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5 Must-Watch Sci-Fi Movies That Outshine Project Hail Mary

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5 Must-Watch Sci-Fi Movies That Outshine Project Hail Mary

Ryland Grace looking contemplative against a cosmic background

Static Media

“Project Hail Mary” helped launch what has already become a standout year for moviegoers, with “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” keeping the momentum going and major titles such as “Dune: Part Three” and “Avengers: Doomsday” still on the horizon. Led by Ryan Gosling, the film works within a well-worn science fiction lane — the isolated, high-pressure mission in deep space — a setup familiar to fans of Andy Weir’s work. Yet it delivers that formula with real confidence, pairing striking visuals with sharp dramatic momentum.

Still, placing “Project Hail Mary” among the greatest sci-fi movies ever made is a tougher conversation. As a big-screen experience, it is undeniably impressive, powered by polished visual effects, a compelling lead performance and one of the most memorable puppet characters to hit theaters in years. The movie is optimistic, moving and often exhilarating, and for audiences seeking hopeful science fiction, it is hard to argue against its appeal. But when the discussion expands to cinematic craft, cultural influence, thematic ambition and storytelling achievement, the genre’s long history offers several films that stand even taller.

“Project Hail Mary” is an excellent sci-fi film. These five science fiction movies are even stronger.

Annihilation

The five scientists of

Paramount Pictures

“Annihilation” never leaves Earth, but it shares “Project Hail Mary’s” fascination with scientific exploration, alien contact and the terror of stepping into the unknowable. It also stands as one of the defining science fiction films of the 21st century. Written and directed by Alex Garland, a filmmaker with a distinct command of cerebral genre storytelling, the movie features a formidable ensemble led by Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh, with Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Oscar Isaac rounding out the cast.

Released in 2018, “Annihilation” takes significant liberties with Jeff VanderMeer’s 2014 novel, though the central premise remains intact. A mysterious stretch of wilderness in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge begins exhibiting bizarre biological and environmental changes, drawing the attention of a secretive government organization. In both the book and the film, a team of female scientists is sent inside to investigate. Garland’s adaptation names the affected zone “The Shimmer” and ties its transformation to a meteor strike near the coast, while VanderMeer’s novel keeps the origins and nature of “Area X” far more ambiguous.

Both versions are exceptional and well worth your time. Science, truth, and the inherent terror of things we cannot understand are major features of the story as the team moves through the Shimmer, but the film is more about human nature — specifically, as explored in the film’s defining monologue from Leigh’s Dr. Ventress about our capacity for self-destruction. Like “Project Hail Mary,” “Annihilation” is a visually stunning film that plays with ideas of isolation and discovery, but in much darker, more obfuscated ways. And the ending of “Annihilation” is one you will likely never forget.

Gattaca

Vincent standing in a round hallway in a suit in

Columbia Pictures

“Gattaca” is, in some ways, the inverse of “Project Hail Mary.” Where the latter is bold, bombastic, and filled with visual wonder, 1997’s “Gattaca” is quiet and contemplative. Both are films about brave voyages into space — journeys the characters may not come back from. Your taste in sci-fi will likely determine which better suits you, but “Gattaca” is an underrated masterpiece, even after many years of it slowly gaining favor in retrospect.

Ethan Hawke is a powerhouse in the lead role of Vincent Freeman, who dreams of going to space in a future when eugenics has created an underclass of people born without genetic modification. Vincent’s “in-valid” genome prohibits him from the future he aspires to, forcing him to use alternative genetic material to pass checks in the hope of joining a mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.

Uma Thurman and Jude Law are similarly outstanding in supporting roles, but “Gattaca” succeeds largely on the script and direction of Andrew Niccol, whose prescience about the future is accented by a sharp thematic intention, full of powerful symbolism and deeply human moments. Like “Project Hail Mary,” “Gattaca” is a film about courage and triumph. While it may not be as explosive, those who appreciate a subtler brand of sci-fi may enjoy it even more. As Hawke said so eloquently in a 2007 interview with Stuart Mabey, “Its themes are that of individual rights, what makes up an individual. So rarely do films use the device of metaphor, or allegory, and ‘Gattaca’ really does it.”

READ MORE: Disgraced Congressman, 46, Moves On With Aspiring Model, 27

Alien

Parker, Ripley, and Ash aboard the Nostromo in

20th Century Fox

If you want to talk about sci-fi movies in which people are stuck on ships at the far reaches of space, then we have to talk about “Alien.” Nearly half a century after Ridley Scott’s horror masterpiece premiered in theaters in 1979, it remains the defining entry in the sci-fi horror genre, and the outstanding production design and pacing that made it such a phenomenon haven’t aged a day.

What is there left to say about “Alien” at this point? It set new standards for everything from on-screen cryosleep, to alien monster design, to the grimy, lived-in, smog-coated science fiction aesthetic that Scott doubled down on just a couple of years later in “Blade Runner.” But more relevant for our purposes here, “Alien” perfectly captures the terrifying, fascinating, beautiful allure of deep space, with all of its potential horrors and reality-shaking discoveries.

To be fair, Ryland Grace’s experience with alien life is much friendlier and more wholesome than that of the crew of the Nostromo, all of whom would surely prefer Rocky to the frighteningly designed Xenomorph that sneaks its way onto their ship via facehugger and begins to take them apart one by one. While “Project Hail Mary” is exceptional, “Alien” is a pillar of modern science fiction — a film so perfect in its execution that directors are still trying to achieve what it did in ’79. Even the more recent entries in the “Alien” franchise struggle to nail what makes the original so great. If horror isn’t your vibe, “Hail Mary” will surely be the better choice, but when you account for legacy, timelessness, and groundbreaking film craft, “Alien” takes this one easily.

Arrival

Louise Banks standing in a field with an alien ship floating in the background in

Paramount Pictures

No single director has been as dominant or influential in the realm of sci-fi over the last decade than Denis Villeneuve, who really carved his mark on the genre in stone with the first two films of his “Dune” trilogy (with “Dune: Part Three,” his highly-anticipated adaptation of “Dune Messiah,” arriving later this year). But before the French-Canadian director got hold of Frank Herbert’s epic, he made his entry into the sci-fi genre with 2016’s absolutely fantastic “Arrival,” starring Amy Adams as a linguist trying to establish contact with a visiting pair of alien beings.

