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Mark Sanchez Files Guilty Plea as Former NFL QB Awaits Sentencing in Brawl Case

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Mark Sanchez has moved to enter a guilty plea in connection with a violent downtown Indianapolis altercation that nearly turned deadly.

The former NFL quarterback was arrested last October after he was stabbed during a fight that also left 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole injured.

Following his arrest, Sanchez was dismissed from his role at Fox Sports. He has since faced multiple charges, including battery causing serious injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.

According to FOX59, Sanchez filed a motion Thursday in Marion County Superior Court 21 requesting a guilty plea and sentencing hearing. The plea must still be approved by a judge, and it remains unclear which charge or charges Sanchez intends to admit to.

Sanchez’s jury trial, initially scheduled for March 12, has been postponed five times, with the latest date set for September 8. His attorneys are now asking the court to accept the plea agreement and sentence him on either November 9 or November 16.

The filing was called a ‘positive development’ by Sanchez’s legal advisor Nick Sanchez Jr.  

Mark Sanchez has filed a guilty plea in connection with a near-fatal brawl in Indianapolis

Mark Sanchez has filed a guilty plea in connection with a near-fatal brawl in Indianapolis

Sanchez was arrested last October after he was stabbed in the incident in Indianapolis

Sanchez was arrested last October after he was stabbed in the incident in Indianapolis

‘We are finalizing an agreement with the prosecutor’s office that provides a path toward resolving the state’s case,’ he told FOX59. 

‘We’re also encouraged by the constructive conversations taking place regarding the related civil matter. There is real momentum toward bringing this entire chapter to a close.’

An attorney representing Tole, Matt Goltiko, said: ‘We are pleased with the constructive and professional conversations we’ve had with Mr. Sanchez’s team. 

‘Our discussions have been productive and we’re on a positive path toward an agreement that will allow the parties to move forward. Mr. Tole appreciates the progress we have achieved and looks forward to an amicable resolution.’

During an alleged near-fatal brawl with Tole, Sanchez, 39, suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper right torso.

The ex-New York Jets star may have been under the influence of cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and alcohol, according to a document filed by Tole’s attorneys in a related federal lawsuit.

Sanchez, who has been married to wife Perry Mattfeld since 2023, was in Indianapolis to cover the Colts’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders for Fox the following day when the altercation with Tole occurred.

After briefly being booked into jail upon his release from hospital, he was fired by the network in early November.

Sanchez twice led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship game in his early career

Sanchez twice led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship game in his early career

Sanchez married his wife, actress Perry Mattfeld, in May 2023 in a lavish Mexico ceremony

Sanchez married his wife, actress Perry Mattfeld, in May 2023 in a lavish Mexico ceremony

A police affidavit alleged that Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted Tole, who had backed his truck into a hotel’s loading docks in downtown Indianapolis on October 4.

Tole claimed in a lawsuit that Sanchez entered the truck without permission, then physically blocked him. The driver responded by dousing him with pepper spray, he told police. 

When Sanchez advanced after being sprayed, Tole pulled a knife to defend himself, authorities said.

A picture of Tole that circulated online following the incident showed him in a neck brace on a hospital bed, covered in blood with a deep slash to the side of his face.

Tole, who has claimed self-defense and has not been charged, is suing Sanchez, Fox Sports and local restaurateur Huse Culinary in federal court.

Among the allegations against Sanchez are that he may have been under the influence of cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and alcohol.

‘[Tole] has cause to believe that one or more of these substances may have been consumed in one of [the restaurant company’s] establishments which caused or contributed to Sanchez’s impairment and his subsequent negligent and/or knowing conduct,’ read the filing, obtained by the Daily Mail. 

Tole’s attorneys did not provide any evidence to support these claims and are instead calling for a further investigation to confirm the extent of Sanchez’s intoxication and whether any defendants had knowledge of him using additional intoxicants.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail, Sanchez’s attorney Andrew M. McNeil said: ‘These are allegations in a civil filing, nothing more, and they should be treated accordingly. Allegations are not evidence. The truth will be determined by facts and evidence presented at trial, and we look forward to presenting them at the appropriate time.’

Fall 2: Deadpoint Review: Is It Worth the Theater Trip?

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The vertigo-inducing shots of sheer mountain faces look tailor-made for IMAX — those giant screens currently dominated, for the most part, by Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The people clinging to those cliffs, however, are hardly the sort of marquee names who would rank among that film’s 20 most identifiable stars. That contrast is the strange appeal of Fall 2: Deadpoint: a big-screen survival thriller built from streaming-era scraps, a green-screened sequel to a movie that found much of its audience at home. It may be the year’s most effective collision of old-fashioned cinematic spectacle and unapologetic trash.

The first Fall became a hit in a way few low-budget thrillers do anymore. The indie film, centered on two women stranded atop a remote radio tower as they desperately try to call for help and stay alive, played like an open-air, shark-free cousin to the sleeper success 47 Meters Down. Lionsgate picked it up and gave it a theatrical release in 2022 after test audiences responded well. With little in the way of marketing muscle and no major stars to sell it, Fall still managed to become a modest global box office success, even though it never landed the IMAX screens its filmmakers had once hoped for. Variety described the movie as having been shot with “large-format cameras,” though what that meant in practice remains somewhat unclear, since it was not filmed with IMAX equipment. Then Netflix gave it a second life, pushing it up the streamer’s charts and introducing it to a wider audience. By then, Fall 2 had already been approved, and it arrives in theaters over Labor Day weekend — a fitting slot for another compact, modestly cast thriller that nevertheless aims for a surprisingly massive sense of scale.

