Jason Kempin Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Is Dolly Parton a secret philanthropist? The country superstar's fans seem to think so after it was revealed she was involved in a number of charities without making it known to the public. Some of her recent charitable actions include paying for the band uniforms of several Tennessee high schools over the years; purchasing a strip mall in Nashville using the royalties she earned from Whitney Houston’s version of "I Will Always Love You" to support the surrounding Black neighborhood in the late singer's honor; and donating $1 million to research dedicated to creating the Moderna vaccine.

The 2023 CMA Fest is going to be huge!

There are two new additions to the Country Music Hall of Fame, both of whom started their music careers in different genres, Jerry Lee Lewis, who began as a rock performer, and the late Keith Whitley, who initially got his start as a bluegrass performer. Lewis, also known as "The Killer," was not present at the ceremony on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, as he was following his doctor's suggestions.

Shania Twain has put out her new song, "Waking Up Dreaming;" the country sensations first new song in five years, and she has changed things up. She released her new song under a brand-new label, Republic Nashville, where she is the debut artist.

Country star Jon Pardi and his wife Summer are expecting their first baby together. Jon and Summer both posted pictures on their respective Instagram accounts announcing the baby news.

Country music star Lainey Wilson led Wednesday's Country Music Association Awards nominations. This year marks Wilson's first year to be nominated, and she earned nods in six categories, including album of the year, female vocalist of the year and song of the year. Lainey Wilson landed the most CMA Awards nominations.

Luke Combs paid back two kids who put in some hard work to attend one of his concerts. Bo Fenderson, 12, and his friend Tanner stacked five cords of wood in order to pay for their own tickets to the Bangor, Maine concert, WABI-TV reported. "We made $100 bucks stacking 5 cords of wood, bought two Luke Combs tickets.

Country music stars Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line played their last show as a duo. The two gave their final performance as Florida Georgia Line during the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday night, ending the show with one of their biggest hits, "Cruise."  Hubbard and Kelley have been a duo for a decade, with their first album "Here's to the Good Times" released in 2012.  Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley played their final show as a band at the Minnesota State Fair.

Reba McEntire has gone to the dark side.  The singer-actor plays a villain in ABC’s crime drama "Big Sky: Deadly Trails" Season 3.  McEntire acts alongside her boyfriend, Rex Linn, as the pair portray a mischievous, shady couple.  The trailer shows McEntire's character Sunny Barnes welcoming backpackers to Sunny Day Excursions, a "luxury backcountry experience" located in a Montana valley.  "Let's get out there and have some fun and be safe," Barnes encourages the guests.  Country icon Reba McEntire plays a villainous role in ABC's crime drama "Big Sky: Deadly Trails," alongside her boyfriend Rex Linn. (Getty Images) In the first 10 seconds of the series’ sneak peek, a hiking trail sign reads "Deadman’s Drop."    The tone of the show preview suddenly turns eerie as the scene flashes to a private investigation team discussing a case of missing campers linked back to Barnes’ campgrounds.  We then see her greet the detective team led by new Sheriff Beau Arlen, played by Jensen Ackles.  The "Big Sky: Deadly Trails" trailer shows Reba McEntire's character welcoming backpackers to Sunny Day Excursions, a "luxury backcountry experience." (Jason Kempin/Getty Images) "Nice to meet the new sheriff in town," Barnes says.

Zac Brown Band has been traveling the country for their "Out in the Middle Tour" and just announced they will also be heading an ALS benefit show in Nashville next month.  The show will take place at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, September 22. John Driskell Hopkins, a member of Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in December 2021 and shared the news in May.  "Playing in Nashville, our home away from home, is always something special," the band wrote on their Instagram post announcing the show.

Amy Grant postponed her remaining tour dates on Friday as the singer continues to recover after falling from her bicycle in July.  "Friends, we regretfully need to postpone Amy's previously scheduled tour dates in September and October due to Amy needing more time to recover from injuries and a concussion sustained in a bicycling accident that occurred in Nashville on July 27, 2022," her team wrote in a statement.  Grant had previously postponed her August shows immediately after the accident.  All postponed dates will be rescheduled for February through April 2023, the statement said.  FRANKLIN, TN - NOVEMBER 02:  Singer-songwriter Amy Grant performs during 'Best Buddies Unplugged' at Franklin Theatre on November 2, 2017 in Franklin, Tennessee.  (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images) (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images) The "Baby, Bay" singer was unconscious for about 10 minutes after her fall after she went over a pothole.

