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Dolly Parton Dies at 80

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Photo: Getty Images

Dolly Parton, the country music singer, songwriter and actress has died at the age of 80. She passed away on Tuesday, August 25, in Nashville following a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. The news was announced through a video posted on her official Instagram page by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on behalf of the Parton family.

In the family’s official obituary, Parton was remembered as “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. 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.”

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Born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. She grew up in a poor family and began singing in church and playing guitar before writing her own songs. She first sang on local radio at age 13, and issued her first single, “Puppy Love,” on the Louisiana label Goldband.

After graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville where she played in clubs and wrote songs for other artists before landing a major break when country singer Porter Wagoner invited her to join The Porter Wagoner Show.

Parton established herself as a solo artist with songs including “Joshua,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “Jolene.” She later wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to Wagoner after deciding to leave their partnership. The song became an even bigger hit when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard in 1992.

By the late 1970s, Parton was looking beyond country music and “Here You Come Again” became her first major crossover hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning her first Grammy in 1978.

She began her movie career in 1980, when she made her acting debut in 9 to 5 alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The theme song for the movie became her first No. 1 single on the Hot 100 and earned her two Grammys. She also starred in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone and Steel Magnolias. She later returned to television and film, including the 2020 Netflix movie Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, which won the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.

Photo: Getty Images

Across her career, Parton received 11 Grammy Awards from 55 nominations, as well as an honorary Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and numerous country music honors. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Beyond music and acting, she became involved with the Tennessee theme park in 1986. She later founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, through which she launched the Imagination Library in 1995. The program sends free books to children from birth until age five and has expanded across several countries.

Parton is known for her charitable work and in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 vaccine development, including work that contributed to Moderna’s vaccine.

Photo: Getty Images

In May 30, 1966, Dolly got married to Carl Thomas Dean. The couple remained married for nearly 59 years before Dean died in March 2025. Parton announced his death via Instagram writing “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”

Parton’s life and career were turned into A True Original Musical, which had a trial run in Nashville in 2025 and is scheduled to begin Broadway previews in December 2026. The production is set to open on January 19, 2027, what would have been Parton’s 81st birthday.

She is survived by her music, films and philanthropic work which will remain a major part of her legacy.

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Love Island’s Tom Clare and Molly Smith Set to Wed After Unconventional Romance

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Photo: Instagram/@Molly

Tom Clare and Molly Smith are preparing to celebrate their marriage with family and friends in Mallorca, following an intimate wedding ceremony in the UK.

The couple, who found love on the first series of Love Island: All Stars in 2024, legally married on 22 July 2026 in a private UK ceremony. Smith shared a photograph of the newlyweds on social media alongside the words “Just married”, while another post showed their wedding rings.

The ceremony was followed by plans for a larger celebration in Mallorca, where around 70 relatives and close friends are expected to join them.

Photo: Instagram/@Molly

Their relationship began after both had already appeared on Love Island. Smith first appeared on the sixth series in 2020, while Clare was a contestant on the ninth series in 2023.

The pair were reunited on Love Island: All Stars, where their relationship developed during the series. They went on to win the show, taking home the £50,000 prize.

Their relationship continued after leaving the villa, with the couple moving in together and sharing updates about their life with fans. They have also worked together on their NearlyWeds With Molly and Tom podcast, where they have discussed their relationship and wedding plans.

Photo: Instagram/@Molly

Clare proposed to Smith in Dubai in September 2025. He arranged a beach proposal with candles, white roses and a walkway made from rose petals before getting down on one knee.

Smith later showed off her oval-cut diamond engagement ring as the couple announced their engagement on social media.

Wedding preparations became a regular topic on their podcast, with the couple revealing that they changed wedding planners twice before finding one they were happy with.

Photo: Instagram/@Molly

For their larger celebration, Clare and Smith chose Mallorca and invited around 70 guests. The couple have spoken about wanting the event to reflect their personalities, with fairy lights and personal touches planned for the historic venue.

They have also decided to recreate the exchange of wedding rings during the Mallorca ceremony. Despite already being legally married, Clare explained that they wanted to experience that part of the wedding together with their guests.

Several of their former Love Island co-stars are expected to attend. Clare’s close friend Casey O’Gorman is set to be his best man, while Josh Ritchie, Sophie Piper and Mitch Taylor are also expected to join the celebrations.

Photo: Instagram/@Molly

The couple’s two-stage wedding comes more than two years after their relationship began on Love Island: All Stars. What started as a romance in the villa has continued away from the programme, with the pair now building a life together and preparing for another important milestone.

