The world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, an iconic figure in country music and a celebrated philanthropist, who passed away at the age of 80. Renowned for her timeless songs and her entrepreneurial spirit, particularly her beloved Dollywood theme park, Parton’s legacy is deeply cherished.
The news of Parton’s passing was confirmed by her publicist, though no specifics regarding the cause of death have been shared.
Tune in to “Dolly Parton: An American Original – A Special Edition of 20/20,” airing tonight, Aug. 25 at 10/9c on ABC. It will be available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
In September 2025, Parton shared on Instagram that she was facing some health challenges and needed to undergo several medical procedures. She did not elaborate on her condition but mentioned her ongoing recovery from “a few little health issues” during Dollywood’s seasonal reopening nearly six months later.
Having celebrated her 80th birthday the previous January, Parton was also coping with the profound grief following the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025. After nearly six decades of marriage, she expressed that she was taking time to heal and rebuild herself spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
President Donald Trump called Parton “one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER” in a social media post reacting to her passing. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM.”
In a music career that began when she was still a child, born into poverty in the tiny mountain community of Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton went on to become one of the world’s most successful and admired entertainers, regarded as a country music living legend. Her trademark style – big blonde hair, flamboyant clothes and makeup – was cultivated early in her career, while she was still in her teens.”I take my negatives and try to make them into positives, and I always feel better being more flamboyant,” Parton wrote in her 2023 book “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones.” “Maybe I looked cheap, but I knew I wasn’t cheap.”
Parton’s style helped her get noticed but her musical gifts made her unforgettable. She wrote and recorded many of country and pop’s most enduring songs, including the hits “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” – added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2011 – “Here You Come Again,” “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” “9 to 5” and more.
Parton’s biggest hit, however, was inarguably “I Will Always Love You,” which topped the charts three times, most notably when Whitney Houston’s 1992 cover became a global smash. Houston’s performance remains the best-selling song by a female artist of all time.
In 2014, the Record Industry Association of America recognized Parton for sales of over 100 million units worldwide, including 19 RIAA-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums out of the more than 100 studio, live and compilation albums she released during her six-decade-plus recording career.
Parton was also an actress, making her big-screen debut in the 1980 hit comedy “9 to 5,” opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and wrote and performed the film’s chart-topping, Grammy-winning theme song. Not including cameos as herself, she appeared in some nine films in all, among them the enduring 1989 comedy-drama “Steel Magnolias.”
A savvy businesswoman, Forbes magazine in June 2025
Mystery Deepens as Former SPLC Leader Skips Court Over $1.2M Funnel to White Supremacists
WASHINGTON — In a surprising twist, a former Chief Financial Officer of the Southern Poverty Law Center opted not to appear in person to answer allegations of channeling $1.2 million in donor funds to white supremacist organizations.
Heidi Beirich waived her right to be present at a virtual court arraignment held in Alabama’s Middle District, where she faced 14 serious felony charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
Her legal representatives took her place during the Zoom session and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges on her behalf before US Magistrate Judge Kelly Pate.
Judge Pate scheduled the trial to commence on October 5. However, both the prosecution and defense teams suggested that the date might be postponed, citing the extensive evidence requiring thorough review in this intricate case.
“Dr. Beirich is innocent, and this case is without merit,” her attorney, Michael Proctor, asserted in an earlier statement, emphasizing the defense’s position regarding the charges.
“We believe the charges against her and the SPLC are politically motivated, and Dr. Beirich has been targeted in this case because of the important work she has done to combat hate groups and extremists.”
Beirich is the only named defendant in the US government’s sweeping prosecution of a group billed as a defender of civil rights. Instead, prosecutors allege Beirich paid informants to keep hate groups afloat and even become lovers with a member of a white supremacist group SPLC was officially trying to take down.
SPLC itself has already pleaded not guilty to using $4.1 million in donor funds to bankroll informants in extremist groups.
Beirich joined the SPLC in 1999 and went on to serve as the director of its Intelligence Project from 2012 to 2019, which was dedicated to tracking and monitoring hate groups.