Kevin Hart is sharing an update on Will Smith nearly four months after he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars award ceremony. Hart, who is a close friend of Smith, spoke with "Entertainment Tonight" during the premiere of his new animated movie "DC League of Super-Pets" in Los Angeles on Wednesday.  "Will is apologetic, you know, he's in a better space, of course, than what he was after," he said on the red carpet.

Granger Smith’s wife, Amber, is speaking out three years after their son, River, died in a drowning accident in June 2019. On Tuesday, Amber shared an exchange under an Instagram post to her story in which she received a hateful comment regarding River’s death. In the thread, Amber left kind words on a post where a family appeared to have lost a child.

Hollywood has welcomed many new dads in 2022. Here is a look at the men celebrating their first Father's Day this year.

Now that the defamation trial is over, Amber Heard is excited to just "be a mom." On Friday, Heard sat down with Savannah Guthrie for an hour-long interview for "Dateline." During the TV interview, the actress addressed her plans now that her defamation fight with her ex-husband Johnny Depp has concluded.  "I get to be a mom, I get to be a mom full time," she told Guthrie. Amber Heard says she became a mom and did it "on my own terms" as a single parent. In an Instagram post, the actor said she welcomed daughter Oonagh Paige Heard April 8.

Country star Brett Eldredge has released a new album that confronts his own anxieties. Eldredge released his seventh studio album, "Songs About You," Friday and expressed that this album gave him "confidence" he was lacking in the early stages of his career.

Jerry Lee Lewis will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The rock and roll star-turned-country music artist is being recognized as a "Veteran Era Artist." He had 34 Top 20 country hits between 1968 and 1981, according to the Country Music Association. The "Great Balls of Fire" singer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Patrick Schwarzenegger says his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is "obsessed" with Patrick's new crime-drama series "The Staircase." In an interview with Insider, Patrick shared that his dad has been supportive of his new role and claimed he didn’t turn to "The Terminator" star for any career advice. "A lot of sons go to their father for advice with anything. I definitely go to him like that, but I didn't go to him for this specific character," Patrick told the outlet.

Steve Burton and estranged wife Sheree Gustin were reportedly "coexisting" in their marriage before the actor announced their split. Burton and his family went through change and "upheaval" after the actor lost his role on "General Hospital." Burton was fired from the show due to his decision not to abide by the production's COVID-19 protocols. "Their lives were changed when he went through some upheaval and anger over what he considered his freedoms being in jeopardy," a source told People magazine.

Editor's note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Following the death of Naomi Judd, the singer's family plans to meet to discuss The Judds' upcoming fall tour.

Editor's note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Dolly Parton paid tribute to Naomi Judd via social media on Monday.

Priscilla Presley gave a new biopic about Elvis Presley her stamp of approval. The 76-year-old recently took to Facebook and praised director Baz Luhrmann’s "Elvis," which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month ahead of Warner Bros. releasing the film theatrically on June 24.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will continue with its medallion ceremony Sunday in Nashville following news of the death of country music icon Naomi Judd, who, along with her daughter Wynonna, was set to be inducted as The Judds. According to a Country Music Hall of Fame rep, Wynonna Judd is expected to attend the induction ceremony. Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement provided to Billboard that the Judd family requested the ceremony carry on in light of Naomi’s passing.

Hank Williams Jr.’s son, Samuel Williams, is speaking out following the death of his mother, Mary Jane Thomas. In a statement to People, the 24-year-old shared insight into Thomas’ character and how Williams Jr. "fell in love" with her.

Dolly Parton has taken herself out of consideration for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after earning her first nomination in February. The country music icon announced on Monday that although she’s appreciative of her nomination for the Class of 2022 induction, she has decided to remove herself from the ballot. "Dolly here!" the singer began her statement on Instagram.

One of country music's biggest nights is here: the Academy of Country Music Awards. The award show will air from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday. Ahead of the star-studded evening filled with your favorite country music artists, here's everything you need to know about the show.

Trisha Yearwood celebrated what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday by raising money for animals in the late star’s honor.  The singer, author and wife of Garth Brooks hosted a fundraiser on TalkShopLive Monday, Jan. 17, which would have marked White’s 100th birthday had she not died of natural causes on Dec. 31.

© Getty NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Elon Musk and Grimes attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Elon Musk chose the wrong time to correct Grimes’ explanation of their newborn’s name.