Home Blog Page 150

Inside Hugh and Deborra-Lee’s Emotional Journey to Divide Their $290M Empire

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are currently navigating the challenging waters of an ‘amicable’ divorce, a process that includes the careful division of their extensive assets.

In a surprising turn of events, the couple recently revealed their decision to part ways after a long-standing marriage of 27 years. They are now faced with the ‘tricky’ task of splitting a substantial $290 million empire that they cultivated together.

With an impressive array of properties and various assets to their name, the 54-year-old Wolverine star and his 67-year-old spouse aim to divide their holdings in an equitable manner, according to a report by US Weekly on Tuesday.

“Their lives were deeply intertwined, making this a particularly complex and emotionally charged process as they work through dividing their assets and finances,” a source shared with the publication.

Although the formal divorce filing is still forthcoming, their primary focus remains reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement. They are committed to ensuring that this transition is handled with as much goodwill and harmony as possible.

Hugh Jackman, 54, (left) and Deborra-Lee Furness, 67, (right) are navigating their way through an 'amicable' divorce which will largely involve dividing up their numerous assets

Hugh Jackman, 54, (left) and Deborra-Lee Furness, 67, (right) are navigating their way through an ‘amicable’ divorce which will largely involve dividing up their numerous assets

In 2010, Men’s Health estimated Hugh’s net worth was around $257million, much of which stems from his work with the blockbuster Marvel Comic franchise.  

The pair began their mammoth estate in the late ’90s and have since acquired a collection of luxury homes in Australia and the U.S.

Before his breakout role in X-Men in the year 2000, Hugh and Deborra-Lee lived in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Melbourne.

The couple bought their first property together for $240,000 in 1997, a year after they married.

The couple, who announced their shocking split after 27 years of marriage, have begun the 'tricky' process of divvying up the $290million empire they built

The couple, who announced their shocking split after 27 years of marriage, have begun the ‘tricky’ process of divvying up the $290million empire they built 

Sporting a massive property portfolio between them, the Wolverine star and his wife intend to split everything equally, reported US Weekly on Tuesday

Sporting a massive property portfolio between them, the Wolverine star and his wife intend to split everything equally, reported US Weekly on Tuesday 

They eventually sold the apartment in August 2015 for $740,000, earning themselves a tidy profit of half a million dollars. 

The couple’s first home featured polished floorboards and high ceilings, as well as an abundance of natural light thanks to its oversized windows.

In 2009, they upgraded by splashing out on a three-storey apartment in the Meier Towers building in New York.

Before his breakout role in X-Men in the year 2000, Hugh and Deborra-Lee lived in this modest two-bedroom apartment in Melbourne

Before his breakout role in X-Men in the year 2000, Hugh and Deborra-Lee lived in this modest two-bedroom apartment in Melbourne

The couple's first home featured polished floorboards and high ceilings, as well as an abundance of natural light thanks to its oversized windows

The couple’s first home featured polished floorboards and high ceilings, as well as an abundance of natural light thanks to its oversized windows 

Their Manhattan address boasts five bedrooms and five bathrooms, a professional-grade kitchen, a gym, library and terraces. 

The NYC home originally had a price tag of $40million, but Hugh managed to buy it for just $21million.   

The luxury apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows which offer unparalleled views of the Hudson River.

Hugh and Deborra-Lee also have a property in Sydney, where they spend several months a year.

In 2009, splashed out on this three-storey apartment in the Meier Towers building in New York

In 2009, splashed out on this three-storey apartment in the Meier Towers building in New York 

The NYC home originally had a price tag of $40million, but Hugh managed to buy it for just $21million

The NYC home originally had a price tag of $40million, but Hugh managed to buy it for just $21million

Back in 2016, they snapped up an ocean-front apartment in Bondi Beach for $5.9million. 

The newly-built, three-bedroom property effortlessly blends Hollywood luxury with quintessentially Australian beach views.

The spacious property also features a state-of-the-art kitchen and superior European oak floors.

And the generous balcony offers seamless indoor and outdoor living, perfect for hot and breezy Bondi afternoons.

Hugh and Deborra-Lee also have a property in Sydney, where they spend several months a year

Hugh and Deborra-Lee also have a property in Sydney, where they spend several months a year

Back in 2016, they snapped up this ocean-front apartment in Bondi Beach for $5.9million

Back in 2016, they snapped up this ocean-front apartment in Bondi Beach for $5.9million

In addition, Hugh and Deborra-Lee are proud owners of a house in The Hamptons. 

The exclusive East Hampton address has pristine views of the water, as well as a lap pool and pavilion. 

The main house is still a work in progress and isn’t expected to be completed until the end of the year. But, in the meantime, the family has been staying in the guest house.  

The generous balcony offers seamless indoor and outdoor living, perfect for hot and breezy Bondi afternoons

The generous balcony offers seamless indoor and outdoor living, perfect for hot and breezy Bondi afternoons

On Saturday, Dailymail.com revealed the couple purchased a penthouse in New York City last year for USD$21.12 (AUD$30million).

The couple splashed the cash for a penthouse in New York City’s Chelsea district on August 2022.

The 440sqm apartment is located in an ultra chic building which boasts 57 units and listed with Noble Black Real Estate. 

The property features a light and airy open layout with four bedrooms centred around the communal living areas. 

It has been revealed that Hugh and wife Deborra-Lee had just purchased New York City Home last year for USD$21.12 (AUD$30million)

It has been revealed that Hugh and wife Deborra-Lee had just purchased New York City Home last year for USD$21.12 (AUD$30million)

The X-Men actor and Correlli actress had splashed the cash for a penthouse in New York City's Chelsea district on August 2022

The X-Men actor and Correlli actress had splashed the cash for a penthouse in New York City’s Chelsea district on August 2022

The 440sqm apartment is located in an ultra chic building which boasts 57 units and listed with Noble Black Real Estate

The 440sqm apartment is located in an ultra chic building which boasts 57 units and listed with Noble Black Real Estate

It has floor-to-ceiling windows which stand over four meters and boasts 343sqm of outdoor space with a massive rooftop terrace.