In that role, she also allegedly paid off informants in white nationalist groups, including one named “F-9” in the National Alliance.
MORE STORY: Montana Dad Speaks Out: Heartbreak After Family Massacre Leaves 8 Dead
F-9 was paid in particular to break into National Alliance headquarters and steal 25 boxes of documents in 2015.
Another informant from the hate group, “F-39,” was paid a smaller sum of $6,000 “to falsely take responsibility for the burglary,” per the federal indictment.
Some of those materials were later used to author an article for SPLC’s blog “Hatewatch,” which was part of the Intelligence Project. Beirich’s article, “Chaos at the Compound,” is still available online.
As an SPLC employee, Beirich also allegedly was “in a romantic relationship with F-9,” where the couple shared joint bank accounts and a house, according to the indictment.
Between 1999 and 2019, Beirich allegedly facilitated more than $1.2 million in payments from SPLC donors to National Alliance’s F-9.
In the initial June 2 court filing, Beirich had just been listed as the “person who would become Director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project” and “Employee-2,” before being unmasked in a Post report from June.
When announcing the case earlier this year, then-Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed SPLC’s work was instead “manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred.”
FBI Director Kash Patel previously said Beirich “was at the center of our ongoing investigation into SPLC.”
The far-left nonprofit “knowingly misled donors, who believed their money was being used to dismantle violent extremist organizations – when in fact, part of those donations were instead being used to pay senior leadership within those extremist groups,” according to the FBI boss.
Beirich lives in Palm Springs, Calif., and had made her initial appearance in federal court in Riverside earlier this month, Proctor said. Patel and other media reports indicated she had initially been arrested.
Tension Mounts as Last Witness Testifies in Lindsay Clancy Trial Ahead of Verdict
The final witness in Lindsay Clancy’s case has taken the stand, marking the conclusion of a tense five-week trial as she awaits her verdict.
On Tuesday, FBI forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Saathoff testified as the prosecution’s closing rebuttal witness in the high-profile murder trial.
In 2023, Clancy, 36, tragically took the lives of her three children—five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and Callan, who was only eight months old—at their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
She used exercise bands to strangle her children and then allegedly attempted suicide, a bid that was unsuccessful and left her paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair permanently.
Although Clancy has confessed to the killings, she has pleaded not guilty to murder, citing postpartum psychosis as her defense. She is seeking commitment to a state mental health facility rather than being sentenced to prison.
Saathoff, who interviewed Clancy by Zoom twice for a total of about 11 hours, revealed new details about her version of the killings.
Clancy told him that her hallucination – the voice – occurred when she was standing at the refrigerator.
She said she was making the children their dinner when Patrick called.
Prosecution witness Dr Gregory Saathoff poked holes in Lindsay Clancy’s story about the night she killed her children as he took the stand in her murder trial
Saathoff is expected to the the final witness to testify before the case is sent to the jury to decide Clancy’s fate
He had called at 5.33pm, but she missed it and called back one minute later.
After she returned the call, she said she then heard the voice.
However, Dr Saathoff testified that she told Dr Margaret Spinelli she heard it almost as soon as Patrick left the home, around 5.15pm.
She also told some experts that the children would suffer if she did not kill them as well as herself – but had not said that to him.
The voice was ‘very clear, ‘came from outside her head,’ and was ‘constant.’
The voice repeated ‘over and over and over again’ while she was killing her children. Then it stopped when she had finished killing the children, he said.
It’s not typical for someone in psychosis to hear the voice only one time or to hear a constant voice rather than intermittent, according to Saathoff.
She said it was the ‘same thing in the same tone repeated over and over and over until she had strangled Callan.’
Committing the act is not curative of the voice, he added.
The forensic psychiatrist said the widely different reports from Clancy and Patrick raised doubts.
‘One of them is not correct in their statement,’ he said.