It would have been simple enough for Fall 2: Deadpoint to recycle the original movie’s premise without tying itself too closely to what came before. Instead, the sequel leans into continuity and character mythology. That choice may come from creative ambition, or it may be a shrewd bit of franchise-building. As a Lionsgate release that sits close to horror without fully committing to gore, the film almost feels positioned as a lighter substitute for the studio’s signature Saw series, which has been stalled by creative disputes since the success of Saw X. The connection is strengthened by the hiring of the Spierig Brothers, genre veterans who directed the unsuccessful 2017 Saw semi-reboot Jigsaw. They take over from original director Scott Mann, who remains involved as a co-writer — a handoff that recalls the early Saw years, when writer Leigh Whannell and producer James Wan stayed with the franchise for several installments after Wan directed and Whannell wrote the first film.

Fall 2 centers on Jax (Harriet Slater), the grieving sister of Shiloh (Virginia Gardner), one of the women trapped in the original Fall. Still reeling from Shiloh’s sudden death, Jax crosses paths with Luce (Arsema Thomas), an old friend of her sister’s, who proposes a wildly risky tribute: complete one of the adventures Shiloh dreamed about but never got to attempt. That plan sends Jax to Thailand with someone she barely knows, bound for an illegal and dangerously fragile mountainside trail that requires an artificial walkway, a guide, and precisely placed anchors to navigate. Naturally, she agrees. As the trip escalates from reckless memorial to full-blown survival nightmare, Jax responds to far-flung, life-or-death crises with a reluctance that often feels less like terror on the edge of a jagged cliff and more like someone being asked to get out of bed at 6 a.m. — even after the rickety plank path beneath her has been destroyed.

That is indeed what happens in Fall 2. Jax and Luce go up the mountain with their guide, rocks fall, and the two women get stuck in a situation that arguably (and in proper sequel fashion) seems even worse than the one from the previous film.

This means that Fall 2: Deadpoint works largely the same way as Fall, which is to say it credibly evokes the stomach-dropping feeling of apprehension anyone might feel in the situation at hand. It’s a little faker-looking; though there are location shots throughout, imitating straight-down mountainside is not as straightforward a task as the first movie, which really did shoot far above the ground (just not as far, or as unsafe, as the characters looked). Still, the Spierigs use some inventive visual techniques, like repeated POV shots that capture the experience of looking straight down in the last place you’d ever want to do that, and the movie’s old standbys – trying to snare a stranded backpack; attempting to hang on to wobbly infrastructure that itself is just barely hanging on – work wonders.

Beyond the high-wobbling basics of its survival story, Fall 2 is pure B-movie: Awkwardly phrased expositional dialogue, weirdly elaborate backstories, and signposted but still ridiculous revelations. It doesn’t dare attempt to replicate the first movie’s twist (itself knocked off from another film), but throws in some wild turns of its own that should fail to distinguish it from any number of chintzy straight-to-streaming thrillers. By most contemporary standards, especially in a summer where the biggest success stories are movies as lavish as The Odyssey, or featuring characters as beloved as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, or as bespoke in their smallness as Obsession, Fall 2 shouldn’t seem like a theatrical event. Indeed, its eye is not on grosses measured in terms of a billion. The first one was a success when it crossed the $10 million mark worldwide. On the moviegoer side of things, if you’re planning on seeing one movie for the whole month of September, you probably don’t want to make it Fall 2.

But for more frequent moviegoers, it’s really a classic case of a shlocky film elevated by the circumstances of cinema: See it at the right size, and it transforms from a guilty borderline pleasure to a stupidly satisfying night out. The trick is finding an open screen big enough.

Lily Allen Hits Back at Trolls, Says First Husband ‘Had No Money’

Lily Allen responded to critics online on Thursday after one social media user questioned whether she would have married a man with “no money.”

The 38-year-old singer had been marking a happy milestone, sharing a loving tribute to her husband David Harbour in celebration of their third wedding anniversary, when the harsh remark appeared.

Lily, who has been married twice, is reported to be worth around £3.2 million, while David has reportedly earned £4.8 million through his successful acting career.

Posting on Instagram, the hitmaker shared a photo of the couple looking delighted shortly after tying the knot at the famous Graceland Wedding Chapel in 2020.

“3 years with this guy, 2nd best decision I ever made. 1st was that dress,” she wrote alongside the anniversary snap.

Anniversary: Lily Allen, 38, hit back at online trolls on Thursday, who asked her if she would have married a man with 'no money' (pictured on her wedding day to David Harbour in 2020)

Anniversary: Lily Allen, 38, hit back at online trolls on Thursday, who asked her if she would have married a man with ‘no money’ (pictured on her wedding day to David Harbour in 2020)

Lily could seen in a white 1960s-inspired Dior dress with a matching bridal veil that fell down to her back in two layers and black suede heels. 

However, one follower questioned: ‘Would you have married a guy with no money?’

To which Lily replied: ‘Sure. I did in 2011, sadly it didn’t work out though.’

The actress married builder Sam Cooper, 45, in 2011 at St. James Church in Gloucestershire, after two years of dating. 

However, their seven year marriage ended in 2018, with the singer later admitting she had cheated on her husband. 

She shares daughters Ethel, nine, and Marnie, seven, with Sam. He went on to marry his aristocratic designer partner India Windsor-Clive in 2021. 

His new wife, daughter of the Earl of Plymouth, is a descendant of the 18th Century’s Clive of India, who was a controversial military officer and an official of the East India Trading Company.

India and Sam, who apparently first got together a month after he had officially finalised his divorce with Lily, became engaged in January 2021, with the builder announcing the news on social media as he branded himself ‘an extraordinarily lucky man’.