The purchase had come just weeks after the thespian couple listed their incredible three-story condo in New York City for sale.

The pair had lived in the swanky downtown Manhattan apartment since 2008 and they listed it in June 2022 for the whopping price of $38.9million.

In 2018, Hugh is reported to have had his eye on a property in Sydney’s Dover Heights after his wife was ‘sighted’ at an inspection.

The shocking news of the longtime couple’s split came on Friday. 

‘We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,’ the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Friday.

‘Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.’

'But at those moments, we said we'd ask each other, 'Is this good or bad for our marriage?' Or, now that we've got kids, 'Is this good or bad for our family?'' the Wolverine star wrote

The shocking news of the longtime couple’s split came on Friday. The couple are seen in April  

The former couple signed the statement as ‘Deb and Hugh Jackman,’ adding: ‘This is the sole statement either of us will make.’ 

The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18. 

At 67, the Australian blonde is 13 years older Hugh, 54, and they’ve previously stated that they have never spent more than two weeks apart since their 1996 wedding. 

This April marked the pair's 27th wedding anniversary and the Wolverine star posted a gushing tribute to his wife (including this recent photo of the pair)

This April marked the pair’s 27th wedding anniversary and the Wolverine star posted a gushing tribute to his wife (including this recent photo of the pair) 

Dana’s Niece Speaks Out on Tense UK Return of Harry and Meghan

0

In a rare public remark about Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom, Lady Eliza Spencer, the niece of Princess Diana, made history as the first family member to speak out.

At a launch event for her new Lala V rosé, Lady Eliza, 34, expressed her excitement about her 41-year-old cousin’s visit to Britain. Coincidentally, this event aligned with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s arrival in Birmingham.

As the daughter of Earl Spencer, Lady Eliza had previously welcomed Harry and Meghan at the family’s ancestral home during their UK visit last month. She shared her hopes with The Mirror, stating, ‘We would love to be able to find some time to visit.’

When queried about the possibility of exchanging wine-making secrets with Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife and a fellow rosé enthusiast who released her own wine last July, Lady Eliza offered a mysterious ‘Maybe!’ in response.

On Wednesday, Lady Eliza and her fiancé Channing Millerd celebrated the launch of their £27-a-bottle wine at the prestigious Hackstons luxury drinks retailer in Knightsbridge.

In comparison, Meghan’s Napa Valley rosé, sold under her lifestyle brand As Ever, retails for £22. 

While Lady Eliza was raising a toast to her latest business venture, Prince Harry, Meghan and their two children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, were being whisked away to their new home – widely believed to be in the Cotswolds. 

The socialite and drinks entrepreneur is the only family member to have spoken publicly about Harry’s surprise return to the UK after living in Montecito, California, for nearly six years.

Lady Eliza Spencer , 34, said it was 'exciting' that her cousin, 41, was back in Britain during a launch event for her Lala V rosé in London on Wednesday

Lady Eliza Spencer , 34, said it was ‘exciting’ that her cousin, 41, was back in Britain during a launch event for her Lala V rosé in London on Wednesday 

The Sussexes landed at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday after flying on a private plane from California to start their new life in the country

The Sussexes landed at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday after flying on a private plane from California to start their new life in the country

It remains to be seen whether the Sussexes will be invited to Lady Eliza’s nuptials after she hinted at her wedding plans with the South African businessman earlier this month. 

Lady Eliza suggested she was ‘wedding venue hunting’ as she shared glamorous photos from a recent getaway to the Amalfi Coast. 

The couple have previously spoken about their desire to have a destination wedding, with Lake Como one of the many locations in the running. However, few plans about the big day have been publicly disclosed yet. 

The Sussexes landed at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday after flying on a private plane from California to start their new life in the country.

The couple are thought to have travelled with the children on a Bombardier Global Express XRS luxury long-range business jet from Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles.

The Sussexes – who are also believed to be bringing their dogs Mia and Pula across the Atlantic – are now setting up their home in the UK. They plan to live as an ‘international’ family, keeping their homes in California and Portugal.

Their announcement that they were returning to Britain came as a shock after they quit the working monarchy in 2020 and bought a house in Montecito.

Former Suits star Meghan is said to be pursuing an acting role amid reports that she remains in talks about a role in the third series of Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen.

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, will live in a non-royal residence outside of London and the children have both been enrolled in UK schools, ready to start next week.

It remains to be seen whether the Sussexes will be invited to Lady Eliza's nuptials after she hinted at her wedding plans with the South African businessman earlier this month

It remains to be seen whether the Sussexes will be invited to Lady Eliza’s nuptials after she hinted at her wedding plans with the South African businessman earlier this month

It comes a month after the couple took Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to see their grandfather the King for the first time in four years at his Highgrove home in July.

The couple are not thought to have raised the prospect of a return to the UK at that meeting. The King was told they were moving back three days before it was revealed.

Some reports have suggested the Sussexes’ stay in the UK could last just until the autumn, with the family keeping their houses in Montecito and Portugal.

Meghan meanwhile has unveiled the latest addition to her As Ever range – Spiced Apple Butter.

The jar of ‘orchard apples and fragrant spices’ was being launched on Wednesday, ‘just in time for fall’, with Meghan’s brand saying the product captures the season’s ‘promise of crisp mornings and changing leaves just around the corner’.

She also posted an Instagram story in which she chuckled at what appeared to be a tea towel with the message: ‘People who take care of chickens are literally chicken tenders’.

It follows news that the Sussexes’ brood of chickens are remaining at their home in California to be cared for there. 

Earlier this week, People magazine suggested that the monarch wanted to see his estranged sons Harry and the Prince of Wales ‘together over time’, but the report has not been confirmed.

 According to Harry’s autobiography, Charles pleaded with his sons during a tense meeting after Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, saying: ‘Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery.’

