On August 25th, 2026, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry passed away, both at the age of 80. Parton had been battling cancer for a short time, while Curry passed away as a result of coronary artery disease. Millions of people mourned the passing of these two public figures loved by many around the world.

Remembering Dolly Parton

In March of 2025, Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away. In a statement released days before her death, Parton revealed that she was “dealing with some health issues that [she] just didn’t pay attention to when [she] was watching over Carl.” In 2025, she publicly spoke about her feelings when Dean passed, saying that “it’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits. I’ll do fine, and I’m very involved in my work and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me. But I’ll always miss him, of course, and always love him. He was a great partner to me.” In the year after Dean’s death, Dolly Parton did just that: work. Following her death, Parton’s manager, Dany Nozell, issued a press release which stated that “Dolly worked up until the day she died. She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy. Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come.” Nozell also added, “If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it.” Some of the active Parton projects include Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, a collaboration with Kendra Scott, DOLLY: A True Original Musical On Broadway and much more. Most of these projects are set to launch in late 2026 or early 2027.

Parton also took part in extensive philanthropic work. Starting in the 80’s, Parton created the Dollywood Foundation to reduce high school dropout rates in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Parton was originally from. She went on to create the Imagination Library, which provided free books to young children in the county. Today, the Dollywood Foundation still offers scholarships to Sevier County high schoolers, and the Imagination Library now services children all over the USA and has even extended into Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Australia, donating over 300 million books as of 2025. Parton’s kindness didn’t stop there; over the years, she has supported research into pediatric infectious diseases, donated to the Salvation Army and hospitals, advocated for equality and LGBTQ+ rights, and so much more.

Dolly Parton had an astounding impact on the world; her absence from it will be felt deeply. Shortly after her death, her goddaughter Miley Cyrus took to Instagram to write, “The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts. What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis… I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”

Remembering Tim Curry

While a stroke in 2012 limited Curry’s ability to work from that point on, the work he’s put out in his lifetime has also been immensely impactful. Possibly most memorable was his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” where he performed in a corset, full makeup and fishnets, a look heavily inspired by drag queens and a historical moment of representation for the queer community. His frequent presence in children’s media like “The Wild Thornberrys,” “Home Alone 2” and “Muppet Treasure Island” made him an integral part of many Americans’ childhoods. Even those born after these works were initially released likely grew up with Tim Curry on their screens at home. 

The impact of Curry’s work reaches far and wide, and even when his stroke restricted him to mostly voice acting, he kept going with projects like “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a popular animated series, and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again,” which Curry narrated and appeared in as his first live-action role following the stroke.  Being involved in this work allowed him to express his sense of humor, which Curry said was “absolutely vital” to him, explaining, “It’s not tough to maintain. It is just part of my DNA.”

One thing is for certain: Tim Curry will be missed. There has been an outpouring of love from actors he’s worked with in the past. Susan Sarandon, who worked with him on “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” took to Instagram to write, “What I loved about him most was his heart. Even wheelchair-bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people. Love you, S.” Nell Campbell, another member of the cast, released a statement saying that “He was a wit, kind, thoughtful, generous, quite shy, bookish, loved you being naughty and joyful company. Had Tim not been cast in the original stage show of ‘Rocky Horror,’ who knows if the film would have followed. I will miss him tremendously.” Joe Mantegna wrote in an Instagram post, “Of my 17 years on Criminal Minds, one of my greatest joys was being able to work with Tim Curry. Rest in peace dear Tim.”

Their Legacies

Dolly Parton and Tim Curry will certainly not be forgotten. The amount of creativity and passion they put into their careers truly spoke to people, which is why they became such beloved figures. Even with them gone, the work they made over the course of their lives will continue to live in the hearts of their fans.

The new HBO max series, Heated Rivalry, centers on two NHL superstars playing for rival teams whose public animosity hides a private, long-running relationship. What begins as an impulsive encounter develops into a years-long connection shaped by playoff battles, media pressure, and the constraints of being closeted in professional hockey.

One of the show’s strongest elements is the acting, particularly from Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. The two leads are relatively new actors, and that works in the show’s favor. Their performances feel natural and unforced, which keeps the romance believable. They commit to the relationship without overselling it. They play the awkwardness, competitiveness, and gradual emotional shift with restraint. The chemistry builds in a way that feels consistent rather than exaggerated. It also helps that the actors seem comfortable with each other off-screen; that familiarity translates into small, convincing moments in scenes. The quieter exchanges like pauses in conversation and subtle shifts in expression, are handled with as much care as the more overtly romantic scenes.

Despite operating on a noticeably modest budget, the show makes strategic choices that keep the focus where it belongs: on the characters. The hockey scenes rely on tight camera work and editing rather than sweeping arena spectacle, which prevents the sport from overshadowing the relationship. Many of the most important moments happen in confined spaces (such as locker rooms, hotel rooms and apartments) to emphasize the secrecy and isolation that define their connection. 

