many ways, done exactly that — leaving behind a story that ended far too soon.

Something about Carrie Everett’s final chapter makes this loss feel even more devastating. To so many people, she was still the dazzling young woman with the huge smile, the powerhouse voice, and a future that seemed to only be getting brighter… Now, that bright future has been cut heartbreakingly short.

A Crown, a Voice, and a Future That Felt Limitless

Everett passed away on Sunday night, April 5, 2026, according to reporting confirmed by her family. She was only 22.

For many across North Carolina, Everett was more than a pageant titleholder; she was a standout talent, a vocal performance major at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), and a history-maker and inspiration who proudly opened doors for other young women coming behind her.

CBS 17 reported that Everett, a Seattle native, was crowned Miss North Carolina in June 2024 during her sophomore year at NCCU. Her win was especially meaningful because she became the first Miss North Carolina to attend an HBCU.

That wasn’t just a line in a bio…Everett made it part of her mission.

“I can be the first but not the last,” she previously told CBS 17. “I want young women from all over the state and throughout the country attending HBCUs that [sic] this opportunity is for them.”

The Miss North Carolina Scholarship Organization also paid tribute, remembering Everett as “a strong voice for social justice.” The organization noted that she competed as Miss Johnston County, was a double preliminary winner, then went on to win Miss North Carolina and later became a preliminary talent winner at Miss America.

“She also challenged minority and socially marginalized students to focus on goal setting and personal development, setting their sights high. Her untimely passing silences a strong voice for social justice but [sic] her impact will continue to live on in the lives she touched,” the organization shared.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Carrie’s family, friends, and all who loved her. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time.”

N.C. Central University shared its own emotional message, saying Everett’s “voice, talent, and presence touched the heart of our Eagle community.”

The university continued, “She proudly represented NCCU with grace, purpose, and a commitment to expanding access and opportunity for others. Her impact, both on stage and within our community, will not be forgotten.” The school also said counseling support was being offered for students, faculty, and staff on campus.

Everett’s family’s statement was just as moving, and even more intimate. They called her their “beautiful nightingale” and said, “The cries of her heart became songs that stirred the spirits of everyone who had the pleasure of hearing her sing. She lived a full life.”

They added that “with her last words, on stage and in life she proclaimed the goodness of God.” The bereaved family closed by re-emphasizing her incredible impact and legacy, and asked for privacy as they mourn her.

It is a deeply personal tribute that paints Everett not only as a public figure but as someone whose faith remained central all the way through.

Heartfelt Tributes Begin Pouring In

As news of her death spread, friends began sharing tributes that made the loss feel even more raw. One of the most emotional came from Carli Batson Berry, who posted a heartfelt message alongside a photo of herself with Everett and a video of Everett singing.

In her post, Berry wrote that there were “no words that feel big enough for a loss like this.” She also said Everett’s “faith never wavered” and remembered her for carrying “such strength, grace, and love for Jesus” even in the hardest moments.

Berry said it brought her peace to imagine Everett “no longer in pain, but fully healed, wrapped in His presence, and finally at rest.” She added, “I know you’re smiling, singing, whole and joyful in a way we can’t even begin to understand yet.”

Another especially heartbreaking dedication came from Everett’s friend and Miss North Carolina 2025 Successor, Sophia Kellstrom.

Kellstrom shared a carousel of photos showing the two women laughing, posing at pageant events, celebrating titles, and making the kind of memories that now feel impossibly bittersweet.

The photos tell their own story. In one, Everett beams in a sparkling silver gown next to Kellstrom onstage; in another, the two wear matching shades of red at what looks like a pageant event; in others, they appear at outdoor gatherings, backstage moments, and glammed-up celebrations that read like a scrapbook of friendship and sisterhood.

Kellstrom’s caption is devastating in its honesty. “One year ago, we were together at Azalea, laughing, living, and making memories I’ll hold onto forever,” she wrote.

Then came the words that are likely to stay with readers the longest:

“Today, I am gutted. Grieving. At a loss for words. Carrie fought the most valiant battle against a rare and aggressive cancer […] I will never understand this loss, and I don’t have the words to make it make sense.”

Kellstrom added that even in the hardest moments, Everett “carried love, faith, and light.” She also penned, “I know without a shadow of a doubt, she is with our Heavenly Father, healed, whole, and free from pain. Please keep her family, friends and loved ones in your prayers. Her impact, her faith, and her love will never be forgotten. Much love for you always my sweet friend🤍 [sic].”

A Harrowing Health Battle

For months, many people only saw flashes of Everett’s public life, the polished photos, the crown, the performances, the radiant presence. What they did not fully see was the brutal health crisis unfolding behind the scenes.

A GoFundMe created during Everett’s illness laid out just how suddenly everything changed. After finishing her year of service as Miss North Carolina and completing her sophomore year of college, Everett traveled to Seattle in July 2025 to visit family for the summer.