Response: The singer shared a sweet post to celebrate her third wedding anniversary with husband David Harbour when she was met by the cruel comment

Response: The singer shared a sweet post to celebrate her third wedding anniversary with husband David Harbour when she was met by the cruel comment

Ex: The actress married builder Sam Cooper, 45, in 2011, after two years of dating. However, their seven year marriage ended in 2018

Ex: The actress married builder Sam Cooper, 45, in 2011, after two years of dating. However, their seven year marriage ended in 2018

Lily previously admitted she cheated on Sam after struggles with fame led her to lose her identity.

In her tell-all book, My Thoughts Exactly, she exposed how a showdown with Sam almost resulted in her being sectioned.

However, in a June 2018 interview on Loose Women, the Smile songstress said she shares a ‘very friendly’ relationship with Sam, and the pair have an unconventional custody agreement, where they take their daughters for alternative weeks at a time.

‘Me and my ex-husband share custody, a week on and a week off, which is useful for my work, when he’s got them, I can do that,’ she added. 

Beloved Midwest TV Bishop Nears Sainthood After Miracle

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Nearly half a century after his death, Archbishop Fulton Sheen — the celebrated television priest who once drew millions of viewers — may be moving closer to sainthood following an Illinois mother’s claim that he helped save her newborn son’s life.

Bonnie and Andrew Engstrom say they turned to Sheen in prayer in 2010, pleading for his intercession after their baby boy was born showing no signs of life and medical teams struggled to resuscitate him.

According to Bonnie, doctors were preparing to note the infant’s time of death when they suddenly heard a faint heartbeat. Moments later, the baby’s heart began beating steadily, a recovery the Engstroms believe was linked to the urgent prayers they offered to Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

‘That was kind of the beginning of a beautiful relationship,’ Engstrom told AP

Roughly 16 years later, their son James is a healthy teenager and the third of the couple’s eight children.

James enjoys basketball, bike rides and studying meteorological reports. He also remains devoted to Sheen. ‘He’s my protector,’ the teenager told Catholic media. 

His mother Bonnie said: ‘I attribute the miracle to Jesus Christ. But I firmly believe that Jesus allowed Fulton Sheen’s prayers and presence to play an integral part in it.’

The Catholic Church confirmed James’s survival as a ‘miracle,’ making Sheen eligible for beatification, also known as sainthood. 

Sheen, who was born in Illinois in 1895 and died in New York in 1979, is also known as the first 'televangelist'

Sheen, who was born in Illinois in 1895 and died in New York in 1979, is also known as the first ‘televangelist’

Bonnie Engstrom gave birth to a stillborn child in 2010. She claims the prayers she and her husband sent to Sheen led to the 'miracle' of her son's survival

Bonnie Engstrom gave birth to a stillborn child in 2010. She claims the prayers she and her husband sent to Sheen led to the ‘miracle’ of her son’s survival

Sheen was one of the Catholic church's most famous priests. He had an own radio and television show, won two Emmy awards and appeared in the cover of Time magazine in 1952

Sheen was one of the Catholic church’s most famous priests. He had an own radio and television show, won two Emmy awards and appeared in the cover of Time magazine in 1952

Sainthood recognizes a ‘heroic witness of faith,’ Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka told AP. The church typically requires authentication of one miracle for beatification – such as what it deems a medically unexplainable cure attributed to prayers to the candidate. 

After Sheen’s beatification was delayed for years, Engstrom and locals from Sheen’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois, are preparing for a service on September 24. Pope Leo XIV – also from Illinois – approved the beatification in February after years of delays.

Although Pope Francis confirmed the Engstrom case as a miracle attributed to Sheen’s intercession, the Vatican postponed a scheduled beatification ceremony back in 2019.

The delay was caused by a request from the Diocese of Rochester due to legal investigations into sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic church across New York state.

Church officials later concluded that Sheen’s record gave no cause for further delay, and plans for the ceremony resumed.

Engstrom said: ‘We will all be at the beatification, and we’re super excited.

‘The whole family will accompany him, which is special because in a lot of ways the whole family has walked with him through this whole process.’

Her son James will carry a relic of Sheen at the ceremony, which tens of thousands are expected to attend.

Sheen was born in 1895 in the small town of El Paso, Illinois, and raised in Peoria. 

Throughout his life, Sheen became one of the most famous religious leaders and was particularly known for being a pioneer in broadcasting Catholicism.

Monsignor Jason Gray who is the executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J Sheen Foundation called Sheen the ‘first televangelist in the United States.’ 

Pope Francis originally approved the miracle performed by Sheen but the beatification was delayed. A recent decision by Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification in February after years of delays

Pope Francis originally approved the miracle performed by Sheen but the beatification was delayed. A recent decision by Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification in February after years of delays

The beatification event is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors which is why the ceremony will be held in St Louis, Illinois

The beatification event is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors which is why the ceremony will be held in St Louis, Illinois

Between 1930 and 1950, Sheen hosted The Catholic Hour on the NBC radio network which reached an audience of around four million.

Sheen also had his own TV show, Life is Worth a Living, which competed with entertainers like Frank Sinatra and won him two Emmy awards. He even appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1952.

Sheen raised funds and traveled the world on behalf of Catholic missions. He served as a bishop in New York state, retiring as an archbishop.

After his death in 1979, he was buried at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York until his niece won a court battle in 2019 to move his body to Peoria’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. 

Pilgrims today place crucifixes and other items on his marble tomb, giving them status as relics.

The beatification will take place in St Louis as the ceremony is expected to be too big for Peoria.

Video Shows SWAT Vehicle Ramming Tractor During Tense Oregon Standoff

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Dramatic video shows the moment a SWAT vehicle rammed into a tractor during a tense standoff with a suspect accused of opening fire near an Oregon home.

