Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, August 25. The news was announced in a video shared on Parton’s social media by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who had also served as her head of security for more than two decades.

“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens. Dolly opened doors, not just for me, but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn’t even know was possible,” Seaver said.

While the family did not disclose the cause of her death, Parton had been dealing with health issues for some time. Earlier this year, she cancelled her planned Las Vegas residency, explaining that she was still undergoing treatment and was not physically ready for the demands of performing on stage.

Dolly Parton was a singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist whose life story became as extraordinary as the songs she wrote.

Born in 1946 in rural Tennessee, Parton grew up in a large family with very little money. She was one of 12 children raised in the Smoky Mountains, in circumstances she would later describe through some of her most personal music. After graduating from high school, Parton moved to Nashville to pursue music. She found success in country music, first through her association with Porter Wagoner and then as a solo artist, building a career that would stretch across more than six decades.

Parton became one of country music’s most successful artistes, with songs including Jolene, Coat of Many Colours, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You, among many others.

Over the years, she also expanded her career beyond music. She appeared in films such as 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, built a successful business empire and founded Dollywood, the popular theme park in Tennessee.

Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt are backing Prime Video’s upcoming young-adult film, Don’t Be Shy. Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film stars four newcomers in the lead and has already generated considerable buzz. Don’t Be Shy marks the debut of Aarushi Bajaj, Ansh Duggal, Bianca Arora and Piyush Khati in leading roles. Now, we have learnt that Alia will also be joining the young cast for the film’s promotions.

The actress is all set to shoot for a promotional song with the lead cast. A source close to the development tells us, “Alia Bhatt will be shooting a special promotional song with the lead cast tomorrow, August 27, in Mumbai. The song will bring Alia and the four newcomers together as part of the film’s promotional campaign.”

The film explores friendship, young love, heartbreak and the challenges of navigating young adulthood. Kunaal Roy Kapur, Anurag Basu, Neha Dhupia and Anju Alva Naik also feature in key supporting roles.

Speaking about the film earlier, Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt, co-founders of Eternal Sunshine Productions, said in a joint statement, “Don’t Be Shy has been extremely special to us from the very beginning, and we couldn’t be prouder to see it come to life. It captures something so honest about being young, the friendships that shape you, the first loves that change you, the heartbreaks that stay with you, and the process of gradually figuring out who you are. What excites us most is this brilliant young cast; their energy, vulnerability, and chemistry are magnetic, and they bring such life and honesty to these characters. We can’t wait for audiences in India and around the world to meet Shy and get swept into her wonderful, chaotic world.”

Remember Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke from the Kannada film KD: The Devil? The dance number features Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt and became embroiled in controversy after its Hindi version was released in March this year. The song drew criticism over its allegedly vulgar lyrics and suggestive choreography, with viewers and critics questioning its presentation. Nora has now opened up about the controversy surrounding the track.

In a candid conversation on the Dream with Dr Sheen podcast, Nora said she had anticipated that the song could attract criticism but believed some of the online outrage was deliberately amplified.

The actress alleged that paid influencers were involved in escalating the controversy. “I already know who hired you, when, and how much they paid you. That was an opportunity well squeezed by whoever was behind that,” she said.

Nora explained that she had originally recorded the song in Kannada several years ago without understanding the language. According to the actress, she subsequently discovered that the Hindi version had been altered without her approval.

“They dubbed the song in Hindi and changed the lyrics without my permission or approval. I told the director this was not okay and dissociated myself from the project. I did not promote it anywhere, as my reputation was on the line,” she said.

Following the backlash, the song was eventually taken down. Nora recalled that she was shooting when the controversy erupted but said she remained calm and composed amid the uproar.

Nora has built her popularity through chart-topping dance numbers, reality television appearances, live performances and international music collaborations. She also performed the official FIFA World Cup 2026 track Siir Siir alongside French singer Vegedream and producer Sanjoy.