The brothers no longer speak, having fallen out around the time of Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, with the relationship worsening post-Megxit following Harry’s accusations against the Royal Family in his Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

Separately, sources close to Harry claimed he ‘never really stopped missing home’ after stepping down as a senior royal and leaving Britain for the US six years ago.

The duke is said to have ‘missed that sense of connection and belonging’ in the UK while building a new life in California with Meghan.

Harry also wants their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to ‘understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from’, according to insiders.

In addition to being closer to King Charles, who continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, the move will allow Harry and Meghan’s children to connect with the Spencers as well.  

When Harry and Meghan travelled to Britain last month, it was Princess Diana’s younger brother, Earl Spencer, who graciously hosted them at his family’s ancestral seat, Althorp House.

But Charles Spencer, 62, is not the only relative Prince Harry will be leaning on for support as he returns to the country after six years living away in the United States amid claims the royal has ‘very few friends left’ from his past life.

In addition to spending more time with Charles and his new wife, Norwegian archaeologist Cat Jarman, the Duke and Duchess could become better acquainted with the families of Diana’s two sisters, Harry’s ‘red aunts’ Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes.

In the midst of William and Harry’s bitter feud, Sarah, 71, and Jane, 69, still have close relationships with both the brothers.

The pair, along with Charles, even travelled to Montecito – where the Sussexes have lived since 2020 – to attend the christening of Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Princess Lilibet, three years ago; none of the royals was present for the event.

Amid speculation that Harry and Meghan will call the Cotswolds home when they are in the UK, the proximity to the Spencer siblings could bring Harry closer to his six maternal cousins while Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are introduced to a new brood of Spencers.

Heroic Firefighter Rescues Stranded Free Climber in Daring Georgia Rock Face Operation

0

A gripping rescue unfolded on a Georgia cliffside when a free climber, marooned on a precarious ledge, dialed 911 for help. The dramatic rescue, involving a heroic firefighter’s descent, took place on Tuesday.

The climber, yet to be publicly named by authorities, found himself stranded on the west face of Mount Yonah—a daunting 3,166-foot peak nestled within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in North Georgia.

White County Public Safety officials reported that the climber, feeling trapped between the unforgiving stone and open air, made the emergency call around 7 p.m. Unable to navigate the perilous route up or down, he sought assistance.

In a strategic rescue operation, authorities deployed a drone to pinpoint the climber’s location, ultimately spotting him perched on a narrow 20-inch by 20-inch ledge, some 260 feet above ground level.

Mount Yonah rescue

The heroic moment came as White County firefighter Will Roper skillfully maneuvered beneath the stranded climber, who clung to the rocky face of Mount Yonah on the eventful evening of August 25, 2026. (White County Public Safety)

White County firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the mountain to reach the man. Drone video showed Roper maneuvering beneath him before securing him in a harness and clipping him to the rope. The climber was then hoisted to the top of the mountain.

The entire rescue operation took about 42 minutes, officials said.

Roper told FOX 5 Atlanta said this was the first time he’s had to rescue someone on a mountain.

Will Roper goes over the edge of the mountain

Firefighter Will Roper goes over the edge of Mount Yonah on Aug. 25 to rescue a stranded climber. (White County Public Safety)

“I’ve done a lot with dummies and a lot with other firefighters in training, but that’s the first time that I’ve ever done it, kind of in the heat of the moment with a live subject,” Roper said.

“It was a little nerve-racking going over the edge,” he added.

Roper said the climber was strikingly calm, telling FOX 5 he jokingly asked him: “Have you been rescued before? You’re pretty good at this.”

Will Roper and the free climber

Will Roper and the free climber are seen on the west face of Mount Yonah during the Aug. 25 rescue operation. (White County Public Safety)

The climber told Roper that he had experience with Mount Yonah but simply picked the wrong route and got stuck.

“I’ve been on kind of a high since then, just to have the first rescue,” Roper said, adding that he was glad to be able to help someone using his technical training.

Ex-Chick-fil-A Employee Pleads for Job Return After $80K Mac & Cheese Theft: The Real Story Behind His Actions

0

This cheese was truly worth a fortune in cheddar!

In a candid revelation to The Post, a former employee of Chick-fil-A explained why he targeted mac & cheese in an audacious $80,000 theft. His choice boiled down to simple economics – it’s among the most expensive catering items on the menu.

Keyshun Jones, who is just 23 years old, recently admitted to orchestrating a calculated scheme involving roughly 800 fraudulent mac & cheese transactions. He rerouted refunds to his own credit cards while working at a Chick-fil-A location in Grapevine, Texas, last November.

“Our mac and cheese is undeniably tasty, but it also carries a hefty price tag,” Jones commented on Wednesday. This side dish, he noted, is priced at about $100 per tray when ordered for delivery, underlining why it made the ideal target for his plot.

Jones embarked on this cheesy misadventure after being let go from his job at the restaurant chain, a position he held for seven years.

He came back to eat with his friends, saw an unattended register, and decided to make his move, he claimed.

Security camera footage shows Jones slipping behind the counter and ringing up tray after tray of the cheesy favorite.

“Everyone thinks it was more premeditated, ‘Oh, I went in there with a plan.’” That was definitely not the case,” Jones told The Post from jail in Tarrant County.

“I let anger, as most people do, let anger and those feelings get in the way, and I went, and I made a bad decision,” he added.

Prosecutors had asked for a 10-year sentence for fraud and property theft, but Jones and his lawyer managed to bargain down to three years, minus time served, on Aug. 13.

“My attorney spoke with the DA, and we kind of explained everything. We all came to an agreement where it wasn’t one of those heinous acts … They got to know, ‘This guy isn’t what we all thought he would be,’” Jones said.

Jones — who claimed he is still on good terms with his old colleagues — wants to get out on parole soon and rebuild his life, ideally at Chick-Fil-A.

“I love Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A is my career. I’ve been there since I was 15 years old, it was my first job. And I hated that things had to end that way,” he said.