Erik Gordon Shunn, 53, allegedly fired at multiple tree workers Saturday afternoon in an area south of Portland before confronting law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said. Authorities said more than 200 rounds were fired over the course of the incident.

Footage recorded by a CCSO drone appeared to show Shunn firing repeatedly toward the aircraft, officials said.

Shunn was later spotted operating a compact tractor near the front of his home when a CCSO SWAT vehicle drove into it, pinning the tractor against the house. Several SWAT team members quickly exited the rear of the vehicle and moved in to take him into custody.

A suspect aims a rifle skyward outside a rural house

Drone video appeared to show suspect Erik Shunn allegedly firing directly at the aircraft. (Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office)

According to officials, the Clackamas County SWAT Team responded to a report of an armed neighbor firing at professional arborists hired to cut down trees in a rural residential and farm area.

The 911 caller told dispatchers they believed Shunn had several guns, while witnesses estimated he fired roughly 20 rounds at tree company employees, officials said.

When the authorities arrived, drones allegedly spotted Shunn in his driveway.

He was seen “knocking down trees with a tractor in an apparent attempt to create a barricade,” according to the CCSO.

Authorities said they ultimately decided to pin Shunn’s tractor after he became separated from his rifle while driving it near the front of the home.

“SWAT personnel used this window of opportunity because they believed it provided the highest likelihood of safely apprehending Shunn,” CCSO officials said.

Armored SWAT vehicle rams a red tractor beside a residence.

An armored SWAT vehicle collides with a tractor to apprehend Shunn. (Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office)

Shunn was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

“First responders also checked on neighbors and tree workers to confirm their safety and evacuate them from the area,” CCSO said.

No injuries were reported. Shunn’s mother, who was also at the home during the standoff, was also unharmed, according to the sheriff’s office.

Shunn was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, recklessly endangering, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, unlawful possession of firearms, first-degree attempted criminal mischief, and interfering with a peace officer.

SWAT vehicle pins a suspect's tractor

SWAT officers disembark an armored vehicle after pinning a suspect’s tractor. (Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office)

He is currently being held without bail at the Clackamas County Jail.

Stella Parton’s Farm Girl-to-Ageless Beauty Journey at 77

“With that many brothers and sisters there was plenty of teasing and fighting,” the late Dolly Parton told The Guardian in 2016, a decade before her death at 80. “But we were all in it together.” That sense of family unity shaped the country icon’s life from her childhood near Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains onward, and she went on to share both studio time and screen credits with several of her 11 siblings.

In recent years, the Parton family endured a string of losses, with Floyd, Randy, David, and Coy all dying between 2018 and 2026. Still, the singer once known as the Backwoods Barbie was survived by seven brothers and sisters, among them Stella Parton, perhaps the best known after Dolly herself. Stella carved out a career of her own in music, built a public identity beyond her famous surname, and maintained a complex but enduring bond with her superstar older sister. Here’s how she went from a farm girl in East Tennessee to a 77-year-old performer admired for her lasting presence and ageless style.

Stella and her siblings raised themselves

Stella Parton was the sixth child born into the sprawling Parton household and was raised in Sevierville, Tennessee, near the Smoky Mountains that would later appear so often in Dolly’s songs and stories. Her father, Robert, worked several jobs while trying to keep the family farm going, and her mother, Avie, often battled mental health struggles. In that demanding environment, Stella and her siblings learned early that survival depended on leaning on one another.

“When you come from a huge family like we did I think you are always emotionally dependent on one another,” Stella told Express in 2016. “We basically raised ourselves. You need to know that your siblings have got your back and they always have.”

Even with that strong sibling support system, Stella has been candid about the emotional toll of growing up with a mother who suffered from depression. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she described it as “like having a parent who checked out every so often,” adding, “So there is no doubt that, emotionally speaking, we were neglected.”

She made her TV debut with Dolly Parton aged seven

Growing up in a musical family, Stella Parton soon harbored the same ambitions as her elder sister Dolly Parton. And at the age of seven, she made her television debut alongside the future country superstar on a local Knoxville show. Within two years, she was also performing on radio.

While guesting on the 1980s chat show “Vicki!” Stella discussed (via Yahoo! Entertainment) how much she idolized Dolly while growing up: “I was kind of a pain in the butt to her … Because I was so close in age to her, I always wanted to do everything that she was doing … I love her a lot, she loves me a lot, and I think we’re a lot alike.”

In her interview with the Daily Mail, Stella spoke about how she and Dolly were always destined to pursue a career in the music industry: “Daddy was a good singer, my mother was a great one; he played the banjo, she played the guitar. We were storytellers and singers and songwriters who happened to grow up on a farm.”

Stella formed a gospel group with several family members

During her teenage years, Stella Parton began singing and performing in a gospel group alongside siblings Cassie and Willadeene and their mother Avie. And in 1968, a year after Dolly Parton released her solo debut album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” they all headed into the studio to record theirs.

“The Parton Family Sings in the Garden” was released through Inspiration Records, an affiliate of Stella’s uncle Louis Owens’ Owepar Publishing company, and boasted a combination of gospel favorites, hymns, and original compositions written by Avie and her sister Dorothy Jo Owens. Unfortunately, it didn’t follow Dolly’s first record into the Billboard charts, but it did go on to become an in-demand collectors’ item.

Stella also served as a backing vocalist with various sisters on many of her uncle Bill Owens’ compositions, including “It Seems Like a Lifetime” and “Vagabond.” And in 1970, she covered “Break My Mind” by George Hamilton IV on “The Porter Wagoner Show” alongside Cassie and Dolly.

She married before graduating high school

Dolly Parton famously had one of the most enduring, and one of the most private, marriages in Hollywood: she was wed to Carl Dean from 1966 until the day he died in 2025, and their final resting place showed they were soulmates until the very end. But her younger sister Stella Parton hasn’t been as lucky in love.