It’s hard to understate the ways this film has influenced the aesthetic of modern sci-fi in the years since, from the cosmically horrifying designs of the creatures to the smooth, round, almost mythic look of their ship. The story itself is similarly captivating. While both “Arrival” and “Project Hail Mary” show humans grappling with and growing from encounters with extraterrestials, “Arrival” is more sophisticated in its observations and more exact in its emotional core. It certainly isn’t easy to deliver such a raucous, victorious feeling as the one captured in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s epic, but what Villeneuve achieves here is just as affecting, and more revelatory in the tonal space the film creates.

“That project was fundamental,” Villeneuve told Adams in a 2024 retrospective with Vanity Fair. And indeed, you can draw a clear line from “Arrival” to the string of science fiction films that the director has made since — including the final movie on this list.

Blade Runner 2049

K walking into an irradiated Las Vegas in

Warner Bros. Pictures

Yes, we’re doing two Denis Villeneuve films. Who could possibly say that the man doesn’t deserve it? And while “Blade Runner 2049” may not be about space (it is a little bit, actually), or aliens, it’s a natural next watch for anyone who loved “Project Hail Mary” because it’s another sci-fi star vehicle for Ryan Gosling. And this genuinely might be the best performance of his career.

If you loved the man in “Hail Mary,” Gosling’s turn as replicant blade runner K in “2049” is even better — an incredible balancing act that’s calculated, measured, sometimes robotic, occasionally explosive, but always precise and riveting. And while “Project Hail Mary” is stunning to look at, “Blade Runner 2049” is in contention for the best-looking sci-fi film of the last 20 years. Even if you’ve never watched it before, you’ve probably seen some shots of the orange irradiated landscape, the fog-covered cyberpunk megalopolis, or Gosling lying down in the snow in the coolest coat anyone has ever worn in a movie (aside from the one he wears in “Drive”).

“Blade Runner” may be the best sci-fi movie of all time, in some estimations, and while “2049” may not quite hit the highs of Ridley Scott’s astounding “Final Cut” of its predecessor, it’s still masterfully crafted, and a perfect choice for fans of both Ryan Gosling and visually striking science fiction.

California Mom Loses Both Legs After Suspected Impaired Driver Crashes Into Restaurant Table

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California Mom Loses Both Legs After Suspected Impaired Driver Crashes Into Restaurant Table

An 81-year-old California woman lost both of her legs after authorities say a suspected impaired driver slammed into a restaurant’s outdoor dining area while she was having lunch.

Cristina Vargas was seated at a sidewalk table outside Los Cinco Puntos in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood with her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and a male friend when an SUV crashed into the group at about 3:30 p.m. on July 7.

Surveillance video obtained by KTLA captured the vehicle swerving onto the sidewalk before barreling into the restaurant’s outdoor seating area.

Moments before impact, the sound of screeching tires could be heard as the SUV struck the diners, scattering people, tables and debris across the patio area.

Cristina Vargas had to undergo amputations for both of her legs

Cristina Vargas underwent three surgeries before doctors ultimately amputated both of her legs. (GoFundMe)

“I remember I just heard screeching and I was lifting up my head and I just saw headlights and a bumper and I heard a big boom,” Gabriela told KTLA. “The next thing I knew, I was airborne.”

Cristina’s lower body was pinned under the vehicle and Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep laceration on her knee. The two women and their male friend were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Gabriela and the male friend have since recovered from their injuries, but Cristina’s injuries were significantly worse and faces a long road to recovery.

Cristina underwent three surgeries and later had both of her legs amputated. She said she is thankful to be alive and has maintained a positive mindset.

She has been undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation center and will soon be allowed to go back home.

RELATED: Man on Probation Arrested After High-Speed Chase Across Two Counties

Cristina Vargas, and her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, were injured by an impaired driver

Cristina Vargas was enjoying lunch at a sidewalk table with her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and their male friend when an SUV plowed into them on July 7. (GoFundMe)

Cristina, a widowed mother of two, said she is looking forward to being surrounded by her family and friends.

“My goal is to give her the best quality of care from here on out,” Gabriela said of her mother.

A police report alleges that the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. The unidentified woman was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, according to KTLA.

A GoFundMe created by a friend for the Vargas family has raised more than $30,000 as of Sunday night. The fundraiser said the family is facing massive medical bills, ongoing rehabilitation and daily living expenses.

“Cristina will need significant support to adapt to her new disability, including making their home accessible and covering the costs of specialized care. The road ahead is long and challenging, but with your help, they can focus on healing rather than the overwhelming financial stress,” the fundraiser reads.

Cristina Vargas

Cristina Vargas said she is thankful to be alive and has maintained a positive mindset. (GoFundMe)

The fundraiser described Cristina as a “vibrant and social person with a true lust for life.”

“She loved to dance and was a regular at events at the senior center, bringing joy and energy wherever she went,” the GoFundMe reads. “Her vivacious spirit and love for connecting with others made her a beloved member of the community. This sudden change is especially heartbreaking for someone who has always embraced life so fully and actively.”

In an Aug. 17 update, Gabriela thanked supporters and said the recovery was progressing slowly.

“Thank you everybody for your love and support. We greatly appreciate it. It’s a slow recovery but day by day we’re getting through it. My mom’s spirits remain hopeful as do mine. Recovery is very painful but she’s giving it her all,” Gabriela said.

Sean McVay Explains What Aaron Donald’s Return to Rams Really Means

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Sean McVay Explains What Aaron Donald’s Return to Rams Really Means

Sean McVay has Aaron Donald back in the middle of his defensive front at last, but the Rams coach’s immediate response was not centered on pass-rush numbers, championship memories or the blockbuster possibilities of lining Donald up alongside Myles Garrett.

“He means a lot to me,” McVay said Sunday after Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams became official. “And it’s way bigger than football.”

For anyone who has followed their bond, that message was familiar.

When Donald stepped away from the NFL in March 2024, McVay praised him as “one of one” — a tribute that went far beyond his dominance as a player. The Rams coach has often called their connection one of the most meaningful relationships of his career, even saying Donald “changed my life for the better.”

What McVay has rarely done, however, is spell out what that change truly looked like.

The football answers are easy enough to imagine. Donald was about as close to the ideal McVay player as exists — relentlessly prepared, demanding of himself and others, and essentially another coach on the field.