Saathoff testified that Clancy told him she started to hear the command voice that told her to kill the kids when she was standing at the refrigerator, after Patrick called her
Clancy has admitted to killing her children but pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis
I’m Rachel Sharp, US Crime Desk Editor, and I have been in court covering every day of the Lindsay Clancy trial.
MORE STORY: Mamdani Champions Speedy Housing Court Reform, Defends Tenants
The trial, as many of you will know, is streamed live for the world to see. But not everything is shown to the public; some things are simply too distressing – and these moments have had Lindsay, her parents, the jurors, and members of the media in tears.
I have shared my experiences in our new podcast series, which you can listen to for free by clicking here
A bowl of chicken nuggets was found on the couch in the home during the search – where Dawson had been sitting eating – supporting Patrick’s account.
‘It’s hard to know which version is the one I should consider,’ he said.
Dr. Saathoff testified that Patrick told him they had never gotten takeout from 3V, but they had from several other places nearby.
They had eaten there before, though, and liked it, he testified.
The order in which she made those decisions was not what Clancy said.
Instead of asking her husband if they should get takeout, he said she did a lot of searching for the restaurant and the route first.
Clancy looked into the Miralax for Cora and CVS after 4pm but did not mention the importance of picking it up until just before he left, he said.
‘She also added on that errand right before he left,’ he said.
‘It lengthened the trip. It added one extra obligation for Patrick, and that would make for a longer time that he was away,’ he said.
Clancy said that, after calling Patrick, that was when she took Dawson down the stairs into Patrick’s office to strangle him.
Cora and Callan were left upstairs.
Clancy said she could not recall what she said to get him to come downstairs or whether he resisted.
Saathoff said the widely different reports from Clancy and Patrick about the night of the killings raised doubts
Clancy is on trial for the murders of her her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 2023
She then went up to get Cora, bringing her into the living room area of the basement.
After killing Cora, she then went back upstairs to get Callan.
She could not remember where she had left Callan during that time.
‘Dr Resnick described Ms Clancy as a puppet, but the children were not puppets,’ Dr Saathoff testified.
He noted how active the children were in footage from a water park and a museum.
Judge William Sullivan then called for the jury to be dismissed for the day.
He advised that the evidence will likely conclude on Wednesday, and then he will meet with the attorneys.
Sullivan anticipates closing arguments on Thursday, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
Mamdani Champions Speedy Housing Court Reform, Defends Tenants
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled an innovative initiative aimed at expediting urgent cases within the city’s Housing Court. Known as the Unified Court System, this program seeks to swiftly address emergency housing issues across New York City.
“I am delighted to introduce the Unified Court System, which will significantly speed up emergency housing court proceedings where New Yorkers’ health, safety, and overall well-being are endangered,” Mamdani declared at a press conference held on Tuesday.
According to Mamdani, this pioneering system is designed to cut down the waiting period for tenants seeking emergency hearings related to possible landlord neglect.
“This expedited process will prioritize the most urgent and complex cases,” Mamdani stated. “These include situations where at least a third of a building’s units are under an open vacate order, forcing families out of their homes, and circumstances where a similar proportion of units are dealing with immediate and hazardous violations concerning essential services.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses media representatives during a Manhattan Housing Court press event in New York City. (Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)
In cases of “persistent and extreme negligence” where tenants request entirely new building management, judges will require parties to return to court “within five days after service is completed,” Mamdani announced.
READ MORE: Hawthorne Shooting: ASO Intensifies Search for Gunman
When asked how his office would differentiate between a landlord who was persistently negligent and one who simply couldn’t afford to keep up with the costs of building management, Mamdani did not hold back.
“We’re talking about cases where a third of the building is facing some kind of a serious violation. Cases where we have elevators broken down,” he started.
“When it comes to the law, everyone has to follow it. And for far too long that has somehow not been understood when it comes to housing in our city. If a landlord is not able to follow the law, then they should not be a landlord of that property,” he replied.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a press conference in Manhattan Housing Court in New York City on Aug. 25, 2026. (Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)
When asked about how to enforce any violators who might not appear to Housing Court after the five-day window, Mamdani said, “There is still a lot of work to follow through on.”
