Push to rename Nashville airport for Dolly Parton gets a boost from Tennessee's governor
A push by fans to rename Nashville’s airport for Dolly Parton appears to be taking flight just days after the country music icon’s death. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority both came out in favor of the name change Friday. It’s expected to come up at the authority’s meeting next month. Long before Parton died Tuesday, fans in January 2025 started an online petition calling for officials to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor. As of Friday it had more than 155,000 signatures. The authority might have to revisit a policy that says airport property should be named only for someone dead for more than two years.
Dolly Parton streams skyrocket after her death, making her the most streamed artist globally
NEW YORK (AP) — Streams of Dolly Parton's music have skyrocketed since the country legend died on Tuesday. She was 80. According to evolving data released early Friday afternoon by the industry data and analytics company Luminate, audio and video streams of Parton’s discography jumped 2,458% on the day of her death compared to Monday in the U.S., climbing from 1.2 million to 30.5 million in the U.S. And by Wednesday, that number rose to 46.3 million. Worldwide, her streams jumped 1,549%, from 2.5 million on Monday to 41.8 million Tuesday. And on Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams jumped to 79.7 million, making her the most streamed artist, globally, on that date.
Emily Wilson's 'Odyssey' became a cultural flashpoint. Now, she's retranslating the whole thing
NEW YORK (AP) — Emily Wilson's 2017 translation of “The Odyssey” is a million-seller. It's also not the end of the story. Wilson has decided to go back to Homer's ancient epic and translate it again. A leading official of the American Translators Association says she can't think of another time a translator has completely revised an early edition. Wilson's comments came as she was promoting her new book, “Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea.” She was already in the news this summer for her strong criticism of Christopher Nolan's adaptation of “The Odyssey.” Wilson has called it superficial and even incoherent.
Dolly Parton's love of the Great Smoky Mountains helped transform her hometown
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton didn’t just sing about her Tennessee mountain home. She helped transform it. Her deep devotion to rural Sevier County inspired her music and sparked a tourism boom. News of Parton's death has been profoundly personal for her neighbors. Parton was a beloved country music star and Tennessee's favorite daughter. She co-owned Dollywood, Tennessee’s most visited tourist attraction, and founded The Dollywood Foundation, which helped reduce high school dropout rates in Sevier County. Her Imagination Library has distributed over 330 million books worldwide. Parton's generosity, especially after the 2016 wildfire, changed lives and shattered Appalachian stereotypes.
Celine Dion is back in Paris, but her first song remains 'a big secret'
PARIS (AP) — Celine Dion has arrived in Paris for her first concerts since revealing her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis. Eager fans greeted her outside a hotel on Friday as she prepared for her residency at the Plenitude Arena. The 16 shows will run in September and October, with opening night on September 12. Dion, wearing a beige trench coat and dark shades, expressed excitement and some nervousness to French broadcaster BFMTV. The concerts mark a milestone return for the 58-year-old singer, who has sold nearly 260 million albums worldwide. Dion has largely stepped back from performing since canceling her Courage World Tour.
Peter Cullen, prolific voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his authoritative baritone, has died
NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor behind Optimus Prime and Eeyore, has died at 85. His agent announced Cullen died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. Cullen's career spanned decades, starting with “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and including roles in “The Smurfs” and “G.I. Joe.” He became a cultural icon as Optimus Prime in “Transformers,” inspired by his brother, a Vietnam War veteran. Cullen's voice resonated in numerous films, including “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” in 2023. Known for his emotional fan interactions, Cullen is survived by four children. His family encourages honoring his legacy with compassion and integrity.
A theater is reimagining Homer’s Odyssey through the agony of Ukraine’s war
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A new production of the “The Odyssey” in wartime Kyiv reimagines Homer’s epic through the experience of modern Ukraine. The play features professional actors alongside active-duty soldiers and explores themes of war, exile, waiting, identity and the painful return home. Ancient monsters are replaced by drones and robotic war machines, while Odysseus’ journey unfolds alongside Penelope’s wait for his return. Inspired by accounts from defenders of Mariupol’s Azov brigade, the production draws a direct connection between Homer’s ancient tale and Ukraine’s ongoing war, occupation and struggle to reclaim its land and identity.
Alabama Shakes returns with a new album after 11 years and a reunion at a craft brewery gig
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama Shakes has returned with its first album in 11 years, and craft beer played a big part in their reunion. Singer Brittany Howard was contacted by the co-owner of a brewer to perform and help a local food pantry. This led Howard to reconnect with her bandmates, resulting in their new album, “I Must Be Dreaming,” set to release at the end of the month. The album features love songs and social observations, including the political track “I Feel Hope Coming.” Howard expresses excitement about sharing their work, noting the band's growth and renewed creativity.
Tim Curry, iconic character actor and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' star, dies at 80
Tim Curry has died at 80. The beloved character actor created a gallery of delicious, loony villains for stage and screen. Curry gained fame as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an iconic role that became a cultural touchstone. He also played the smug concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” His longtime friend and manager Marcia Hurwitz says he died Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. He had suffered a stroke in 2012 that put him in a wheelchair. Curry earned three Tony nominations — for “Spamalot,” “My Favorite Year” and “Amadeus” — and an Emmy nod in 1994.
Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across the art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — Pioneering Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has died. She was 97. Yayoi Kusama Studio said she died at a hospital in Tokyo on Aug. 14. Kusama splashed her signature polka dots on paintings, sculptures and museum installations around the world. Repetitive motifs were her trademark. They came in various shapes, resembling netting, swirls or worms, but most often dots, dancing proudly on her canvases, or as sparkling balls or dots of light in her installations, in all their vibrant psychedelic glory.