Donald once even demanded McVay fine him for being 30 seconds late to a meeting after a morning trip to the team restroom ran into overtime.

For a head coach with famously exacting standards, Donald spent a decade helping establish and uphold them without McVay needing to say much at all.

MORE STORY: Scottie Scheffler’s Heartfelt Moment After Tour Championship Win

But McVay keeps making clear that isn’t the part he means.

“It’s family with us,” McVay said while discussing Donald earlier this summer, praising “the husband, the father, the son” rather than rattling off his awards or sacks.

That makes their reunion about something different than simply putting an all-time great next to Garrett for another Super Bowl run.

Their connection was just as apparent when Donald originally walked away. After the Rams’ playoff loss to Detroit in January 2024, Donald entered McVay’s office and summed up his decision to retire with two words: “I’m full.”

McVay understood.

McVay didn’t feel the need to sell Donald on another season then, and two years later, he apparently doesn’t need to explain why having him back means so much now.

Donald’s return gives the Rams one of the greatest defensive players ever for another run.

For McVay, though, the bigger reunion appears to be with the person underneath No. 99.

Chilling Post-It Note Reveals Soccer Mom’s Murder-for-Hire Plot

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Chilling Post-It Note Reveals Soccer Mom’s Murder-for-Hire Plot

John Hillrich’s workday ended in violence on what had seemed like a routine Monday, when he was shot in the parking lot outside his California office.

The 39-year-old advertising executive was discovered unconscious next to his BMW, with the car door still open. Investigators found no obvious evidence of a struggle, and his personal belongings remained with him.

“What investigators want to know at this point,” San Bernardino Sun reporter Melissa Pinion said in an Aug. 30 episode of Oxygen’s Snapped, “is how does this man from an idyllic family, with a great job and two beautiful children, wind up dead in a garage?”

Who Was John Hillrich?

John met Nikki Hillrich while they were in college, where she was pursuing a nursing degree. The two married after graduation and later had two children together. As John’s professional life took off, Nikki devoted herself to raising their family as a stay-at-home mother.

“By all accounts,” noted Pinion, “they were the perfect American family.”  

But a decade later, Nikki and John grew apart and separated. 

“It was really hard for her to accept,” noted John’s sister Megan Gilfillan. “She wanted to stay together.”  

On the day of John’s murder in August 2011, the estranged couple was scheduled for a family counseling session. In fact, by the time John left work, Nikki was already waiting at the appointment.   

But police found a lead in the garage surveillance video. 

The footage showed two men in a Ford F-250 drive slowly past John’s car and park. As John approached his vehicle, one man got out and walked toward him. Moments later, John fell to the ground, and the truck sped away. 

A witness captured part of the truck’s license plate number, which led to its registered owner Kristen Morales. Kristen told police she had loaned the truck to her ex-boyfriend David Olvera, who asked her not to tell anyone. She also identified the passenger as David’s friend, Emilio Saldana.  

“It appeared to us that David and Emilio conspired together to commit this crime,” said former Ontario Police Detective Alfredo Parra, Jr. “We didn’t know if David was the shooter or if Emilio was, but we knew that they were both together.”   

The men were arrested that day.  

“We found suitcases and personal belongings inside David’s vehicle,” said former Ontario Police Detective Gary Naranjo. “It was apparent that they were…getting ready to flee to Mexico.” 

Nikki Hillrich’s Romance with David Olvera Reveals a Murder Motive  

With David and Emilio refusing to talk, police investigated John’s personal life. 

They learned his marriage fell apart in 2006 when a promotion at work required him to relocate. Nikki wasn’t thrilled, but John rented an apartment close to his job and came home on weekends. 

Distance ultimately drove them apart and Nikki’s parents suspected that John was having an affair. 

“The first step was placing a tracker on John’s car,” Pinion said. “The next step was hiring a private investigator who determined that John was staying with a woman. It was uncovered that he was having an affair with her.” 

After Nikki and John separated, she got a job at a nursing facility, where she began dating David, who worked in the kitchen. 

“She’s initially described as a Christian, soccer mom type,” said Naranjo. “But with David Olvera, I think she found some excitement in the fact that he was a tattoo artist and so he was exposing her to a different world that she had never experienced.”  

READ MORE: Airport Panic as Driver Smashes Fence, Hits Plane and Tractor

When John discovered that David had a criminal past, he told Nikki to not bring him around their children. However, a few days before his murder, she did so, and John threatened to take full custody.  

“That is motive for Nikki to eliminate John from her life,” said Parra, Jr., “so that she can live the way she wants to with David and her children.” 

Post-It Notes Unravels Nikki Hillrich’s Murder-for-Hire Plot 

According to coworkers, David was in love with Nikki and willing to do anything to please her. Nikki, in turn, made no secret of her hatred for John, or her wish for him to die.  

“She had made threats to get rid of John so many times,” said Pinion, “that apparently, Nikki’s coworker’s boyfriend offered to do the job for her.”  

The $10,000 offer was a ruse, intended to expose Nikki to police. But according to Naranjo, “Nikki said she has David to take care of it.”  

When detectives questioned Nikki, she insisted she had no issues with John and that she was single. 

But when the subject of David came up, she got nervous. And when investigators shared plans to search her home and car, Nikki abruptly asked to call her mother.  

On the recorded call, Nikki urged her mother to retrieve her purse from her car at any cost—even if it meant breaking a window. 

“You could sense the urgency,” said Naranjo. “There was something about that purse that she did not want us to come across.”  

It all made sense when police looked inside Nikki’s purse. 

Inside were Post-It notes on which Nikki begged David to kill John, even writing, “John has to die today.” 

Other notes apologized to John, thanked David and promised, “If you do this, I will give you a baby.”

Nikki had also done her homework. 

“She basically was ready for the detectives to notify her,” said Naranjo, “and she already had pre-written questions to ask.” 

After Nikki’s arrest, police found more evidence on her phone: Photos of the parking garage and instructions for David for how to disable John’s key fob if he panicked and triggered the alarm. 

Authorities believed David initially planned to kill John by himself, but got cold feet and recruited Emilio, who agreed to pull the trigger. They also found another possible motive: Nikki was the beneficiary to John’s life insurance policy. 