“I’m not what the internet claims me to be. I’m goofy. I’m fun. I’m kind-spirited. Everyone seems to like me … Hopefully I can show the rest of the world that I’m worth that second chance,” he said.

His wife, Keana Jones, seemed to agree.

“He’s a sweet boy,” Jones told The Post.

Jones’ former boss, who owns the Grapevine restaurant, declined The Post’s request for comment.

The convicted fraudster admits Chick-Fil-A probably won’t give him his job back when he’s set free, but he believes another eatery will let bygones be bygones.

In the meantime, he won’t be getting much mac & cheese in jail.

“There was just one time they did serve mac & cheese here. The irony of it all,” Jones said.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Mail-In Ballot Rule, Undermining Recent Supreme Court Victory

0

Just when the United States Postal Service (USPS) appeared ready to roll out its freshly crafted regulations for mail-in ballots in preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, an unexpected twist emerged. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has once again hit pause on the Postal Service’s plans.

This time, Judge Talwani introduced an intriguing legal twist that has only added to the drama surrounding the situation.

Earlier this week, Susie Moore, RedState’s in-the-know legal analyst, highlighted that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) had paved the way for the Trump administration to advance significant elements of its mail-in voting policies. While SCOTUS did not pass judgement on the rule’s legality, it concluded that prior challenges were premature since USPS had yet to solidify the needed regulations to enforce these measures.

In response, USPS quickly moved to finalize these rules, officially putting them into effect by Wednesday.

With only a few months before the midterm elections, USPS has cemented a stringent new regulation for managing mail-in and absentee ballots during federal elections. Announced last Friday, this rule obliges states to notify the Postal Service about individuals eligible to receive such ballots. Additionally, these envelopes must carry unique identifiers, enabling precise tracking of each ballot as it traverses the postal system.

With the USPS rule in place, Democrat-led states – which definitely do not want stricter oversight of mail-in ballots – now had something to sue over.

And they wasted no time, running right back to Judge Talwani’s courtroom to argue that the finalized USPS rule exceeded the agency’s authority and unlawfully placed the Postal Service in the middle of federal elections. 

Talwani, an Obama appointee, agreed that the challengers had raised enough questions to justify temporarily putting parts of the new rule on hold, issuing a 14-day temporary restraining order Thursday.

And that brings us to the strange part of the whole thing: The Trump administration essentially had to be given permission to implement the policy so its opponents could launch the challenge the Supreme Court said was actually ready to be heard.

While Talwani isn’t technically overriding the SCOTUS ruling – they never ruled on the legality of the USPS rule and simply said challenges to it were premature – she certainly is inflicting some serious legal whiplash on those who’d like to ensure that mail-in ballots are properly tracked and handled ahead of the midterms.

“Based on the record presently before the court, Plaintiff States face irreparable harm where they are required to comply with a likely unconstitutional regulation for which compliance is practically impossible as to the 2026 midterm elections, now little more than two months away,” Talwani wrote in her 11-page order. “Most Plaintiff States have already ordered their mail ballots, and some are required by state law to send them to eligible voters as early as next week.”

The states, she continued, “have neither time nor funds to design new mail ballots, seek approval of the new designs, order production of mail ballots, update their own election management systems, train election officials to use the USPS portal, and upload citizen data to the portal, all before the midterms.”

For now, Talwani’s order lasts just 14 days, with another hearing set for September 3.

And with ballots already heading to the printers – and, in some states, already on their way to voters – this legal fight is quickly running out of time.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.

Norwegian Royal Family Unveils Portrait of Newly Crowned King Haakon VIII

0

In a significant moment for Norway, the Royal Family has introduced the official portrait of their new King as the nation grieves the loss of cherished monarch, King Harald.

The newly ascended King, previously known as Crown Prince, has been captured in his regal attire at 53, now formally recognized as His Majesty King Haakon VIII.

Accompanied by the heartfelt caption ‘All for Norway,’ the royal portrait was shared through the family’s social media channels.

King Haakon steps into his new position following the passing of his father, who was King Charles III’s cousin, after the former king passed away at 89 following a short hospital stay.

As the oldest reigning monarch in Europe after Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, King Harald’s reign began on January 17, 1991, marking the end of an era with his passing.

Harald was being treated at Oslo University Hospital for haemolytic anaemia, a disorder which causes red blood cells to be destroyed at an abnormally fast rate. 

But the palace said his health had ‘deteriorated’ after he contracted an infection, with members of the Norwegian Royal Family rushing to his bedside on Thursday.

‘It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away,’ Norway’s Royal Court said in a statement.

‘King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday, August 28 at 6.35am.’

Haakon becomes King during a turbulent time for the Norwegian royals, with scandal involving his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Norwegian royal family has officially released the portrait of its new King - as the country mourns the passing of their beloved monarch Harald

The Norwegian royal family has officially released the portrait of its new King – as the country mourns the passing of their beloved monarch Harald

One email released suggested she was still in contact with the late paedophile financier just months before his death.

Mette-Marit, 53, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, later issued a grovelling apology in which she claimed the emails ‘do not represent the person who I want to be’.

However, King Harald defended her during a public appearance that month in which he insisted: ‘We must remember that the Crown Princess has not done anything illegal.

‘Unlike some others in Norway, she broke the connection very early. So I think we should give her credit for that.’

And in March, Haakon – then Crown Prince – told NRK: ‘I think it’s meaningful to reflect on the foundation the Crown Princess and I have built.

‘We stand on something strong. We’ve been together for over 25 years, and we’ve built it in a way that keeps us united. When you marry, it’s for better and for worse.

‘On the good days, everything feels easy. But it’s during the difficult times, when you have to weather the storm, that a strong foundation matters most.

‘This is our project; we’re in it together. And Mette is caring, wise, and very strong. That’s why I always want her on my team when challenges arise.’ 

As translated by HOLA! Mette-Marit added: ‘I have enormous respect for them and their work, which is why it was important for me to apologize,” she said. “They are the most wonderful in-laws and have supported me greatly throughout this process. I’m very grateful.’ 