According to the fundraiser, she began experiencing intense bloating and coughing. Then, following multiple doctor visits, she was initially told she had pneumonia. But the situation quickly became far more serious…

On July 29, scans found masses in her abdomen, thickening in the stomach lining, and enlarged lymph nodes. Blood work then revealed cancer markers.

Some days later, the page states, Everett began coughing up blood, was rushed to the hospital, and admitted.

A biopsy ultimately revealed the devastating diagnosis: metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma, described as a rare and aggressive gastric cancer, which ended up being the disease that claimed her life in the end.

The Faith, Strength, and Grace People Can’t Stop Talking About

She then underwent chemotherapy and other treatments in Seattle. Even then, Everett framed her fight in a way that reflected the faith so many of her loved ones are now talking about.

“This is happening for a reason, and God has allowed me to use my voice to give a voice to others,” she said in response to her diagnosis and her plans to help others while fighting the disease.

The GoFundMe also revealed the toll the illness had taken on her family, explaining that her primary caregiver, her mother, would no longer be able to work adequate hours as costs mounted for medical treatment, food, travel, medication, and daily living expenses.

As it stands, the fundraiser shows that more than $70,000 has been raised toward its $200,000 goal. That total says a lot about how many people were moved by Everett’s story and wanted to help her keep fighting. And by all accounts, she did fight.

A Legacy That Reaches Far Beyond the Crown

That is the thread running through every tribute now surfacing: Not just grief, but awe, awe at her strength, awe at her faith, awe at the way someone so young could carry so much and still leave behind memories filled with glamor, music, joy, and purpose.

The pageant world will remember Everett as a crown-winner and trailblazer, and NCCU will remember her as a gifted student whose presence mattered deeply on campus.

Her friends, though, are making sure people remember the fuller picture: the laughter, the sisterhood, the photos, the songs, the style, the tenderness, and the unshaken belief that carried her through an unimaginably cruel battle.

That may be why these tributes feel so powerful; they are not just saying Everett was admired; they are saying she was loved. And in the end, that may be the most lasting title of all.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Everett’s entire family, her friends, community, all her loved ones, and everyone who knew and loved her as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Everett.

Naomi Watts and Kai Schreiber, now 17, attended Gucci’s The Store Show at Allianz MiCo in Milan, Italy, on September 25, 2026, during Milan Fashion Week’s Womenswear Spring/Summer 2027 presentations.

Both looked thoroughly pleased to let their outfits do the talking, but Kai’s beauty choices inspired some deliciously unfiltered reactions, including a little unsolicited styling advice for her famous mom.

Naomi Went Full Jewel Box, but Wait Until You See Kai

Naomi arrived in a lustrous magenta satin pantsuit, and honestly, what a gorgeous argument for retiring the safe black blazer. That rich color deserved good lighting and an entrance.

The jacket’s plunging neckline gave the tailoring a sultry edge, while wide-leg trousers skimmed the floor with a lovely, languid sweep. Even the fabric looked expensive to touch.

A sleek black leather shoulder bag and pointed-toe heels finished the outfit. Sensible supporting players, those accessories, because nobody needed to interrupt that satin.

Her textured blonde bob fell in soft waves around a middle part, bringing a little ease to the sharp suit. Luminous skin and gently defined eyes kept her makeup fresh, with a rosy-berry lip adding just enough color to flatter the ensemble.

Then there was Kai, whose crisp white sleeveless turtleneck mini dress initially suggested a rather restrained approach. A high neckline, a clean silhouette, a short hem: very chic, very composed.

Her structured white shoulder bag continued the immaculate theme, while metallic silver mule heels brought a lovely flash at her feet. You could almost call the outfit sweet.

Almost.

Because above that pristine neckline was a beauty look with considerably more nerve. Kai’s extra-long blonde hair fell in fine, crimped micro-waves, and intense dark smoky makeup framed her eyes against a pale, matte complexion.

Neutral lips left those eyes free to command attention. The simplicity of her dress made the styling especially effective. All that white gave the dark eye makeup its own spotlight, while her long, textured hair added an edge beside Naomi’s softly waved bob.

Matching outfits would have been easy. These two gave us something far more fun to look at. On Instagram, an admirer summed up the beauty appreciation with “the glam!!”

Another addressed Kai with a practical suggestion for their next appearance: “You need to get your mum a bigger set of heels 👠🤣.” Apparently, even a fabulous satin suit cannot protect a mother from unsolicited shoe advice.

A Facebook commenter focused on the family resemblance, writing, “Kai is so pretty like her mom. 💕” Over on TikTok, one admirer was operating at a considerably higher volume: “YES YES YES YES YES THIS LOOK IS EVERYTHING AND BEYOND GORGEOUS I SCREAMED.”