“She was going to be in control of $2 million dollars,” noted prosecutor Michele Elizalde-Daly. “And her home, and her children and not have to deal with John trying to control her.”  

In March 2015, Nikki, David and Emilio went on trial for murder.  

In court, Nikki claimed she wrote those sticky notes to vent about John on the advice of a spiritualist—which the woman denied on the stand.   

The jury convicted Nikki, David and Emilio of murder. The men were sentenced to 51 years to life, while Nikki received 26 years to life.

Dolly Parton’s Sister Frieda Shares Emotional Tribute to Icon

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Dolly Parton’s Sister Frieda Shares Emotional Tribute to Icon

Dolly Parton’s younger sister, Frieda Parton, shared a deeply emotional tribute to the country music icon on Saturday, offering fans a personal glimpse into their bond.

Frieda, 69, a singer known for both country and hard rock, reflected on the life and legacy of her 80-year-old sister in a heartfelt message posted to Facebook.

The lengthy post was accompanied by a nostalgic throwback photo showing the two sisters facing each other and clasping hands, a tender image that underscored the emotion behind her words.

The Crops Came In singer acknowledged that their relationship had seen its share of “highs and lows” over the years, but made clear that her affection never wavered. “I never stopped loving her,” she wrote.

Frieda began her Facebook tribute by thanking fans for their outpouring of support, recognizing the deep connection Dolly Parton has long shared with audiences around the world.

‘Thank you all for bearing with me as I mourn the death of my big sister,’ Frieda wrote of Parton, who was honored on Saturday night by the Grand Ole Opry after her death.

Dolly Parton's younger sister, Frieda, 69, shared an emotional tribute to the country music star on Saturday, four days after her death at 80

Dolly Parton’s younger sister, Frieda, 69, shared an emotional tribute to the country music star on Saturday, four days after her death at 80

The Crops Came In singer acknowledged there were 'highs and lows' in their relationship at times, but added, 'I never stopped loving her'

The Crops Came In singer acknowledged there were ‘highs and lows’ in their relationship at times, but added, ‘I never stopped loving her’

‘I know to the entire world, she was a superstar, but to me, she was my Dolly Momma. She was the sister who would climb into bed with me when I was little because we were both afraid of the dark.’

‘She was the woman who stepped up and became my Momma, raising me from ages 13 to 18. She was the one who tried to convince me to wear her wigs at my shows in Dollywood (sorry, sister, but I definitely didn’t listen to you on that one).’

‘Like all sisters, we definitely had our share of arguments and disagreements throughout the years, but even through all the highs and lows, and all the laughter and tears, I never stopped loving her.’

She reminded fans how she asked them to pray for her sister a few months ago, ‘but now I’m going to ask you to please pray for me and my entire family as we navigate this insurmountable loss.’

She went on: ‘There will never be anyone who can replace her in our hearts, and I know she holds a special place in many of yours as well.’

‘I know she would want me to keep going, keep smiling, and keep sharing the love she gave so freely with others. That is what I’m going to try to do, even on the days when it feels impossible.’

Frieda shared she’s working on a special project that will honor her big sister and keep ‘a little piece of my Dolly Momma with me, while sharing her with all of you who loved her, too.

‘Thank you for loving her, for praying for her, and now, for loving and praying for all of us. All My Love, Freida,’ she concluded.

Frieda, who is a performer of country and hard rock music, shared: 'She was the woman who stepped up and became my Momma, raising me from ages 13 to 18.' Above, Frieda, center, in the recording studio with Parton and sister Stella in 1981

Frieda, who is a performer of country and hard rock music, shared: ‘She was the woman who stepped up and became my Momma, raising me from ages 13 to 18.’ Above, Frieda, center, in the recording studio with Parton and sister Stella in 1981

'She was the one who tried to convince me to wear her wigs at my shows in Dollywood (sorry, sister, but I definitely didn’t listen to you on that one),' Frieda also quipped. Above, Frieda and Parton in 1981

‘She was the one who tried to convince me to wear her wigs at my shows in Dollywood (sorry, sister, but I definitely didn’t listen to you on that one),’ Frieda also quipped. Above, Frieda and Parton in 1981 

'There will never be anyone who can replace her in our hearts, and I know she holds a special place in many of yours as well,' Parton's younger sister added. Above, Parton attending the premiere of Joyful Noise in 2012

‘There will never be anyone who can replace her in our hearts, and I know she holds a special place in many of yours as well,’ Parton’s younger sister added. Above, Parton attending the premiere of Joyful Noise in 2012

Join the discussion

How do family bonds shape a superstar’s legacy after they’re gone?

Three days after Parton’s death, her family gathered for an intimate funeral at Nashville’s Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, where she rests beside her husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 aged 82.

Parton’s niece, Lainey Parton, confirmed that the Jolene hitmaker had been laid to rest in her own heartfelt tribute to the star.

She posted a series of sweet shots of the pair over the years, with the caption: ‘This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.

‘From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.

‘Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family. I honestly can’t think of one with her. Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.’

The country music legend’s death shocked the world and came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her well-being.

Those close to the singer said she had both become increasingly reclusive and secretive about her own ill health in recent months.

And on Tuesday, Parton’s representatives revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’ in a statement to People, though they did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

The star’s death was first confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

Parton died on Tuesday following a 'brief battle with cancer.' Above, in 2006

Parton died on Tuesday following a ‘brief battle with cancer

The singer, often referred to as the Queen o in 1977

The singer, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades. Above, in 1977 

She died Tuesday morning after being hospitalized Friday at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Fellow stars paid tribute following the news, including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Khloe Kardashian and more.

President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Parton and ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in her honor.

Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades. Her famous hits include Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You. 

Pauline Hanson Unleashes Fiery Attack on Anthony Albanese

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Pauline Hanson Unleashes Fiery Attack on Anthony Albanese

Pauline Hanson has fired back at Anthony Albanese after the Prime Minister took aim at One Nation, accusing the party of fuelling division in Australia in the wake of its landmark by-election victory in Western Australia’s Secret Harbour.

Speaking at the Queensland Labor conference on Sunday, Albanese warned supporters that “hard right populists are on the march” and identified Hanson’s One Nation as an increasingly serious political force, saying Labor had a duty to confront and defeat them.

“Parties like One Nation have no serious answers to our problems,” Albanese told the conference.