The singer walked down the aisle with Marvin Carroll Rahuff in 1966 before she’d even graduated high school. But within two years, the pair had headed for the divorce courts. “We were simply too young,” Stella acknowledged decades later in an interview with the Daily Mail.

Stella was still only in her early twenties when she said “I do” for a second time, on this occasion to James E. Malloy. But again, their relationship soon fizzled out. The country singer no doubt hoped that it would be third time’s the charm when she got hitched to Steven Messer in 1988. However, within three years, she once again found herself a singleton. She’s since exchanged vows with a fourth man whose identity she prefers to keep secret. “The last three relationships that resulted in marriage, the men turned out not to be the people they presented to me which meant the marriages were short-lived,” she explained. “I’ve had pantyhose that have lasted longer. But I don’t regard myself as a victim. I was the victor.”

Stella became a mom

Although Stella Parton acknowledges that she was way too young to have gotten married to the first of four husbands, Marvin Carroll Rauhuff, she is grateful that their relationship spawned the most important constant in her life: their son Tim.

In her interview with the Daily Mail, the country singer revealed that becoming a young single mom — she was still only in her late teens when she signed the divorce papers — drove her to seek fame and fortune. “I needed to earn money for the two of us. I wanted to give my son the life I had not been able to have because my parents were so poverty-stricken.” But she wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty to make ends meet, either. She once cleaned sister Dolly Parton’s home for $45 per week.

Tim might have been the center of Stella’s world for a good half-century. But he now has a rival in the shape of her grandson Liam. “He loves his yaya — that’s what he calls me,” she gushed. “On his travels in Europe after college, Tim came across a lot of Greek women who were big on nurturing, big on cooking. They reminded him of me. And Greek children call their grandmothers Yaya. Hence my nickname.”

She released her debut album in 1975

In 1975, Stella Parton reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s country chart with “I Want to Hold You (In My Dreams Tonight).” It was an instant validation for her decision to do things exactly her own way, for the singer had also released the track and the album of the same name through her own record company, Soul Country and Blues.

“I started the label purely out of necessity because no one in Nashville would release my music because I was Dolly’s kid sister,” Stella later explained to Music Radar. “I decided, to hell with all you guys, if you won’t put my music out on your record labels, I’ll start my own label, so I did.” Speaking about the press labeling her as a maverick, she added, “I must confess it stung a little bit because I had always been a shy and self-contained person, but then I decided to embrace the label, and just go about my business, and I have.”

The record’s success prompted major label Elektra to offer Stella a deal, with the star recording three albums for them including “Country Sweet” and “Love Ya” before going independent once again. “They were just kind of delving into the country music thing back then, so they did a better job than you could do yourself because you were under such a big umbrella,” she explained to Classic Bands about signing with the big boys.

Stella launched an acting career

Just like her older sister Dolly, Stella Parton is also a double threat, having carved out an intermittent second career as an actor since 1979. Her first role was in an episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard” where she played a police officer impersonator, and a year later, she graduated to the big screen as a lounge singer in “Cloud Dancer.”

Parton went on to land roles in films such as “The Color of Love: Jacey’s Story,” festive film “Merry and Gay,” and faith-based flick “Nothing Is Impossible.” She also appeared on the stage in the likes of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” and portrays Corla Bass in “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” and its seasonal sequel.

In an interview with MovieWeb, Stella explained what drew her to being an all-round entertainer: “I can’t remember when I wasn’t trying to make people laugh or make people happy. That’s our job as entertainers — to make people happy and bring hope and maybe have people forget their troubles for a minute. I mean, what a chosen profession to be in. I think of myself as a messenger of hope — through music and through humor. I’m somebody who helps people get away from their troubles for a few minutes, you know?”

She collaborated with Dolly on several occasions

Although she managed to carve out a successful singing career entirely on her own, Stella Parton hasn’t been averse to calling upon her legendary sister for some extra star power. In 1979, for example, she scored another country Top 40 single with “Steady as the Rain,” a track penned by Dolly Parton. And she’s also worked on several of her siblings’ projects, too.

In 1984, she contributed to the soundtrack of Dolly’s film “Rhinestone” with the Kin Vassy duet “Goin’ Back to Heaven.” In the mid-2010s, she portrayed Corla Bass in NBC’s TV movie “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” and its Christmas sequel. And she’s also helped with several opening-season shows at the icon’s theme park, Dollywood.

In 2016, Stella paid tribute to Dolly with “Mountain Songbird,” an LP which featured 11 cover versions of her sister’s classics alongside an original the pair penned together, “More Power to Ya.” “I was pleased with the way the album came out,” she told the Daily Mail. “And Dolly was thrilled at the end result. I was so touched by her reaction.”

Stella has written multiple cookbooks

As well as penning a memoir, “Tell It Sister, Tell It: Memories, Music and Miracles” in 2011, Stella Parton has also published three cookbooks, “Really Cookin’,” “State Fairs and Church Bazaars,” and “Country Cookin’.” And she’s named several of her recipes after her family members, including Cassie’s Chicken Casserole, Rachel’s Rhubarb Pie, and Dolly’s Dill Dumplings. “The name made me smile and it did Dolly too,” she told Express about the latter. “It’s a tomato dish which I’ve served to her many times. She loves it.”

In 2018, Stella put her culinary skills to the test when she appeared alongside the likes of “Strictly Come Dancing” pro AJ Pritchard, radio DJ Clara Amfo, and actor Lisa Maxwell on BBC hit “Celebrity MasterChef.” It seems fair to say, though, that she didn’t always enjoy the experience.