News Media contacted the mayor’s office for further comment.
Montana Dad Speaks Out: Heartbreak After Family Massacre Leaves 8 Dead
In the shadow of unimaginable tragedy, a Montana father is speaking out about the frantic moments he experienced upon hearing a gunman had stormed his home, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. His desperate calls to reach his children, lost amid the chaos as the residence was engulfed in flames, haunt him.
Adam Ghekiere, stricken by the loss of his entire family, recounted the heart-wrenching trauma to The U.S. Sun. The victims included his daughter Charlotte, 12, his son Landon, 15, his wife Megan, two stepchildren aged 7 and 13, their wheelchair-bound great-grandmother, 92, and two other relatives—all casualties of this shocking mass shooting.
While performing his duties as a rescue firefighter at an airshow on Sunday evening, Ghekiere’s world turned upside down when alerts over the communication system pointed to an emergency unfolding near his in-laws’ home in Billings.
“I tried to reach my family, dialing the house repeatedly, but the silence was piercing,” he shared with the outlet. His attempts to check the locations of his children, Landon and Charlotte, were met with the same crushing silence.
His fears intensified upon arrival at the scene, where officials maintained a safety perimeter due to the active shooter situation. “The moment I was barred from my home, I realized I was living my worst nightmare,” he reflected, his voice filled with the weight of his loss.
MORE STORY: Netflix’s ‘Blood Sacrifice’: Episode Count Revealed and Season 2 Updates
Ghekiere said the killer, who took his own life after shooting up the house, is a member of his extended family who had begun harboring a grudge toward his parents.
“I don’t think the shooter expected my kids to be there,” said Ghekiere.
Police have not given an official motive yet for the killings and have not released the suspect’s name.
Authorities are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday to give further details.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Enes Kanter Freedom Criticizes WNBA’s Draft Ruling: A Demand for Fairness and Equality
In a bold move that has sent ripples through the sports community, former NBA standout Enes Kanter Freedom is doubling down on his intention to enter the WNBA Draft. Amid swirling reports that the women’s basketball league has ruled him ineligible for the 2027 draft, the ex-NBA player remains undeterred. Kanter Freedom’s declaration to join the WNBA comes during a heated debate over transgender athletes in sports. Reports surfaced Monday indicating the league has decided that both he and fellow former NBA player Royce White, who also declared interest, would not be allowed to compete. This latest development follows closely on the heels of an altercation at a WNBA game, where Kanter Freedom was escorted out after a skirmish with Chicago Sky’s Natasha Cloud while watching courtside. The confrontation, which erupted between Kanter Freedom and Cloud during a matchup against the Indiana Fever, quickly went viral as the two exchanged heated words before security intervened. On the same day, Kanter Freedom addressed the ongoing controversy in an interview with Fox News.
Player asserts eligibility under WNBA rules
In response to the league’s reported decision, Kanter Freedom stated, “Listen, Article 13 Section 1 says if you identify as a woman, then you are allowed to play! I identify as a woman, so yes, I can play.” He further provoked the discussion by claiming, “They’re terrified because I might actually get drafted and play against their big men. I’m probably going to drop 60 points… I’m going to try to beat Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 100 points in a single game. I might go over 100 points for sure.” According to the WNBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, only individuals identifying as female are eligible, yet no detailed definition of a woman is provided.
League responds to rule challenge
Front Office Sports reported that a representative from the WNBA remarked, “We are not going to give oxygen to efforts designed to mock the league or use this topic to demean and marginalize others.” When Kanter Freedom was challenged with the notion that he would ultimately be barred from playing in the WNBA, he replied, “Why not? That’s the rules. I’m just following the rules. If they ever come out and say: ‘Okay, we’re changing the rules,’ I respect their decision, I will follow the rules.”