He accused the party of chasing votes at any cost, claiming its members would “say anything and do anything” while twisting facts, spreading misinformation and disinformation, and setting Australians against one another.

The Prime Minister added that the rise of hard-right populist movements was not only an Australian political issue, but part of a broader global trend.

‘We simply must defeat them. We owe it to history. And we will defeat them.

‘We unequivocally support multiculturalism because we know it’s part of Australia’s strength.

‘And because we believe every Australian is equal, whether they are Australian by birth or Australian by choice.’

Pauline Hanson has hit back at Anthony Albanese after he attacked One Nation and accused them of dividing the country following the party's historic win in Western Australia's Secret Harbour by-election

Pauline Hanson has hit back at Anthony Albanese after he attacked One Nation and accused them of dividing the country following the party’s historic win in Western Australia’s Secret Harbour by-election 

Hanson snapped back at the comments on Monday morning and accused Albanese of crossing the line

Hanson snapped back at the comments on Monday morning and accused Albanese of crossing the line

The Prime Minister also took aim at some of the offhand comments made by Hanson.

‘They think Australians are lazy and overpaid,’ he said.

‘That people working from home are bludging. That domestic violence is sometimes a woman’s fault. That we should somehow become a monoculture.’

Hanson snapped back at the comments on Monday morning and accused Albanese of crossing the line and inciting political violence. 

‘No matter how worried Jim and Albanese are about losing their jobs, telling Australians that their democratically elected opponents are “dangerous” and a “threat to our country” invites people to treat them as a threat.

‘Words have consequences. That is how political violence is incited. The murder of Ann Widdecombe in Britain should be warning enough about the dangers of poisonous political rhetoric.’

Hanson was commenting on the July murder of veteran British politician Widdecombe, who was found dead in her home after suffering severe blunt-force trauma. 

‘Anthony Albanese says we need to turn down the heat and violent rhetoric in our political discourse,’ Hanson said.

Labor lost to One Nation at a WA by-election in Perth's south over the weekend (pictured is winner Luke Herdegen)

Labor lost to One Nation at a WA by-election in Perth’s south over the weekend (pictured is winner Luke Herdegen)

Albanese acknowledged the rising popularity of One Nation (pictured is One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and MP Barnaby Joyce)

Albanese acknowledged the rising popularity of One Nation (pictured is One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and MP Barnaby Joyce)

‘Meanwhile, he and his Treasurer are pouring petrol all over it. Australians are entitled to vote for One Nation without being told by the Treasurer and the Prime Minister that their democratic choice is a danger to the nation.

‘The real danger is that Jim and Albanese’s incompetent economic management will continue to push your rent, your mortgage and your bills even higher.

‘The real danger to Jim and Albanese is that the people of Australia are coming for their government… at the ballot box.’

The comments come a day after One Nation secured its first lower house seat in Western Australia, with candidate Luke Herdegen defeating Labor’s Georgia Tree in Secret Harbour.

The result is a major upset, with One Nation taking a seat long considered safe Labor territory, after an 18 per cent swing to the party and a two-candidate-preferred result of roughly 57 per cent to Labor’s 43 per cent.

Labor’s primary vote crashed by 22 per cent to just 24 per cent, while One Nation recorded a primary of 39 per cent – having managed only nine per cent at the 2025 WA state election in the seat.

The result comes as the latest Newspoll conducted by Pyxis Polling & Insights has revealed that primary support for Hanson’s party has risen to 30 per cent, narrowly ahead of Labor on 29 per cent and the Coalition on 19 per cent.

However, Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister on 46 per cent, well ahead of Hanson on 31 per cent and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor on 23 per cent.

Primary support for Pauline Hanson's party has risen to 30 per cent, narrowly ahead of Labor

Primary support for Pauline Hanson’s party has risen to 30 per cent, narrowly ahead of Labor

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Anthony Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister on 46 per cent

Anthony Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister on 46 per cent

Almost 1,250 voters were surveyed last week for the poll, before One Nation’s victory in the the Secret Harbour by-election.

Hanson’s personal rating is also on the rise, with 47 per cent of voters satisfied with her performance and 48 per cent dissatisfied.

Albanese remains far less popular, with 38 per cent of voters satisfied with the job he is doing and 59 per cent dissatisfied.

Meanwhile, in a separate Redbridge Group/Accent Research poll, One Nation’s primary vote dropped three points to 28 per cent, trailing Labor by one point.

One Nation will now set its sights on the coming Victorian and NSW state elections.

Some Labor sources are becoming increasingly concerned about One Nation.

‘The more representation they get, the more they become part of the system,’ a senior party source told The Australian.

On Sunrise on Monday morning, Labor MP Tanya Plibersek hit back at claims Western Australia’s shock by-election result was driven by federal issues, as she clashed with One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce and host Nat Barr.

Anthony Albanese spent Sunday defending housing taxes at the Queensland ALP conference

Anthony Albanese spent Sunday defending housing taxes at the Queensland ALP conference

On Sunrise on Monday morning, Labor MP Tanya Plibersek hit back at claims Western Australia's shock by-election result was driven by federal issues, as she clashed with Barnaby Joyce over immigration and Labor's record

On Sunrise on Monday morning, Labor MP Tanya Plibersek hit back at claims Western Australia’s shock by-election result was driven by federal issues, as she clashed with Barnaby Joyce over immigration and Labor’s record

‘To your point that this was run on state issues, the new member ran part of it on federal issues, particularly immigration,’ Barr said.

‘He said the Albanese government’s immigration management had intensified the housing problem and the cost-of-living crisis – so he was running this on federal issues.’

Plibersek insisted the Albanese government was already taking action to reduce immigration.

‘We’re actually doing it. Barnaby and his mob – you get three of them in a room, they’ve got three different numbers on what they’re trying to do.

‘We’re actually doing the work to bring immigration down. They’re the people who voted against us when we tried to put a cap on student numbers.’

Barr then pointed to polling showing Labor and One Nation neck-and-neck, while One Nation held a significant advantage when voters were asked which party was best placed to handle immigration.

‘Tanya, just let me talk to you, because it feels like there’s a discrepancy between what you’re saying, what you say you’re doing and the messaging in the polls today,’ Barr said.

‘You and One Nation are neck and neck – but when you dive deeper, the party best able to handle the key issue, the rate of immigration, One Nation is at 39 per cent and you guys are at 19 per cent.