“I’ve always regarded cooking as therapeutic so it was strange to have to cook against the clock,” Stella said. “We were being judged but not necessarily appreciated which is the way I normally think of food. I found it quite stressful.”

She is a keen philanthropist

As with her older sister Dolly, Stella Parton is a strong advocate for giving back. Over the years, she’s served as a spokesperson for the Christian Appalachian Project and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an ambassador of country music to the American Cancer Society, and a teacher at Berea College’s New Opportunity School for Women.

Stella has also advocated against domestic violence after losing a close friend to an abusive husband and having experienced domestic violence herself. In 2019, she made headlines when she explicitly called out Dolly for her silence on the #MeToo movement. While guesting on the “Our Stories” podcast, the “Four Little Letters” singer revealed (via The Independent) she was “ashamed” that her sister hadn’t spoken up about an issue she claims was also rife within the country music scene.

“She can run it all day long when it’s about something else,” Stella added. “We’ll speak up against injustice.” She then took to social media to provide further context, tweeting, “I kept quiet for a very long time. Partially because of my sister, I did not speak up, so I would not be a distraction to her career.”

Stella admitted she’s her family’s loner

It’s not just in the music industry where Stella Parton prefers to strike out on her own. Although she has always remained close to her large family, the country singer acknowledges that she’ll always be something of an outsider.

“Everybody knows that I’m independent,” Stella explained to People. “I’m a loner in my family. But if they need me, if they call me out to help with something, producing, consulting or whatever, I’m always there. And they respect and honor that from me.”

Stella has said she doesn’t consider herself unusually talented or intelligent, but believes her work ethic sets her apart. That’s why she also believes that having this personal space and time to reflect has been conducive to her emotional well-being. “I’ve tried to be good to everyone,” she added. “You don’t please everyone, but if your intentions were pure in heart, then you can have peace. That doesn’t mean that the world is peaceful. You can feel bad about what’s going on in the world, but you should have peace within yourself.”

She made a comeback album inspired by her brothers’ deaths

After an eight-year break from the studio, Stella Parton staged her musical comeback in 2026 with a rendition of Ben E. King’s classic “Stand By Me” and a forthcoming covers album titled “Nostalgia.” And in an interview with People, the country singer explained that a string of family losses had been responsible for the lengthy hiatus.

Since 2018’s “Survivor,” Stella’s niece Tever and three of her brothers — Floyd, Randy, and David — had all died, causing the Tennessee native to experience a bout of writer’s block: “Growing up with so many siblings, we were very emotionally connected, and still are in a real emotional way. It’s a soul connection. So this whole thing was kind of like emotional paralysis for me in a strange sort of way.”

However, she also realized that the creative process could help her navigate her grief. “Music has always been therapy,” added Stella, who just a few months later would also say goodbye to her older sister Dolly (whose final Instagram post is a gut punch to country music fans). “It’s like a lifeblood. When you grow up in the songwriting family, that’s kind of what you do.”

Stella paid a glowing tribute to her late sister

Fans around the world were left in mourning in August 2026 when Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon who always seemed completely invincible, died at the age of 80. And one of the most heart-rending tributes came from her younger sibling.

“If anyone gets to heaven I’m sure she made it right on time,” Stella Parton wrote in a Facebook post. “I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine.” The “Neon Woman” singer went on to describe her older sis as “one of the most generous, thoughtful, and kind people I’ve ever known,” share a tragic detail about their weekly love of hot coffee, and reveal that even when Dolly realized the end was near, her first thought was of others.

Dolly had reportedly put herself forward to test new medical treatments after discovering she had cancer in a bid to boost the survival chances of future sufferers. And Stella advised readers to adopt a similarly altruistic mindset: “If you want to honor her legacy, show more kindness, lift others up, and give more of your time and resources as she continued to do to the very end.” Here’s a look at how Dolly’s official cause of death painted a heartbreaking picture of her final months.

Man Killed Aunt’s Boyfriend With AR-15 Over ‘Bad Vibes’: Police

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Inset: Joitorian Bouye (Austin Police Department). Background: News footage from the scene where Tyrell Pordia was fatally shot (KXAN).

A Texas man accused of killing his aunt’s boyfriend allegedly told investigators he opened fire because the victim gave him “bad vibes.”

Joitorian Bouye, 21, has been charged with murder and remains held in the Travis County Jail after authorities say he fatally shot 35-year-old Tyrell Pordia on Aug. 29. The Austin Police Department said officers were called to an Austin neighborhood for reports of a shooting and found Pordia suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing Bouye run from the area after the shooting, police said. He was later located, taken into custody and arrested that same day.

According to police, Bouye was advised of his rights after his arrest and then said he shot Pordia with an AR-15 because Pordia gave him “bad vibes.” Investigators said Bouye also claimed Pordia “wanted him dead” and told officers he had schizophrenia.

Bouye was charged with first-degree murder. His next court date was scheduled for Sept. 11.

The post Man gunned down his aunt’s boyfriend with AR-15 because he gave off ‘bad vibes’: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.

Volusia Sheriff Blasts County Chair Over Police Budget Cuts

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VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A tense Volusia County budget debate spilled onto social media this week after Sheriff Mike Chitwood publicly criticized County Chair Jeff Brower over proposed spending discussions.

In a Facebook post, Chitwood claimed Brower is seeking to remove millions of dollars from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office budget, even though the agency’s spending plan was submitted at the same level as last year with no requested increase.

Chitwood accused Brower of only offering public support for law enforcement when it is politically convenient, labeling him in the post as a “Defund the Police” county chair and saying his actions reveal where he truly stands.

The sheriff said he supports finding ways to ease the tax burden on Volusia County residents, but argued that cutting the sheriff’s office budget is not the right path to deliver that relief.