Fresh scandal also came in June when Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted on two couts of rape and jailed for four years following a six-week trial that laid bare allegations of violence, drug abuse and sexual misconduct.

An Oslo court also found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, issuing threats and committing traffic offences, although he was acquitted of two other rape charges.

The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024.

The conviction marked a fall for Høiby, who grew up in the public eye after his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 when he was just four years old.

Although he does not hold a royal title or carry out official duties, he has long been closely associated with the Norwegian royal family.

On Friday, King Charles said he has extended his ‘deepest and most heartfelt condolences’ to the Norwegian royal family following the death of his ‘dear cousin’. 

King Harald of Norway, cousin of King Charles III, has died at the age of 89 after a brief stay in hospital

King Harald of Norway, cousin of King Charles III, has died at the age of 89 after a brief stay in hospital

Mourners gather outside the Royal Palace following the death of Norway's King Harald V on Friday

Mourners gather outside the Royal Palace following the death of Norway’s King Harald V on Friday

The pair were second cousins once removed, sharing great-great-grandparents Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark. 

‘As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades,’ King Charles III said.

‘The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.’ 

Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Martha of Sweden.

He is a great-grandson of Edward VII and his godparents included Queen Mary and her son George VI (grandmother and father respectively of the late Queen Elizabeth).

His early life was marked by the vicissitudes of the Second World War. In April 1940, when Harald was just three, Nazi Germany invaded Norway.

Harald and his two older sisters, Ragnhild and Astrid, were swept up by their mother and taken first to Sweden.

A woman cries as she and other mourners gather to pay tribute to King Harald V of Norway on Friday

A woman cries as she and other mourners gather to pay tribute to King Harald V of Norway on Friday

People gather at Slottsplassen Palace Square in Oslo to mourn Norway's King Harald V after the announcement of his death

A group of women comfort one another outside the Royal Palace, following the death of Norway’s King Harald in Oslo

King Haakon VIII of Norway is pictured at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday following the death of his father

King Haakon VIII of Norway is pictured at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday following the death of his father

Whilst Harald’s father and grandfather – the reigning King Haakon VII – held out in Norway as their heroic countrymen battled the German invasion, they too finally fled in June and headed to London with the Norwegian government-in-exile.

In August that year, Harald and his mother and sisters then went to the United States, where they spent the rest of the war, living in Washington.

Then Crown Prince Olav and King Haakon – whose wife Queen Maud (sister of George V) had died in 1938 – were initially guests at Buckingham Palace.

A young Princess Elizabeth at one point found them ‘both snoring away’ on the floor of the royal air raid shelter.

‘Though we love having them,’ she told her grandmother ‘it is rather a bore never to be alone’.

In June 1945, Prince Harald – now aged seven – returned with his family to Norway, after Nazi Germany’s defeat in the war.

During five years of occupation, the royal palace had been turned into a prison, whilst ordinary Norwegians had been starved.

King Harald and Queen Sonja posing at the Royal Palace after their wedding ceremony in August 1968

King Harald and Queen Sonja posing at the Royal Palace after their wedding ceremony in August 1968

A crowd gathers to lay flowers and pay their respects to the late Norwegian monarch on Friday morning

A crowd gathers to lay flowers and pay their respects to the late Norwegian monarch on Friday morning

King Harald V died after a short stay in hospital, it was announced on Friday morning

King Harald V died after a short stay in hospital, it was announced on Friday morning

In 1954, nine years after the family’s return, they were hit by tragedy when Harald’s mother died of cancer.

The prince, then just 17, would go on to name his firstborn Märtha in honour of her memory.

Three years later, King Haakon VII died at the age of 85, after nearly 52 years on the throne.

Harald, now the heir, went on to study at the University of Oslo and also enrolled in the Norwegian Military Academy, graduating in 1959.

It was at his graduation ball that he brought along the woman who would become his wife.

Harald had met Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of an Oslo draper, earlier that year. It was her status as a commoner that ruffled royal feathers.

The pair initially kept their relationship a secret but when it did become public knowledge, the Palace repeatedly insisted that the pair would not marry.

But when Harald threatened to remain a bachelor forever if he did not get his way, his father relented and let him wed the woman he loved.

Their 1968 wedding at Oslo Cathedral came after both had studied in England.

Whilst Sonja read English at Cambridge, Harald went to Oxford to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Balliol College.

Harald became Norway’s Crown Prince in 1957 after the death of his grandfather. 

After attending high school in Oslo, Harald went to Balliol College, Oxford from 1960 to 1962, where he studied history, economics and politics. 

The Anglophile became a keen rower, having been taught by renowned coach Nick Bevan, who was studying at the same college.

But sailing was his sport: he went on to represent Norway at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972.

His and Sonja’s first child, Princess Märtha Louise, was born in 1971, with her brother, Crown Prince Haakon, arriving the following year.

But Prince Haakon would have a long wait before he became first in line to the throne.

His father did not become king until January 1991, when he was 53.

Harald’s closeness to King Charles was demonstrated five years later, when he went to Sandringham for a shooting weekend.

The monarch was also at Charles’s 50th birthday party in 1998, when 250 guests descended on Highgrove.

In 2011, Harald was among the dozens of European royals who attended the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales and was a guest at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Lunch the following year.

In another demonstration of the closeness between the Norwegian and English royal families, Her Late Majesty was the only head of state to make three state visits to Norway, in 1955, 1981 and 2001.

In 1955, they arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia, having sailed up the Oslo Fjord between what was described at the time as a ‘lane of fire’.

‘Every few miles along this island-dotted coastline, flames and sparks from midsummer bonfires shot skyward with red, white and blue rockets,’ the Daily Mail reported.

US Responds Swiftly as China’s Economic Influence Reverberates Across Africa

0

A senior official from the U.S. State Department has issued a stern critique of China, citing what analysts have dubbed the “China shock wave” that is currently devastating African economies.