‘So whatever you’re saying, it doesn’t sound like it’s cutting through. Tanya, what’s the problem?’

Plibersek responded by taking aim at One Nation’s immigration policy.

‘It’s kind of comical because they had their party executive admitting that they don’t have a clear policy. And yesterday Barnaby, on the TV, wouldn’t give a number again.’

Joyce interrupted and accused Plibersek of being a liar.

Plibersek said Labor needed to do a better job of communicating the changes it had made.

‘Oh, I think we need to keep making sure that Australians know that we are the ones who are actually delivering real change in this country.

‘And, of course, a big part of the job is making the changes. Another part of the job is making sure people understand the changes.’

Joyce interjected again and accused her of being a liar.

‘Even what you call your party is a lie. There are no labourers in the Labor Party. There are no labourers in the Labor Party, namely the blue-collar labourers on your frontbench,’ he said.

Plibersek hit back: ‘We’ve got plenty of people in the Labor Party with very diverse backgrounds.’

Airport Panic as Driver Smashes Fence, Hits Plane and Tractor

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Airport Panic as Driver Smashes Fence, Hits Plane and Tractor

A police chase in New Hampshire ended with an alleged airport security breach Saturday night after a teenage driver crashed through a perimeter fence, hitting a parked aircraft and a nearby tractor, authorities said.

The crash happened shortly after 8 p.m. at Portsmouth International Airport, New Hampshire State Police said in a Sunday statement.

Investigators identified the driver as Wyatt Seely, 17, of Rochester, and said he was found to be intoxicated after the incident.

State police said the pursuit began while authorities were looking for “a vehicle related to reported crimes in other local jurisdictions.”

police outside airport

FILE — Authorities said a 17-year-old driver was intoxicated when he allegedly breached the perimeter of Portsmouth International Airport during a police pursuit. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A trooper attempted to stop a black 2008 Ford Mustang on Durham Street in Portsmouth. The driver then allegedly fled the scene, NHSP reported.

“The Mustang, which did not have its lights on at the time, then crashed through a perimeter fence of the nearby Portsmouth International Airport and traveled across an aircraft parking apron,” officials said in a release.

The vehicle then struck a Kubota tractor and a small, unoccupied, stationary plane before coming to a stop, NHSP said in a post on X.

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an orange tractor inside facility

FILE — The teen allegedly struck a Kubota tractor at the airport during the incident. (FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Seely was taken into custody by state troopers and transported to an area hospital for evaluation, police said.

No one else was injured.

The teen was charged with misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated (DWI), aggravated driving while intoxicated, disobeying a police officer and conduct after an accident. He was also charged with a violation-level offense of reckless driving.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on Sept. 9, 2026.

New Hampshire State Police car

FILE — New Hampshire State Police said teen driver Wyatt Seely was charged after a police chase ended at Portsmouth International Airport. (New Hampshire State Police)

The Portsmouth Police and Fire departments, the Newington Police Department, and Pease Fire and Emergency Services assisted during the incident.

News Media reached out to Portsmouth International Airport for more information.

Scottie Scheffler’s Heartfelt Moment After Tour Championship Win

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Scottie Scheffler’s Heartfelt Moment After Tour Championship Win

Scottie Scheffler spent Sunday making sure the rest of the PGA Tour had no way back.

Afterward, he found a more literal way to close things off during the CBS broadcast.

Fresh off a comeback victory at the Tour Championship, which secured his second FedEx Cup title, Scheffler stepped inside to share the moment with his family while a TV camera kept rolling through an open doorway.

It did not take long for Scheffler to notice the lingering lens.

Still smiling, the world No. 1 removed his cap and gently covered the camera, quietly cutting off CBS’ view as he protected a private celebration with his wife, Meredith, and their children after another defining win.

Scheffler certainly earned the sign-off.

He entered Sunday three shots off the lead at East Lake before firing a 4-under-par 66 to finish at 16 under and capture the Tour Championship. His rally began with a 5-iron that stopped inches from the cup on the 211-yard second and gathered steam when he drained a 25-foot birdie at No. 4.

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The victory earned Scheffler $10 million and pushed his PGA Tour career earnings to $130,390,661, moving him past Tiger Woods atop the all-time money list.

But the scene behind the closed door fit a theme that has followed Scheffler throughout his dominance.

Just two weeks earlier, Scheffler celebrated his FedEx St. Jude Championship victory with Meredith and sons Bennett and Remy, marking the first time 4-month-old Remy had been there for one of his father’s PGA Tour wins.

Scheffler has repeatedly made clear that the trophies stop mattering once he gets home, previously saying he would rather be a great father than a great golfer.

Sunday, he managed to be both.

He took the trophy, the $10 million and the FedEx Cup.

The viewing public just wasn’t invited to the afterparty.

Man on Probation Arrested After High-Speed Chase Across Two Counties

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HAWTHORNE, Fla. – A late-night pursuit that began in Putnam County and crossed into Alachua County ended with a crash, a brief foot chase, and the arrest of 49-year-old Walter Zachary Brown of Hawthorne, authorities said. Brown was taken into custody after the vehicle he was allegedly driving was struck by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper’s patrol vehicle, hit a tree, and he then reportedly ran into a pasture.

According to the report, the Florida Highway Patrol trooper joined the chase at about 11:06 p.m. on August 28, taking over from a Putnam County Sheriff’s deputy on State Road 21 near Laurel Lane. The fleeing vehicle turned left onto South Street and allegedly sped through the residential area before turning left onto NE 255th Drive in Alachua County. Investigators said the vehicle reached speeds of more than 90 mph in a posted 30-mph zone, then turned onto CR 219A, where it reportedly topped 110 mph while passing other vehicles over double yellow lines.

The chase escalated near SE 24th Avenue when the vehicle suddenly slowed, and the trooper attempted a PIT maneuver, the report states. The driver allegedly hit the brakes hard, causing the passenger side of the trooper’s patrol vehicle to collide with the driver’s side of the fleeing vehicle. The impact sent the patrol vehicle airborne, and both vehicles slid into a ditch. The trooper’s vehicle struck a tree, while the fleeing vehicle crashed through a fence and gate before hitting the same tree.