Chitwood’s post ended with a pointed message, saying that if Brower is unwilling to meet with the sheriff’s office, officials would go to him instead.

As such, Chitwood announced that he and other deputies will attend the Volusia County Council meeting in DeLand at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, where the budget cuts are expected to be discussed.

“Then Jeff can look us in the face while he pitches his latest bright idea to Defund the Police in Volusia County,” Chitwood concluded.

News 6 has reached out to Brower for comment on Chitwood’s statement. Below is his response:

“This is not a last-minute request from me. Every year I call for a 5-10% reduction in spending. Homeowners are struggling to keep their homes. This year in January I said we need to go to rollback. We have always held first responders harmless in budget reductions.

As we anticipate the budget if Amendment 3 passes, we can no longer do that.

However, if we just go to rollback in each of our county funds, they will actually receive more money than they did in 2026 because of growth and new properties being taxed. The Sheriff’s budget has grown by $39,821,697 since 2024. That is a 30% increase.

I am simply asking every one of our funds to go to a rollback rate that would still allow them to collect more money than they did last year but holds taxpayers harmless. That means property owners would not pay more than they did last year.

In the case of the sheriff’s budget, instead of collection $9,592,432 more this year he would collect $5,581,819 MORE this year. So, it is not accurate for him to say I am cutting millions for Law Enforcement. I am supporting LEO, once again this year, with an almost $6 Million increase. 

Voters will not tolerate Counties and cities passing along a tax increase this year . If we do, Amendment 3 passes and then we are not looking at a tiny 3% spending reduction. We would be deciding how many people and programs we had to cut.”

Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower

Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

Musician, Pregnant Wife and Child Found Dead in Mexico City Tragedy

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A prominent Mexican musician and members of his family were found tied up with duct tape and fatally shot, along with their pet dog, in a brutal attack inside their luxury penthouse.

Jonathan Meléndez, 38, the keyboardist for the indie rock band Camilo Séptimo, was killed Tuesday night at his home just outside Mexico City, prosecutors said. His pregnant wife, their three-year-old daughter, the family’s nanny and their dog were also slain in the horrific massacre.

The couple’s six-year-old son was the only survivor. Authorities said the child was found at the scene unharmed and showed no apparent signs of injury.

Two men, identified as Diego Sebastián “N” and Gerardo “N,” were arrested shortly afterward in connection with the killings. Officials said one of the suspects was a business partner of one of the victims.

The State of Mexico Attorney General’s Office later released disturbing details from the crime scene, describing what officers found after responding to the apartment in the wealthy residential area of Atizapán de Zaragoza.

All four victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds, with three shot in the head and the fourth in the back, authorities said. 

Meléndez and his wife, Ana Paola, 35, who was approximately four months pregnant, were found bound with duct tape, while their three-year-old daughter was shot in the head at close range, authorities said.

Aleida Romero Victorio, 21, who worked at the home as the family nanny, was also slaughtered in the massacre, her devastated family told CNN.

Mexican musician, Jonathan Meléndez, 38, and his family were found bound with duct tape and shot dead alongside their pet dog in a gruesome massacre Tuesday night

Mexican musician, Jonathan Meléndez, 38, and his family were found bound with duct tape and shot dead alongside their pet dog in a gruesome massacre Tuesday night

All four victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Meléndez and his wife, Ana Paola, 35, who was approximately four months pregnant, were found bound with duct tape

All four victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Meléndez and his wife, Ana Paola, 35, who was approximately four months pregnant, were found bound with duct tape

Two men, Diego Sebastián 'N' and Gerardo 'N,' were arrested in connection with the killings shortly after, one of whom officials said was a business partner of one of the victims

Two men, Diego Sebastián ‘N’ and Gerardo ‘N,’ were arrested in connection with the killings shortly after, one of whom officials said was a business partner of one of the victims

Meléndez was the keyboardist for indie rock band Camilo Séptimo. The group was due to perform next in Ciudad Juárez on September 19

Meléndez was the keyboardist for indie rock band Camilo Séptimo. The group was due to perform next in Ciudad Juárez on September 19

‘She was a very hardworking and responsible girl who did not deserve for this to be done to her,’ her aunt, Lorena Victorio Cabrera, told the outlet.

Meanwhile, the family dog was found dead with its legs tied, according to the prosecutor’s office. 

An investigation led police to believe the killings occurred between 5.30pm and 7.40pm on Tuesday. 

Neighbors reported hearing shouts and gunshots, local media reported, before the bodies were discovered inside the penthouse shortly before midnight, Reuters reported.

The two men were arrested within 12 hours in a joint operation involving the State of Mexico Prosecutor’s Office, the federal Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection and the Mexico City Secretariat of Citizen Security.

Prosecutors identified Diego Sebastián ‘N,’ an associate of Meléndez, as the likely perpetrator after his arrest. Gerardo ‘N,’ the second suspect under investigation, had also been arrested previously. 

Omar García Harfuch, secretary of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, said Sebastián ‘allegedly took advantage of this relationship of trust to gain entry to the residence.’ 

Meléndez was a keyboardist, composer and producer and a founding member of Camilo Séptimo, one of Mexico’s best-known indie rock bands. The group was due to perform next in Ciudad Juárez on September 19. 