Kanter Freedom sparks debate with t-shirt
“But right now, if you identify as a woman, you’re allowed to play. And I am identifying as a woman and I should be allowed to play,” he reiterated. At Sunday’s game in Wintrust Arena, Kanter Freedom sported a provocative T-shirt displaying a stark dictionary definition of ‘woman’ as an ‘Adult human female,’ with the terms woman and female underscored in red. Despite receiving a chilly reception and being expelled from the event, Kanter Freedom denied rumors of being banned from future WNBA games the following Monday.
MORE STORY: Dolly Parton’s Family Shares Heartfelt Tribute Following Her Passing
Determined to attend every Fever playoff game
Confident and unfazed, the 34-year-old player announced his plan to attend all of the Indiana Fever’s upcoming playoff games. “I have not heard it [about an arena ban],” Kanter Freedom declared. “If there is any news out there, please don’t listen to those sources because it’s all fake news. I did not break any kind of rules. I did not step over the baseline. I simply got up and just opened my arms. So they should not be banning me from any games and I am so excited for the playoffs. I cannot wait to go to every playoff game that Indiana Fever plays. It’s going to be fun because I’m a fan of the game.”
Kanter Freedom calls Cunningham a hero
Fever games have been hit by protests and counter protests in recent weeks after Sophie Cunningham sparked a war of words by claiming she wants to ‘protect young girls… who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’ During his interview on Monday, Kanter Freedom branded Cunningham a ‘national treasure’ who ‘should be protected at all costs.’ ‘She is an American hero,’ he told Fox. ‘Because she’s not only inspiring young girls in America but all over the world. So she is an idol, a hero.’ The 6ft 10ins Freedom previously alleged that it was Cloud who initiated their courtside confrontation and told him that Cunningham ‘won’t sleep with you.’
He defends his support for women
He told OutKick: ‘Sophie Cunningham shot a three, and I put my hands up to celebrate. Literally, a couple [of] possessions later, Natasha came back and started screaming and yelling and said, “She’s not gonna sleep with you.” ‘And I was like, “I am not trying to sleep with her. I’m just here to protect women and support her.” And then, obviously, after that, she started yapping, and she started to walk towards me, and literally I just got up, and then I was like, “I’m just here to protect women, and that’s all.”
[Expletive] shock fans at WNBA game
!['She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game. 'I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those [expletive] in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react.' Taking to X after he was removed by security, Freedom wrote: 'I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!' He also wrote: 'It’s always women hating on other women'.](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/08/25/13/110809225-0-image-a-69_1787660080047.jpg)
‘She started to yell. She started to use some very heavy language. She started to actually cuss, and I was very shocked that there were a lot of kids and that there were a lot of teenagers at that game. ‘I just cannot believe that she was just cussing and using those [expletive] in front of all these kids. I’m sure she’s loved in Chicago and many kids are idolizing her and stuff, but that’s not how a WNBA athlete should react.’ Taking to X after he was removed by security, Freedom wrote: ‘I just got kicked out of a @WNBA game for supporting WOMEN! Let that sink in, AMERICA!’ He also wrote: ‘It’s always women hating on other women’.
Dolly Parton Reveals Her Must-Achieve Bucket List Goals
In a poignant final interview conducted just four days before her passing, Dolly Parton expressed heartfelt admiration for her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, while also sharing an optimistic outlook on her enduring career.
On Tuesday, news of Parton’s death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her chief of security. The legendary country music star passed away at the age of 80.
In a conversation with People last week, the Queen of Country music divulged that there were still “so many things” on her list of aspirations.
The iconic “Jolene” singer discussed her health candidly, alongside the projects that had her excited about the future. She admitted that while attending to her husband’s needs, she had overlooked some of her own health concerns.
“It’s not like I haven’t encountered challenges with my health,” Parton shared during what would be her last interview, reflecting on difficult times with remarkable resilience.
‘But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago. I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin,'” Parton continued.
‘You know me — as I’ve often said — I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.’
Concerns loomed for months about Parton’s health, but the pop culture icon frequently dispelled her fans’ fears.