After the crash, the trooper got out and reported seeing Brown and his passenger, identified as Sarah Elizabeth Monroe, running from the scene. As the trooper attempted to pursue Brown, Monroe allegedly tried to get in his way. The trooper reported moving her aside before continuing after Brown through a residential property along CR 219A.

Brown allegedly climbed over a gate into a horse pasture, but the pursuit ended moments later. After the trooper jumped the gate behind him, Brown reportedly surrendered and was arrested.

Monroe reportedly started yelling at the Trooper, who reported that he told her to stop at the gate, and she complied until another Trooper arrived to help place Brown in handcuffs but then allegedly ran and tried to hide; she was found by Putnam County deputies and detained.

A search of the vehicle reportedly produced some methamphetamine and a straw.

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Post Miranda, Monroe did not want to answer questions. She was transported to an emergency room for medical clearance and then released; the Trooper reported that a sworn complaint will be filed against her.

Post Miranda, Brown reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle but said the methamphetamine was not his. On the way to the hospital, Brown reportedly said this was his first time being caught, but he has fled multiple times in the past, and he bragged about eluding air units and K-9 units.

Brown has been charged with fleeing at high speed with disregard for the safety of others; driving with a suspended license, third or subsequent violation; possession of a controlled substance without a prescription; resisting an officer without violence; possession of drug equipment; operating a vehicle at over 100 mph; and reckless driving, first offense.

Brown was also booked on two warrants. One was from a March 2026 incident in which he allegedly fled at high speed from Hawthorne into Putnam County, where the pursuit was terminated; he was charged via sworn complaint with fleeing with lights and sirens activated, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license. The second warrant was for violating probation on a 2024 case.

Brown, a designated violent felony offender of special concern, has five felony convictions (one violent) and 31 misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in January 2025, and he is on probation for intimidating a witness.

Judge Susanne Wilson Bullard set bail at $244,500 on the new charges and $110,000 on the warrant from the March incident; she ordered him held without bail for violating probation until that case is resolved.

Disgraced Congressman, 46, Moves On With Aspiring Model, 27

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Disgraced Congressman, 46, Moves On With Aspiring Model, 27

Just hours after a bruising setback to his political ambitions, Congressman Cory Mills was far from the campaign spotlight.

The embattled Republican instead withdrew to a $2 million beachfront retreat on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, where sources said the 46-year-old was recovering from the loss and “blowing off steam” with a 27-year-old former aspiring model.

Mills went directly to the upscale rented oceanfront home in New Smyrna Beach after losing the Florida 7th Congressional District primary earlier in August to local television reporter Ryan Elijah.

The following day, he was seen on the beach with Catherine Chils, who sources exclusively told the Daily Mail has been a frequent presence in his life over the past three years.

Three people close to Mills described the two as longtime companions. A neighbor also said they spotted the pair together the day after his defeat, spending the day seated outside in two beach chairs.

‘He had just sat outside and had kind of taken the day for himself,’ the neighbor said.

Chils denies she was at the property that day, and insists the pair are just friends.

Mills remained holed up at the beach house through the weekend, sources say.

Scandal-plagued GOP congressman Cory Mills retreated to a $2 million Florida beach home with a glamorous recent college graduate, Catherine Chils (above), after an election defeat

Scandal-plagued GOP congressman Cory Mills retreated to a $2 million Florida beach home with a glamorous recent college graduate, Catherine Chils (above), after an election defeat

Chils was once an aspiring model and her connection to Mills spans across several years

Chils was once an aspiring model and her connection to Mills spans across several years 

Congressman Mills pictured with Rana Al Saadi, his ex-wife, in an older photo with President Donald Trump

Congressman Mills pictured with Rana Al Saadi, his ex-wife, in an older photo with President Donald Trump

Concern has grown over his whereabouts in the days since Republican voters brutally rejected his bid for a third term last week in a GOP primary, sources close to his staff say.

Staffers admit it is not unusual for Mills to go ‘MIA,’ but sources say his team are surprised by his lack of communication, failing to even make any public statement after his defeat and missing work obligations.

‘The fact that he went missing and the staff can’t find him or hear from him is pretty bad but not surprising. He does this all the time,’ one source told the Daily Mail.

The congressman even keeps a campaign bus he has been known to sleep in, making it harder for aides to track him down when he drops off the radar. 

Ahead of the primary election, Mills started to go quiet, skipping multiple media appearances in his campaign’s final stretch. He did not show up for two interviews with Fox News’s streaming platform that week and missed a scheduled Friday appearance on Fox Orlando’s local station.

A source involved with the planning says they were not aware that Mills would not show up for several interviews that week and were only alerted by the stations and networks.

Mills did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.

Mills saw his two terms in Congress engulfed by scandal ranging from allegations of domestic violence and revenge porn to financial misconduct, all of which he denied.

Three sources close to Mills described the pair as long-standing companions. A neighbor confirmed seeing them together the day after his defeat, sitting outside with Chils (above) on two beach chairs for the entire day

Three sources close to Mills described the pair as long-standing companions. A neighbor confirmed seeing them together the day after his defeat, sitting outside with Chils (above) on two beach chairs for the entire day

The defeated Florida congressman went straight to this lavish rented oceanfront property in New Smyrna Beach immediately after losing

The defeated Florida congressman went straight to this lavish rented oceanfront property in New Smyrna Beach immediately after losing

Washington DC police investigated him last year over an alleged assault at his apartment, a case that was closed after the woman recanted her claims. Mills denied any physical altercation took place.

His ex-girlfriend Lindsey Langston, a Republican state committeewoman and former Miss United States, later accused him of threatening to release explicit videos of her and to harm men she dated after their breakup.

A Florida judge granted Langston a restraining order against the congressman in October last year. The order has since lapsed, and Mills denied wrongdoing.

He is also facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged campaign finance violations, misuse of congressional resources and sexual misconduct or dating violence. 

By May, the inquiry had racked up more than 20 subpoenas, thousands of documents and contact with dozens of witnesses.

The ethics probe will end when Mills leaves office in January, since the committee loses jurisdiction over former members, but the criminal investigation will follow him out the door.

Chils denies that she was at the property that day, and has insisted the pair are just friends

Chils denies that she was at the property that day, and has insisted the pair are just friends

Mills has denied wrongdoing in every matter.