The couple's three-year-old daughter was shot in the head at close range, authorities said. The 21-year-old family nanny was also killed. The couple's pet dog was found dead with its legs tied

The couple’s three-year-old daughter was shot in the head at close range, authorities said. The 21-year-old family nanny was also killed. The couple’s pet dog was found dead with its legs tied

The secretary of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, said Sebastián 'allegedly took advantage of this relationship of trust to gain entry to the residence' (pictured: Meléndez)

The secretary of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, said Sebastián ‘allegedly took advantage of this relationship of trust to gain entry to the residence’ (pictured: Meléndez)

Camilo Séptimo mourned Meléndez in a touching Instagram tribute, promising to remember him 'with immense love and gratitude'

Camilo Séptimo mourned Meléndez in a touching Instagram tribute, promising to remember him ‘with immense love and gratitude’

It rose to prominence as a major force in the country’s alternative music scene, building a devoted following with its atmospheric, synth-driven sound and emotionally charged songs about love and heartbreak. 

They are particularly known for songs including ‘No Confíes en Mí,’ ‘Miénteme,’ ‘Vicio,’ ‘No Te Puedo Olvidar,’ ‘Inevitable,’ ‘Contacto’ and ‘Como Tú.’ They developed an international following through the years, touring the US, Spain and Latin America.

Camilo Séptimo mourned Meléndez in a touching Instagram tribute, promising to remember him ‘with immense love and gratitude.’ 

‘With profound sorrow, we bid farewell to our beloved brother Jonathan Samuel Meléndez Ochoa, Honas,’ they wrote. 

‘Today we honor and celebrate his life, his music, his light, and what he shared with those of us who were fortunate enough to know him and journey with him.’

The band also extended its condolences to Meléndez’s family, friends and 21-year-old Romero during what it described as a time of ‘profound sadness.’ 

‘We commend the efforts and professionalism of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico in clarifying the facts,’ the group wrote.

‘In memory of Honas, his wife Ana Paula, and his beloved daughter, who will live forever in our hearts.’

The prosecutor’s office said further details about the killings and the legal status of the detainees would be revealed at the appropriate stage of the proceedings. 

Maria Bartiromo Exits Fox News After Nearly 13 Years

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Maria Bartiromo, one of Fox News Media’s most prominent business anchors, has left the network after nearly 13 years.

Her final program aired Thursday morning on Fox Business, with Cheryl Casone filling in for Bartiromo, 58.

Bartiromo, known as the first journalist to deliver daily live reports from the New York Stock Exchange, had not appeared on air since August 9. Fox said Thursday marked her last day with the company.

Fox News Media, the channel’s parent company, confirmed her departure in a press release issued later that morning, roughly an hour after her final show aired.

‘We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter,’ a spokesperson said in the press release.

The release further noted how Bartiromo’s Fox Business show will now be hosted by a rotating cast of anchors. The show itself is being renamed Mornings With Fox Business.

Her other Fox Business show, Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street, will have her name stripped from it as well, the company said.

It is unclear if Bartiromo resigned or if she was pushed out of her role. She was offered no fanfare on Thursday’s Mornings with Maria. The Daily Mail has approached Fox News for comment.

Maria Bartiromo, pictured in 2024, has dramatically exited Fox News after almost 13 years at the popular cable network

Maria Bartiromo, pictured in 2024, has dramatically exited Fox News after almost 13 years at the popular cable network

Maria Bartiromo is pictured with Donald Trump in 2024. The Fox News host exited the network on Thursday

Maria Bartiromo is pictured with Donald Trump in 2024. The Fox News host exited the network on Thursday

Court documents from a 2025 defamation lawsuit against Fox revealed she took in an eyewatering $70 million since joining Fox from CNBC in 2014. She joined the latter in 1993 after being hired by then-CNBC President and future Fox exec Roger Ailes. 

Ailes resigned from Fox in 2016, after former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson accused him of sexual harassment. Bartiromo became regular target of criticism around that time, due to her kind coverage of Donald Trump.

Such coverage was vital to the defamation claims made by Dominion Voting Systems, in a different lawsuit that Fox News ended up settling for $787.5 million.

Bartiromo allowed false claims about the 2020 presidential election to air in an effort to keep viewers, the lawsuit claimed.

During a broadcast that aired in December 2020, Bartiromo declared that an ‘intel source’ told her ‘President Trump did in fact win the election.’

More recently, in June, Bartiromo welcomed a fiery rant from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro hat credited former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) head Anthony Fauci with creating the coronavirus. 

The reasons for the split, meanwhile, remain shrouded – but the brief, curt release is somewhat telling.

The longtime Fox star’s bio has been completely scrubbed from the network’s website as well.

It is unclear if Bartiromo resigned or if she was pushed out of her role. She was offered no fanfare on Thursday's Mornings with Maria

It is unclear if Bartiromo resigned or if she was pushed out of her role. She was offered no fanfare on Thursday’s Mornings with Maria

As news of her surprise exit rang out, Vice President JD Vance downplayed rumors that she was in line to replace Karoline Leavitt as the next White House press secretary.

‘I don’t know, man,’ he told a reporter who asked with a laugh. ‘No, I don’t think so.’

Her hiring from CNBC came at a high-point in her career, when she was dubbed the ‘Money Honey’ for reporting from the male-dominated floor of the Stock Exchange.

At the time, CNBC celebrated her in a statement. It asserted: ‘Her contributions to CNBC are too numerous to list but we thank her for all of her hard work over the years and wish her the best.’

At the time, few were convinced the then-six-year-old Fox Business could stand up to CNBC. Now, the former regularly outperforms the latter.

Bartiromo – the daughter of an OTB betting clerk and Brooklyn restaurateur raised in Bay Ridge – was integral to that success.

During a 2019 interview with the LA Times, she recalled the first time she was fired.

She said she was cut as a coat check person in her father’s restaurant for trying on patrons’ items before putting them back.

‘I cried the whole way home, but I learned a valuable lesson and that is – do your job,’ she said at the time.

Bartiromo went on to work at CNN Business News for five years as a producer, writer, and assignment editor, before joining CNBC.