Legendary country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80
Parton said in her last interview that she had been through hard times before with her health
Parton’s famous hits include Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You
She pulled out of multiple public appearances, including a residency in Las Vegas and the opening of a new ride, NightFlight Expedition, at her theme park, Dollywood.
Fan videos of the event captured Parton’s recorded message, in which she told attendees she was still in Nashville.
‘So my Nashville doctor has kind of clipped my wings, saying, “You ain’t traveling this week.” So I guess if your doctor tells you, “You ain’t traveling this week,” you ain’t traveling this week,’ Parton said in the video message.
Earlier this year, Parton told her fans that she was responding to medication, but the treatment made her feel ‘a little swimmy-headed,’ and she needed time to heal before getting back on stage.
She reassured her fans that she was still hard at work on projects like her new museum, Life of Many Colors, in Nashville, her new hotel and Broadway show, Dolly: A True American Musical.
Elsewhere in her final interview, Parton revealed that she was excited about her partnership with Community Coffee to launch Cup of Ambition Coffee.
‘That’s a dream I’ve had for over 40 years, ever since I wrote the line about “cup of ambition” in my song 9 to 5,’ she said.
ALSO READ: Ex-TOPGUN Pilot Decodes Marine’s Cool Ejection Under Crisis
‘But, you know, some dreams take longer to come to life than others.’
Parton gushed about her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, in her last interview, admitting that she had not paid attention to some of her health problems while caring for him
Parton had pulled out of her Las Vegas residency, telling fans that she was taking medication and needed time to heal before getting back on stage
Parton wrote and recorded 9 to 5 in 1980 for the comedy film of the same name, in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
She wrote the track on set by clicking her nails together to form the beat, and it became one of her biggest hits of the decade.
It went on to win numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Country Song of the Year and Female Country Vocal of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
Parton’s death came over a year after her husband’s, to whom she was married for nearly 60 years.
In her tribute at the time, she reflected on the ‘many wonderful years’ they spent together, expressing their deep love and thanking fans for their prayers.
‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,’ she said. ‘Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.’
Parton and Dean first met at a laundromat in Nashville in 1964, when she was just 18. They married in 1966, and he remained a constant, supportive figure behind the scenes.
Parton’s nephew announced her death in a touching tribute, revealing in a video message that she had ‘asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.’
Parton pulled out of recent events at Dollywood because of her health. She is pictured above at the theme park in 1988
Parton’s nephew said she ‘lived in the light’ and was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ with her husband and parents. Her team remembered her legacy as ‘one of love, compassion, and resilience’
Seaver hailed his aunt for having ‘lived in the light’ and said she was now ‘in the arms of Jesus’ and the company of her husband, as well as her parents and ‘countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.’
Her team said in a statement that she had a ‘rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family.’
‘Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience,’ it continued.
‘With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.’
Ex-TOPGUN Pilot Decodes Marine’s Cool Ejection Under Crisis
In a compelling account, former TOPGUN instructor and F-18 pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley shared insights with News Media about a recent incident involving a Marine Corps F-18 crash in Washington state. Buckley explained how the pilot’s swift decision to eject illustrates the intense force of the maneuver and how the subsequent shock can paradoxically render an aviator serenely calm.
The event unfolded on June 13, 2026, when Marine Corps Major Jackson Simon, with a bloodied visage, emerged from dense forest. He proceeded to walk towards a nearby Yakima County sheriff’s deputy. Bodycam footage captured this extraordinary moment, revealing a soldier who appeared remarkably unfazed despite the circumstances.
Major Simon’s response to the crash was understated. “I’m a little frazzled,” he mentioned calmly. His F-18 Hornet had plunged into the woods, setting off a minor wildfire near Rimrock Lake, yet Simon’s composure remained intact.
Reflecting on this demeanor, Buckley, who amassed substantial experience with the F-18 Hornets during his 15-year tenure with the U.S. Navy, suggested that Simon was likely grappling with the effects of shock, a waning adrenaline rush, and the mental fortitude instilled by military training, which teaches pilots to manage stress by compartmentalizing emotions.