The Daily Mail can also exclusively reveal that a Justice Department criminal investigation into Mills centers on allegations of wire fraud and other financial misconduct tied to his personal accounts. It allegedly began during the final months of the Biden administration, according to two DOJ sources familiar with the matter.

Rather than winding down his political affairs after last week’s defeat, sources say the two-term Republican bolted for the rented beachfront hideaway to lay low.

Sources say he is already planning his next act and having conversations about finding work in foreign affairs or lobbying.

‘He genuinely did not see himself losing this primary,’ one source said.

A prolonged Mills absence could become a real headache for Republicans in DC.

Mike Johnson holds a thin three-vote House majority and must pass a bill to keep the government open by the end of September. 

A bitter Mills, snubbed by Donald Trump and rejected by his own party, has little incentive to show up and lend his vote. 

Mills is also facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged campaign finance violations, misuse of congressional resources and sexual misconduct or dating violence

Mills is also facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged campaign finance violations, misuse of congressional resources and sexual misconduct or dating violence

His ex-girlfriend Lindsey Langston, a Republican state committeewoman and former Miss United States, accused him of threatening to release explicit videos of her and to harm men she dated after their breakup

His ex-girlfriend Lindsey Langston, a Republican state committeewoman and former Miss United States, accused him of threatening to release explicit videos of her and to harm men she dated after their breakup

Chils, 27, grew up in DeLand, Florida, and now lives in North Carolina. She admitted Mills helped pay her college tuition. ‘When I was in a time of need to finish school, he helped me,’ she said.

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A source close to Mills says the pair have been dating on and off for several years – a claim Chils denies. ‘I have not been in a relationship with Cory. We have been friends,’ she said.

The two met while Chils was enrolled at Western Governors University, where she graduated last year, the source said. Mills affectionately calls her ‘Cat.’

Chils also denied working as a model, but her profile on the casting site Backstage lists her as one, alongside professional photos. 

Confronted with it, she conceded: ‘It was a career I looked at but never pursued. I used head shots for my marketing firm.’

Chils posted photos on her Instagram on Tuesday showing her outside the Cannon House Office Building, which just so happens to house Mills's congressional office

Chils posted photos on her Instagram on Tuesday showing her outside the Cannon House Office Building, which just so happens to house Mills’s congressional office

Their involvement stretches back years, sources say, including while Mills was dating other women, an overlap Chils denies. One source says it took off in 2023.

Over the weekend, Chils posted an Instagram video of herself at the beach. 

She told the Daily Mail it was filmed recently at Mills’s $2 million beach pad ‘when he had a gathering with other local people,’ but denied being there on August 19, the day after his primary defeat.

The neighbor, who did not know her name at the time, said they recognized her from the post and identified the property by the distinctive rock rubble behind her.

Chils also posted a photo from inside a helicopter over the Grand Canyon, in an Instagram highlight reel from an August 2023 Las Vegas trip. 

One source said Mills ‘would take girls on first dates, while being married, mind you’ and treat them to ‘helicopter rides around the Grand Canyon.’

Mills has never denied dating other women while legally married. He says he and his wife have been separated since 2019 and locked in prolonged divorce proceedings, and dismisses the subject as a private, politicized ‘personal matter.’

A judge found Mills’s sworn testimony in the Langston case untruthful, and parts of it incomprehensible. 

At the hearing he acknowledged the relationship but blamed the allegations on a political rival.

Mills married his first wife, Rana Al Saadi, in 2014. He says they began living apart in 2019. 

In November 2021, he began dating Langston, then 22, when he was 41, according to the judge’s ruling. 

That relationship lasted more than three years, ending in early 2025 and Mills was legally married throughout. His divorce was not finalized until February 2026.

Four sources with first-hand knowledge of Mills’s relationships say he dated several women at once while convincing most of them he wanted something real. 

‘Cory is the kind of guy these women think will eventually marry them, but he never will,’ one said. ‘He makes every woman feel like they are the only one in his life.’

The exterior of Rep. Corey Mills’ home is seen on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in New Smyrna, Fla

Mills remained holed up at the beach house (center) through the weekend, sources say

Mills remained holed up at the beach house (center) through the weekend, sources say

Mills arranged his travel to overlap with several women he was seeing, splitting time between them on a single trip, sources say. 

He showered them with expensive gifts, including Birkin bags, even as he fell into campaign debt.

His own campaign committee shows just $81,000 in cash and more than $2 million in debt. 

Most of that is owed to Mills himself, from personal loans to his campaigns. 

‘He doesn’t live like he is a millionaire, he lives like a billionaire,’ one insider said.

The federal scrutiny hanging over Mills began long before his political career imploded.

The Justice Department has been examining Mills’ finances for months, including alleged overseas business dealings, according to NBC News.

Though Trump had endorsed Mills in February, he notably left him off a list of Florida Republican incumbents he backed on the eve of the primary after pressure mounted from Republican leadership to abandon the scandal-plagued incumbent

Though Trump had endorsed Mills in February, he notably left him off a list of Florida Republican incumbents he backed on the eve of the primary after pressure mounted from Republican leadership to abandon the scandal-plagued incumbent

Two sources with knowledge of the investigation now tell the Daily Mail it centers on allegations of wire fraud and other financial misconduct tied specifically to Mills’s personal accounts rather than his campaign.

Those sources say the probe opened around November 2024, during the final months of Joe Biden’s presidency.

The Justice Department has never publicly confirmed the investigation, and Mills has not been charged with any crime.

Mills blasted the reporting on the investigation when it first emerged as ‘fake news’ and a political ‘witch hunt.’

Voters last week showed him the door anyway, handing former local Orlando anchor Ryan Elijah a resounding 14 point victory in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District.

Though Trump had endorsed Mills in February, he notably left him off a list of Florida Republican incumbents he backed on the eve of the primary after pressure mounted from Republican leadership to abandon the scandal-plagued incumbent.

After the loss, Trump called Mills ‘a friend of mine’ but said he had told him to ‘get out of the Race,’ complained that Mills ‘wouldn’t listen’ and blessed Elijah with his ‘Complete and Total Endorsement.’

Chils posted photos on her Instagram on Tuesday showing her outside the Cannon House Office Building, which just so happens to house Mills’s congressional office.

She says she was simply resurfacing old pictures that were not reflective of where she was currently. 

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