What distinguishes the series from many mainstream sports dramas is its focus on a queer relationship between two men who are genuine equals. Both are elite athletes at the top of their careers. They share comparable status, income, skill, and public recognition. Because of that symmetry, their conflicts are not driven by hierarchy but by personality differences and emotional hesitation. The tension comes from pride, rivalry and the difficulty of sustaining intimacy under constant scrutiny, not from one character holding structural power over the other.

The show also presents a version of masculinity that is competitive without being toxic. On the ice, the players are aggressive and focused on their performance, reflecting the intensity of professional hockey. Off the ice, the series allows them to show vulnerability, frustration and care for each other. Their emotional restraint is portrayed as part of navigating the sport’s culture, not as an inherent personality trait.Ultimately, Heated Rivalry stands out because it keeps the story grounded and focused. The relationship develops gradually through rivalry, hesitation, and small moments of trust rather than big dramatic gestures. By showing two equal men navigating intimacy in a competitive, high-pressure environment, the series portrays a believable and relatable romance.

Everyone’s favorite Disney Channel icon turned pop star has released a new album, and it is blowing up the Billboard 200 charts. Sabrina Carpenter’s new album “Man’s Best Friend” has continued her pattern of irony and innuendos in songs, while mixing in her impressive vocal range. Carpenter is a world renowned pop sensation that took over the world by storm in 2022 with her first album emails i can’t send. Her song Manchild was released prior to the album as a single and fans went wild. Atwood Magazine’s writer Danielle Holian stated that the song was, “bold, theatrical, and playfully pissed off. More importantly, it feels fun.” The song is about how Carpenter tends to fall for men that act like “manchildren,” —something that almost all women can relate to.

Bold music can be seen throughout the rest of “Man’s Best Friend” as well. One of the leading songs of the album is called “Tears,” and it is one of Carpenter’s many double-meaning songs. The song centers around the idea that all a man has to do to earn a woman’s love is be responsible. She mentions examples such as doing the dishes or assembling a piece of IKEA furniture. Her words hint at a very real critique in society where women don’t always want grand gestures but would rather choose a man who listens to them.   Another song that is receiving love on this album is “When Did You Get Hot?” This song is centered around a scenario where Carpenter runs into an old friend that she didn’t find  attractive as a young girl. However, when she runs into him  later she realizes that he has “become hot all of a sudden.” This cheeky song is meant to highlight the emotions a person can feel when it comes to running into an old acquaintance with a new look. Whether it be after you have had a glow-up or the other person has, there is always some level of surprise and satisfaction for either party.

Despite the album’s success and songs landing spots in the top 3 of the Billboard 100, Carpenter has repeatedly faced criticism for the album’s cover photo. The picture is of her on all fours as a man holds her hair as a leash. Sara Delgado, a writer for Teen Vogue, stated in an article that, “Many have pointed out the image bears a strong resemblance to ‘misogynistic ads from the ’60s.’” and “others claim that the photograph is intended for the male gaze.” However, even with this criticism brought forth by fans, the album is continuing to earn a top spot on the Billboard 100, and in the hearts of listeners everywhere. This new wave of testing boundaries in music is continuing to grow in popularity, and it looks like the singing powerhouse Sabrina Carpenter is just getting started.

Photo by Kristina Gadeikyte via Uplash.

When we talk about colonization, we usually focus on land, armies and political control. But Great Britain’s empire-building wasn’t limited to geography. It also involved the mass appropriation of art and cultural heritage. Much of that legacy is still sitting in British museums today, far from the communities that created it.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, as Britain expanded across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, it also collected, or more accurately, took an enormous amount of art. Religious relics, royal treasures, sculptures, and manuscripts were removed from colonized nations, often through violence, coercion or exploitation. These objects were shipped back to London and celebrated as symbols of Britain’s supposed cultural superiority.

The British Museum stands as the clearest example of this legacy. Established in 1753, it houses millions of artifacts from around the world, many of which arrived during the peak of imperial expansion. One of the most famous (and controversial) cases is the Elgin Marbles, taken from the Parthenon in Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 1800s. Despite decades of requests from Greece, the marbles remain in London. The story is similar for the Rosetta Stone, which Britain seized from Egypt after defeating Napoleon’s forces in 1799.

Britain’s colonization of art wasn’t just about taking objects. It was about reshaping narratives of culture and civilization. Non-Western art was often exhibited as anthropology rather than high art. African sculptures, Indigenous American artifacts and Asian ceramics were categorized as curiosities, reinforcing racist ideas about Western superiority and “primitive” others. This practice didn’t just misrepresent the art itself; it actively undermined the cultures that produced it.

While some institutions, like the Horniman Museum in London, have begun making small steps toward restitution, many, including the British Museum, have remained resistant, often citing legal barriers or claiming that the artifacts are part of global heritage. But critics argue that real global heritage cannot be built on theft and denial.

Art is not just decorative. It is deeply tied to history, memory, and identity. Keeping these works in British institutions without consent perpetuates the very inequalities created by the Empire. Britain’s colonization of art didn’t end when the Empire did; it is still happening in how museums display, narrate and justify possession today.