Another offered the beautifully economical verdict, “Ok so you’re perfect.” Someone else was already planning a future makeup appointment: “Halloween makeup saving for to show Makeup artist [sic].”

When your eye makeup starts inspiring somebody else’s calendar, you have certainly made an impression.

Gucci Gave Her a Seat; Thom Browne Gave Her Wings

Kai was enjoying Gucci from the audience, but the 17-year-old had already been the main attraction on another designer’s runway that month. And her assignment involved rather more than walking prettily in expensive shoes.

On September 16, Thom Browne presented his Spring 2027 womenswear collection at The Shed in New York. He turned the venue into an enormous garden, with an oversized daisy and blades of grass reaching about 20 feet high.

A massive chrysalis stood in the center. Naturally, this fashion show required a cocoon. Demi Moore and Penn Badgley attended, alongside Adam Scott and Rachel Zegler. Naomi and Kai’s father, Liev Schreiber, were also together in the front row, cameras out and ready.

Nine butterflies appeared in the presentation, but Kai was the only model who entered the chrysalis and emerged in a different ensemble, a look referencing Thom’s signature gray suit. A starring role and an onstage costume transformation, all with Mom and Dad recording.

“It was very surreal,” Kai told Vanity Fair afterward.

Thom had deliberately chosen her for the performance. “I knew that I wanted to have a butterfly moment that was more of a performance, and knowing that Kai could move, I wanted her to be the focus and the star,” he explained.

For the native New Yorker, it was an especially lovely opportunity to reconnect with dance. She had studied dance and classical ballet at LaGuardia, but had struggled to find a place for it in her life after graduating.

“I couldn’t stay trying to train to become a professional because that wasn’t what I wanted,” she explained. Here, she could bring that training into modeling, striking poses that blended fashion with modern dance. What a gorgeous way to put those ballet lessons back to work.

She had already admired Thom’s taste for theatrical runway ideas, remembering the aliens in his Spring/Summer 2026 presentation, “We Come in Peace.” This time, his imagination had landed in the insect world, drawing inspiration from the 1998 film “A Bug’s Life.”

Embroidery and intarsia carried that theme into the tailoring, with ladybug silhouettes joining the collection. Thom remained loyal to his sartorial favorite, however: “The gray suit never gets old.”

But Kai had a rather more colorful souvenir. Still wearing her rainbow runway eyeshadow during the interview, she explained, “I feel like a unicorn.” After emerging from a giant chrysalis, why limit yourself to one magical creature?

Her Breakthrough Award Came With Applause and Towering Heels

That runway performance followed a history-making win on September 11 at The Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards. At Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room in New York City, Kai accepted Breakthrough Model of the Year.

She had already modeled for Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Fendi, and Celine. Quite the collection of names to have on a résumé at 17.

For the ceremony, she wore a lime-green mini dress with voluminous long sleeves and tonal polka dots. Sheer stockings decorated with flowers added another playful flourish, because evidently the dress was only the beginning.

Towering white heels with gold studs and an opulent diamond necklace completed the look. Her blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun, leaving that glorious outfit plenty of room to show off.

The Daily Mail reported that applause erupted when Kai told the audience, “I’m also the first transgender girl to win this award.” She acknowledged the women who had helped make her place in the industry possible. “I carry that with me into every room,” she said.

Valentino received thanks for dressing her and helping welcome her into fashion. Her family earned a particularly tender line: “I’m so lucky to be supported by you.”

This support at home includes Naomi and Liev, who separated in 2016 after an eleven-year relationship, and her older brother, Alexander “Sasha” Pete Schreiber, who is currently 18.

Having her parents watching did make delivering the speech nerve-racking, she later admitted. Still, her closing words were wonderfully assured: “To say the least, I’ve found my fashion family, and I couldn’t be more happy.”

Her Inspiration List Still Has Room for Mom

Kai had spoken about that community in a 2025 Interview Q&A, naming Alex Consani and Hunter Schafer among the people she admired. Hari Nef, Dara, Richie Shazam, and Colin Jones also made her list.

“As a young trans girl, I’m always going to look up to the older generation of transgender people, especially in fashion,” she said. She explained the significance of those connections plainly:

“It’s important to all of us to have a sense of community, especially when we’re under such hostile attack.”

As for her personal fashion influences, Kai told Vanity Fair that she admired Gabbriette, the Olsen twins, and Kate Moss. Naomi made the list, too, which is a pretty fabulous compliment from a daughter building her own modeling career.

And in Milan, Mom certainly justified her inclusion. Naomi looked divine in that jewel-toned satin, while Kai Schreiber gave her white mini enough attitude to keep netizens thoroughly entertained. They can leave the matching outfits to someone else; this family clearly has more than one excellent idea about getting dressed.