Bodycam footage from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office depicted Marine Major Simon Jackson holding a deputy’s cellphone as he contacted superiors. His report was straightforward: “Pilot ejected; pilot safe,” followed by a nonchalant remark, “Hey buddy, Maj. Simon, I just crashed.” (Courtesy of Yakima County Sheriff’s Office)
“If anything’s going wrong, we focus on the task. Everything else goes away,” Buckley told News Media. “That was the most violent thing that ever happened to that Marine in his entire life.”
Buckley served as a pilot in the Navy from 1991 to 2006 and said he was fortunate never to have ejected from an aircraft. The experience can have a devastating toll on the human body.
“Some folks don’t go back to flying status. I mean, you can lose a couple inches in height. Your spine compresses. Some people get shorter,” Buckley said.
A meta-analysis of more than a dozen studies looking at 1,710 military aircrew ejections found a pooled mortality rate of 10.5%, while 29.8% suffered major injuries. The studies were published between 1971 and 2019.
A photo of Matthew “Whiz” Buckley in the cockpit of an F-18 Hornet. Buckley flew as a pilot in the U.S. Navy from 1991 to 2006. (Courtesy of Matthew Buckley)
“When you pull that handle, you have two choices: die or maybe live. And I said ‘maybe live’ because it’s incredibly violent. I think the average ejection seat is like 10 to 20 G’s of force,” Buckley added. “Most folks don’t even remember the ejection. They remember pulling the handle and then waking up in their parachute.”
Buckley said the pilot’s body positioning before the ejection is extremely important in preventing potentially life-threatening injuries. For example, if their arm is extended away from their body, the sudden wind blast could cause it to be “ripped out of the socket.”
There’s also a phenomenon called “seat slap,” which occurs if the pilot does not have their legs flush with the seat prior to ejecting.
“If you look at an ejection seat in a fighter jet, it’s rock hard. We’re not sitting on a cushion,” he said. “If your legs aren’t flat on the seat, it could break both of your legs and now you bleed out and die.”
ALSO READ: Captured: Tucson Cadet Murder Suspect Apprehended After Manhunt
A military photograph of an F-18 Hornet that was being piloted by Maj. Jackson Simon at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, on June 5, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps)
In some instances, pilots who find themselves in trouble have time to slow their aircraft and perform a controlled ejection, which can reduce the forces involved, Buckley said.
Based on video of the crash, Simon’s plane was traveling at a high rate of speed before it struck the trees and exploded, likely leaving little opportunity for a controlled ejection.
Simon had been performing low-flying maneuvers while spectators on the ground watched, according to KIRO 7. After that, his plane reportedly clipped some power lines, which led to it going down.
The Marine Corps has not publicly confirmed that Simon’s F-18 struck power lines before the crash and has said the cause of the mishap remains under investigation.
According to Buckley, this “clearly” wasn’t supposed to happen.
“We have minimum altitude restrictions. And there ain’t no 500-foot trees, right? So I don’t know what they were doing. It doesn’t sound like from his initial statement that there was anything wrong with the airplane. So that’s usually not a good sign,” Buckley said.
Buckley then speculated about what may have been going through Simon’s mind before the crash.
“It looked like a beautiful day. People out on a lake. ‘Hey, there’s some people down there on the lake. Why don’t we go show them what their tax money is [for]? You know, America.’ I hope it wasn’t something like that,” he said.
A photo of Matthew Buckley on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade. (Courtesy of Matthew Buckley)
News Media reached out to the third Marine Aircraft Wing, the West Coast-based Marine aviation unit to which Simon’s aircraft was assigned.
Buckley said Simon will likely go before a review board that will evaluate his actions surrounding the crash. At the conclusion of the process, the board can recommend what should happen to an aviator’s flight status.
If he’s found to be at fault, Simon could lose his “wings” or he could be allowed to continue flying, just under what Buckley described as “double secret probation.”
“I don’t know what the board’s gonna do, but it’ll come out. It should because…this is a $60 to $65 million Hornet. We deserve to know what happened,” he added.