African manufacturing is reportedly reeling under the pressure of a wave of Chinese imports. The situation is multifaceted as China extracts raw materials, including vital minerals, from Africa, while inundating the continent with its state-subsidized goods. Furthermore, Beijing’s imports of African products are alarmingly disproportionate.

According to The China Global South Project, Chinese exports to Africa reached a staggering $225 billion in 2025, while imports from Africa tallied approximately half that figure at $123 billion.

Xi Jinping with African leadersPresident of Comoros Azali Assoumani (L), South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Presidnet of China Xi Jinping, and Senegalese President Macky Sall attend the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023.

In attendance at the China-Africa Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue during the final day of the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg were prominent figures such as China’s Xi Jinping, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Senegalese President Macky Sall. (Image: Alet Pretorius/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Trump administration is now poised to address this disparity and foster opportunities for American enterprises.

“China continues to flood Africa with exports,” Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia told News Media. He added, “No country is immune to the negative impacts of China’s unfair trade practices and state-subsidized overcapacity. China’s economic engagement with African countries has often led to unsustainable debt, economic coercion and an oversupply of Chinese imports threatening to displace and preventing the development of local industries.”

He continued, “The U.S. government aims to offer credible alternatives that leverage public and private financing in priority areas that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. The United States is committed to maintaining the strong, open investment environment that benefits our economy and our people, while enhancing our ability to protect our nation from new and evolving threats that can accompany foreign investment.”

Elaine Dezenski, senior director and head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told News Media China is the number one trading partner for many African countries but warned “that doesn’t mean that African countries are moving up the value chain. On the contrary, some African countries are increasingly tied into a cycle of mineral and other natural resource exports to China, only to be on the receiving end of finished goods, also from China.”

WHITE HOUSE EXPOSES ‘TRANSSHIPMENT SCAM’ COSTING US UP TO $26B, POINTS FINGER AT CHINA

Chinese made bridge in Africa

A general view of the Chinese-built Maputo-Katembe Bridge taken on Nov. 10, 2018 in Maputo, Mozambique. (Roberto Matchissa/AFP via Getty Images)

Dezenski added, “Africa wants to manufacture. Chinese exports are getting in the way. Key exports from China are substituting for specific products that could be manufactured in Africa. As China is increasingly shut out of U.S. and European markets through high tariff regimes, Africa is feeling the effects, while China still claims it’s supporting emerging economies.”

China has lent the money to build new roads, bridges and other infrastructure in Mozambique. But in this, the fifth-poorest country in the world where jobs are in short supply, Beijing insisted that Chinese companies should do the construction. Mozambicans in some cases stood by, while workers brought 7,000 miles from Beijing to dig up the streets became a feature in this African country.

Beijing has now targeted Africa in another way. Between 17% and 40% of all car sales in South Africa are for vehicles from China. The goal appears not to stop at imports. The Chinese government-owned carmaker Chery has recently bought South Africa’s Nissan plant, and will make Chinese models such as Jetour near Johannesburg.

Chery Autombile Group

Chery Automobile Chairman Yin Tongyue (R2) and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile (R3) attend the launch of the Chery manufacturing facility at the former Nissan factory on July 3, 2026, in Rosslyn, Pretoria, South Africa. China’s Chery formally took over Nissan’s car manufacturing plant in Rosslyn on Friday under a deal that was announced in January, and executives said the company will spend millions of dollars upgrading and adding machinery ahead of starting vehicle production in South Africa in mid-2027. (Sun Xiang/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

But China has won over many South African consumers. “China is delivering better vehicles and better prices to South African consumers — and this is pushing Western-oriented firms out of the market,” analyst Frans Cronje told News Media.

Cronje, president of the Washington-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, added, “The South African and broader sub-Saharan business communities have always shown a Western lean or bias, in large part a consequence of the region’s colonial past. But China’s industrial influence is changing, and as the South African vehicle industry shows, that change can be rapid and occur with the support of consumers. Privately, many Western firms say they don’t know if they can remain competitive.” 

The U.S. is making its own waves in Africa though. The administration’s Bureau of African Affairs has reported it has worked on 37 commercial transactions that have closed since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term — representing $25.67 billion in total value, with more still being reported.

Chinese investment in Africa.

A sign at the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) memorial park in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. For over a decade, China poured more than $120 billion of government-backed loans through its Belt and Road Initiative to build hydropower plants, roads and rail lines across the continent as well as unparalleled influence. (Zinyange Auntony/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

There’s a way to go. While American goods traded with Africa last year were valued at $83.4 billion by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Beijing’s General Administration of Customs claimed bilateral trade between China and Africa reached $348 billion for the same period.

The will to succeed, though, is clear. Assistant Secretary Garcia added, “The United States is committed to reshaping the global critical minerals and rare earths market to make it more diverse, secure and reliable. We will work with African partners to address risks from non-market actors and ensure supply chain security. We are using diplomatic and economic tools to promote fair and transparent markets that work for everyone.”

News Media reached out to the Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., for comment.

Treasury Takes Strong Stand Against Activist Groups Posing as Charities

0

Taxpayers, regardless of their political leanings, should not have to financially support activist agendas they disagree with. Aiming to address this issue, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is formulating strategies to strip bogus political “charities” of their tax-exempt status.

According to reporting by The Post’s James Franey, Bessent and the IRS are scrutinizing the operations of a handful of prominent progressive nonprofits. These include George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The investigation could lead to these organizations losing their tax-exempt status.

Such a move might generate a significant $165 million in new tax revenue from these entities. More critically, it would halt taxpayer-funded support for questionable political activities.

“The woke left pushes to ‘tax the rich,’ yet these same organizations go to great lengths, sometimes even bending the law, to sidestep paying their own taxes,” remarked a source acquainted with the Treasury’s intentions. “This is hypocrisy in its purest form.”

To maintain a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, nonprofits must primarily function with the goal of religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational objectives. They are strictly prohibited from engaging in substantial lobbying activities or supporting “propaganda,” legislation, or political campaign efforts.