The Mallorca celebration will give Clare and Smith the opportunity to mark their marriage surrounded by family, friends and several of the people they met through Love Island.

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Victoria Beckham and David Beckham Have Very Different Ideas of a Sun-Soaked Vacation

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Photo: Backgrid

Victoria and David Beckham have spent much of the summer travelling around the Mediterranean, with stops in Ibiza, Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Portofino. Their holiday photographs have also highlighted a noticeable difference in how they approach a day in the sun.

David tends to keep things simple when he is by the water. He has been photographed shirtless in swim shorts, often adding little more than sunglasses or a backwards cap. In Ibiza, he wore grey shorts and a matching T-shirt with a straw bucket hat, while other outings have seen him in swim trunks and a T-shirt.

Credit: Backgrid

Victoria’s approach is more covered, particularly when it comes to her face. During a recent beach day on the Amalfi Coast, she wore a black string bikini with a sleeveless black minidress and a large sun hat. Oversized sunglasses completed the look, keeping much of her face covered as she relaxed beside David.

The hat and sunglasses have appeared repeatedly throughout her holiday wardrobe. In Saint-Tropez, she wore a plum slip dress with white peep-toe heels, a wide-brimmed straw hat and sunglasses for a shopping trip. On another yacht outing, she paired a black maxi dress with oversized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

Credit: Instagram

Her swimwear looks have also ranged from understated to more revealing. In Cannes, she was photographed in a black Agent Provocateur bikini with sheer panels, while in Portofino she wore a green bikini beneath a sheer floral dress.

David, meanwhile, has been happy to spend more time with his arms and chest exposed. His holiday wardrobe has largely centred on swim shorts, T-shirts and caps, making his approach noticeably less concerned with adding layers when he is near the sea.

Credit: Backgrid

The difference is particularly clear when they appear together. Victoria can be dressed in a bikini while still wearing a hat, sunglasses or a cover-up, whereas David often strips his holiday outfit back to swimwear. Neither approach appears to stop them from enjoying the same trips, but their photographs make the contrast hard to miss.

It also fits with their established personal styles. Victoria often brings pieces from her own label into her holiday wardrobe, alongside accessories such as Hermès bags, while David tends towards straightforward casual clothes when he is away from tailoring.

Credit: Backgrid

For Victoria, a day by the sea does not necessarily mean abandoning her usual fashion choices. For David, it is often a reason to simplify them. Their latest Mediterranean break has made that difference particularly easy to spot: one reaches for the swim shorts, while the other rarely seems to be far from a hat and sunglasses.

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David Beckham Plays Photographer for Victoria During Family Vacation

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Credit: Backgrid

David Beckham took on photographer duties for his wife, Victoria, during the family’s holiday in Italy.

The former footballer was photographed using a digital camera as Victoria posed for him during the family’s stay in Portofino on 15 August. The couple were joined by members of their family as they spent time around the Italian coastal town.

Credit: Backgrid

Victoria wore a white slip dress with a plunging neckline, an open back and lace panels over a nude bikini. She completed the look with a wide-brimmed straw hat, oversized black sunglasses and flat sandals, while carrying a rust-coloured Hermès Birkin bag and wearing Chanel sliders.

David wore a butter-yellow T-shirt with matching shorts, a beige cap and tan boat shoes. He was later seen in yellow swim shorts as the couple returned to their yacht.

Credit: Backgrid

David had also been using a small digital camera during the holiday to capture photographs of the family. In Portofino, he turned the camera towards Victoria as she posed beside the waterfront.

Several members of the family were nearby during the outing. David and Victoria were joined by their daughter Harper and son Cruz, while Cruz’s girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, was also part of the group. The family stopped for food before returning to their yacht.

Credit: Backgrid

The Beckham family have spent time at several Mediterranean destinations during their summer break, travelling aboard their yacht and spending time onshore.

Portofino has personal significance for David and Victoria. The couple recently returned to a hotel they first visited in 1997, when they were dating. Their return came almost three decades after that first visit.

Victoria has worn a series of holiday looks during the trip, including swimwear, dresses and pieces from luxury fashion houses. During her time in Portofino, she was also photographed in a sheer floral dress over a bikini, accessorised with a large raffia hat and a green Hermès Mini Kelly bag.

Credit: Backgrid

The latest photographs show a more informal side of the couple’s holiday, with David behind the camera while Victoria posed for the pictures.

For a couple who have spent much of their relationship in front of photographers, the scene offered a simple change of roles: David photographed Victoria as they enjoyed their time in Portofino.

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