More From Post Editorial Board

Treasury is reportedly looking to treat nonprofits that are political activists in disguise as businesses or political machines for tax purposes, as per the law.

That’s appropriate. Open Society, after all, famously uses its billions to fund groups that back far-left causes — including criminal-justice reforms, climate change, legal privileges for illegal immigrants, DEI and more.

Why shouldn’t it have to pay its “fair share,” rather than force other Americans — most of whom object to much of its agenda — to pick up the tab?

CAIR, too, spends much of its time and money slamming a key US ally, Israel. That’s not political?

It’s also been accused of having ties to Qatar and was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing trial.

Just this month, prosecutors charged the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center’s ex-finance officer, Heidi Beirich, with leading a scheme that “knowingly misled donors” and funneled cash to “senior leadership” at a white supremacist group. (Her lawyer insists she’s innocent.)

Plus, the SPLC promotes blatantly political positions, like ending “unjust imprisonment,” eliminating “economic inequality” and legislation to “expand access to the ballot box.”

It has fiercely attacked critics of causes it supports, including DEI, school-based lefty indoctrination programs, allowing boys into girls’ sports and bathrooms.

In 2023, it tarred harmless pro-child activists at Moms for Liberty as a “hate” group.

And yet it’s somehow tax-exempt.

The Soros “charity” vehemently insists Treasury has no excuse for looking at it; CAIR and the SPLC declined to comment on the issue.

The probe may target other lefty groups, including MediaJustice, which lobbies for racial-equity policies in the telecom industry, defunding police tech and censoring online “disinformation,” as well as labor-backed entities like the Service Employees International Union’s Strategic Organizing Center and the anti-Amazon Athena Coalition.

Bessent and his team are on the right track: Private groups have every right to promote their political agendas — but no right at all to taxpayer support for that activism.

Especially when the taxpayers find those agendas so abhorrent.

Afternoon Storms Forecasted Before Heat Intensifies in September

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is gearing up for another wave of afternoon thunderstorms on Friday, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong gusts. As the weekend progresses, these storm patterns will move further inland, accompanied by rising temperatures and humidity, setting the stage for a sweltering start to September.

Friday

A familiar late-August weather pattern prevails on Friday, characterized by light winds facilitating the movement of the Atlantic sea breeze inland.

This will ignite a 50-60% likelihood of scattered showers and thunderstorms from early to mid-afternoon, initially near the coast and gradually advancing toward the interior areas later in the day.

Some of these storms could persist past sunset, particularly around the Orlando metropolitan area. There is also a chance that a few storms might drift back towards the Volusia coastline this evening.

With a substantial amount of moisture present, some storms might bring intense rainfall, with localized areas receiving up to 2-3 inches of precipitation.

Before storms arrive, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s, with heat indices between 100 and 105 degrees.

Weekend

A subtle pattern change begins this weekend as high pressure builds across the Southeast.

That will allow onshore flow to become dominant, helping the Atlantic sea breeze push inland more quickly each afternoon.

Storms will still develop daily, but the focus will shift more toward the interior, with storms likely moving quickly inland and potentially colliding with the Gulf breeze near Orlando or farther west.

Coastal communities will generally have lower rain chances.

Next Week

As the upper-level ridge strengthens, the weather will turn increasingly hot and humid heading into next week.

Afternoon storms will continue to provide some relief, but increasing heat and humidity could push heat indices toward 108 degrees in some spots.

So while the daily storms aren’t going away, September is likely to start feeling hotter across Central Florida.

Explore Dolly Parton’s Unique and Thriving Real Estate Empire

0

Dolly Parton is widely celebrated for her heartfelt music capturing the essence of life’s ups and downs, from the grind of a nine-to-five job to the pursuit of dreams. However, beyond her musical achievements, the country music legend has quietly accumulated a remarkable real estate portfolio.

Parton’s journey from a modest one-bedroom cabin, where she was raised among 12 siblings, to owning a lavish 63-acre estate in Tennessee valued at approximately $8.8 million, showcases the vibrant diversity of her property investments, much like her illustrious career.

Throughout the years, Parton, together with her late husband Carl Dean, owned numerous residences across Tennessee and California. Their collection included a unique hideaway featuring a miniature windmill and a serene mountain cabin, which Parton generously donated to charity.

Even as she achieved global fame, Parton, who passed away at 80 on August 25 after a brief bout with cancer, took great care to shield her private life—and especially her homes—from the public eye.

Her array of properties provides an intriguing look into the life of the woman beneath the glitz and glamour: intensely private, with deep ties to her Tennessee upbringing, and at times, inclined towards a touch of indulgence.

From a tiny cabin to a global superstar

Long before the hit singles, theme parks and Hollywood appearances, Parton was raised in a very modest cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains.

She was born in January 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and was raised alongside her 11 siblings in a tiny one-bedroom home in Locust Ridge, just outside Sevierville. 

The property had no electricity or running water, according to records.

The singer died aged 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer

The singer died aged 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer 

Parton grew up in a modest cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fans can now see a replica of the childhood cabin, pictured, at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge

Parton grew up in a modest cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fans can now see a replica of the childhood cabin, pictured, at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge

It was a world away from the glamorous homes she would eventually own, but the mountains remained an important part of Parton’s identity throughout her life.

Fans can now see a replica of the childhood cabin at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, complete with original family treasures and memorabilia.

The replica was built by Parton’s brother Bobby and even received the approval of their mother.

A sign outside the cabin features a message from Parton describing how the mountains and her childhood home inspired her music and her life. 

She went on to immortalise the abode on the cover of her 1973 record My Tennessee Mountain Home. 

Her $1.2million Hollywood hideaway

In 2007, she and Dean bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Los Angeles for $1.2 million

In 2007, she and Dean bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Los Angeles for $1.2 million

The home sits in LA's Design District, close to Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, and combines its vintage bones with modern upgrades

The home sits in LA’s Design District, close to Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, and combines its vintage bones with modern upgrades

Inside are a marble-accented kitchen, fireplace and spacious primary bedroom, while outside there is a patio, dining area and covered deck

Inside are a marble-accented kitchen, fireplace and spacious primary bedroom, while outside there is a patio, dining area and covered deck

Join the discussion

Should celebrities like Dolly Parton keep their wealth and homes private, or share them with the world?

Parton’s property portfolio eventually stretched far beyond Tennessee. In 2007, she and Mr Dean bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Los Angeles for $1.2million.

The 1,091-square-foot home, built in 1923, was never their main residence but offered the famously private couple a base in the heart of the entertainment capital.

Parton later listed the property for $1.4million in 2014, although property records show it changed hands for $1.2million in 2023.

Then, in a twist worthy of Hollywood, the former Parton property returned to the spotlight this year when it was offered for rent for a staggering $12,000 a month.

The fully furnished home sits in LA’s Design District, close to Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, and combines its vintage bones with modern upgrades.

Inside are a marble-accented kitchen, fireplace and spacious primary bedroom, while outside there is a patio, dining area and covered deck.

For fans with very deep pockets, it offered a chance to live in a home once associated with one of America’s most beloved entertainers.

The secret mountain retreat she gave away

Perhaps the most intriguing property in Parton's portfolio was a secluded cabin in Idyllwild, California

Perhaps the most intriguing property in Parton’s portfolio was a secluded cabin in Idyllwild, California

The wood-paneled home featured fireplaces, collectibles, framed artwork and china, while a signed photograph of the singer hung on one of the walls

The wood-paneled home featured fireplaces, collectibles, framed artwork and china, while a signed photograph of the singer hung on one of the walls

The 1,800-square-foot mountain home was marketed as Parton's former retreat, with the listing proudly declaring that 'nearly everything inside remains just as Dolly left it'

The 1,800-square-foot mountain home was marketed as Parton’s former retreat, with the listing proudly declaring that ‘nearly everything inside remains just as Dolly left it’

Perhaps the most intriguing property in Parton’s portfolio was a secluded cabin in the  San Jacinto Mountains, near Palm Springs, California.

Parton and Mr Dean are believed to have owned the mountainside retreat for decades, but her connection to the property in Idyllwild, California, remained largely under wraps until it was eventually sold.

In November 2023, Parton gave the property to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.

The charity later sold it for $585,000 in 2024. The property returned to the market in March last year for $770,000 and sold just 30 days later for $800,000 – both sales were handled by the same Idyllwild Realtor, Tiffany Raridon.

The 1,800-square-foot mountain home was marketed as Parton’s former retreat, with the listing proudly declaring that ‘nearly everything inside remains just as Dolly left it’.

And it certainly sounded like a Dolly-style getaway. The wood-paneled home featured fireplaces, collectibles, framed artwork and china, while a signed photograph of the singer hung on one of the walls.

Even the bathroom got a musical makeover, with a guitar-shaped toilet seat.

The property was reportedly built in 1996, and Parton is believed to have bought it in the mid-1990s.

The quirky California home with a ‘wig room’

The property Parton and Dean owned in Solvang also featured a miniature windmill along with a stained-glass window bearing Parton's name and a butterfly motif

The property Parton and Dean owned in Solvang also featured a miniature windmill along with a stained-glass window bearing Parton’s name and a butterfly motif

Parton and Mr Dean also owned a particularly unusual property in the Danish-inspired California town of Solvang. The couple bought the home in 2004 and held on to it for a decade before it sold for $940,000 in 2014.

The mini compound included a three-bedroom main house, a three-bedroom rear unit and a one-bedroom lower unit, with the separate properties providing an intriguing investment opportunity.

But the biggest talking point was the so-called ‘wig room’. The room was fitted with a huge mirror and built-in vanity – perfect for trying out the elaborate hairstyles that became part of Parton’s trademark look.

The property also featured a miniature windmill, a nod to Solvang’s Danish heritage, along with a stained-glass window bearing Parton’s name and a butterfly motif.

When current owner Chris Lapp bought the property in 2022 for $1.3million, he reportedly spent considerable time restoring it.

He also preserved many of the distinctive touches believed to date from Parton’s ownership.

The property was not just quirky – it was also potentially lucrative. Its listing claimed the rental units generated around $116,000 in gross annual income.

The ultra-private Tennessee estate worth millions

But perhaps the most important home in Parton's story was the private Tennessee property she shared with Dean for much of their marriage

But perhaps the most important home in Parton’s story was the private Tennessee property she shared with Dean for much of their marriage

Following Parton’s death on August 25, the gates to the secluded estate became a poignant focal point for fans mourning the loss of one of Tennessee’s most beloved daughters

Following Parton’s death on August 25, the gates to the secluded estate became a poignant focal point for fans mourning the loss of one of Tennessee’s most beloved daughters

But perhaps the most important home in Parton’s story was the private Tennessee property she shared with Mr Dean for much of their marriage.

The couple met when Parton was just 18 after she moved to Nashville and famously crossed paths with Mr Dean outside a laundromat.

They married two years later and largely kept their relationship away from the glare of the entertainment industry. That privacy extended to their home.

The couple lived on a sprawling 63-acre property in Brentwood, Tennessee, informally known as Willow Lake Plantation. The five-bathroom residence was a world away from the tiny cabin of Parton’s childhood.

Realtor.com estimates the property is now worth around $8.8million, although the exact amount Parton and Mr Dean paid for it has never been publicly disclosed.

Even details about the home are scarce – fitting for a couple who spent decades fiercely protecting their private life.

In 2014, Parton received approval to build another barn on the estate, with plans requiring it to architecturally match the property’s existing barns.

The sprawling grounds gave the couple something they could rarely find elsewhere: genuine privacy. 

And following Parton’s death on August 25, the gates to the secluded estate became a poignant focal point for fans mourning the loss of one of Tennessee’s most beloved daughters, with tributes and flowers left outside the property.