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Dolly Parton never described herself as a feminist and generally avoided political labels. But for many of her fans and admirers, her life, career and music reflected values closely linked to feminism. The country music icon, who died this week at the age of 80, built a career on her own terms and often used her songs to speak about women’s independence, workplace inequality and double standards. In 1987, Parton was featured among the 12 Women of the Year on the cover of Ms. magazine, alongside prominent figures from politics, literature and social activism. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem wrote that Parton had used her business skills and influence to support other women and disadvantaged people. “If feminism means each of us finding our unique power, and helping other women to do the same,” Steinem wrote, “Dolly Parton certainly has done both.” Parton herself, however, never embraced the feminist label. Author Lynn Melnick, who wrote about Parton’s influence on her life and recovery from trauma, said the singer did not need to call herself a feminist. “She didn't tell us she was a feminist,” Melnick said. “She showed us — in her actions and her words and in her songs.” One example came from Parton’s 1968 song Just Because I’m a Woman, which challenged the different standards often applied to men and women. During a 2019 performance at the Newport Folk Festival, Parton explained that the song was inspired by expectations that women should remain “pure,” while men were often judged differently for similar behaviour. Music writer Caryn Rose said Parton understood how her appearance could be used to underestimate her and turned that perception to her advantage. “She knew she was blonde and pretty, and that it was always going to work against her,” Rose said. “So she figured out how to make it work for her.” Parton’s feminist themes were also reflected in songs such as 9 to 5, which highlighted the struggles of working women, unequal treatment and economic independence. The song was linked to the 1980 film of the same name, in which she starred alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. She also addressed issues including equal pay, teenage pregnancy, women’s sexuality and the social judgment faced by women. Her 1975 song The Bargain Store was about emotional healing after a relationship, although some country radio stations reportedly avoided playing it because they misunderstood its meaning. Another song, Down from Dover, told the story of a pregnant teenage girl at a time when unmarried mothers were rarely discussed openly in popular music. Some writers and fans have described Parton as being ahead of her time, reflecting ideas later associated with third-wave feminism, which placed greater emphasis on personal choice and individual expression. Parton often defended her glamorous image — the wigs, makeup, high heels and rhinestones — as her own choice. In a 1977 interview with Barbara Walters, Parton faced personal questions about her marriage and appearance, including whether her famous breasts were real. Walters also asked her to stand up and display her body. Parton remained calm and confident, explaining that she was comfortable with jokes about her appearance because she knew exactly who she was. “I know exactly what I am doing and I can change it at any time,” she said, adding that her confidence in herself and her talent allowed her to enjoy makeup, clothes and her larger-than-life image. For her feminist fans, that confidence, independence and refusal to let others define her may have been the clearest message of all. Parton may never have called herself a feminist, but through her choices, her music and her outspoken independence, many believed she showed exactly what it meant.

Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist whose career spanned generations, has died in Nashville at the age of 80. Parton died Tuesday at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center after a brief battle with cancer, her publicist Marcel Pariseau said in a statement. She was surrounded by family and loved ones at the time of her death. With her distinctive voice, heartfelt songwriting and dazzling stage costumes, Parton rose from humble beginnings in the Tennessee mountains to become one of the world's most recognisable entertainers. She became known for her signature blonde wigs, glamorous outfits and sharp self-deprecating humour, but her influence extended far beyond music. Her appeal crossed generations, cultures and political divides, making her one of the most widely admired figures in American popular culture. Parton wrote hundreds of songs during her career, including enduring hits such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her music has generated more than 100 million sales worldwide and over 1 billion online streams. She was also a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. Her ventures included Dollywood, a major theme park in the Smoky Mountains near her birthplace, while her charitable efforts reached millions of children and families. From a Poor Tennessee Family to Country Music StardomParton's career was deeply shaped by her childhood as one of 12 children in a poor Tennessee family. Her father left school at an early age to work on the family farm and struggled with reading. That experience inspired Parton to establish the Imagination Library, an education initiative that provides free books to children. Her musical journey began in church, where her grandfather served as a preacher. By the age of 10, she was playing guitar and performing on local television programmes. At 13, she made her debut at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, where Johnny Cash introduced her as a young performer from East Tennessee. After graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville with a suitcase full of songs. She was accompanied by her uncle Bill Owens, a songwriter. Producer Fred Foster recognised her talent and helped introduce her music to other performers while also recording Parton's own songs. By the mid-1970s, she had established herself as one of Nashville's leading country stars. Partnership With Porter WagonerA major turning point in Parton's career came through her collaboration with country star Porter Wagoner. She joined his syndicated television programme and developed her performance skills while Wagoner helped her secure a recording contract with RCA. Their first duet, “The Last Thing On My Mind,” was released in 1967. Around the same time, Parton launched her own music publishing company. Although their joint recordings became popular radio hits, Parton's early solo releases initially achieved more modest success. With Wagoner's help, she gradually refined her traditional country style into a more polished sound with broader pop appeal. Her first solo No. 1 country hit came with “Joshua.” She also reached the Top 5 with “Coat of Many Colors,” a deeply personal song about the coat her mother made from scraps of fabric and the ridicule Parton faced because of her family's poverty. In 1973, she released “Jolene,” the song that became one of the defining recordings of her career. Its success took Parton's music beyond country audiences and opened doors to international listeners. “Jolene” went on to become one of her most frequently covered songs, with artists including Miley Cyrus, Olivia Newton-John and The White Stripes recording versions of it. Parton left Wagoner's television show in 1974 following tensions between the two, although they continued working together for several years. Their professional relationship later became the subject of a legal dispute after Wagoner sued Parton in 1979 over management fees and royalties. Crossing Over Into Pop MusicParton's 1974 song “I Will Always Love You” became another landmark in her career. Written as a farewell to Wagoner, the song helped her win the Country Music Association's female vocalist of the year award in 1975 and 1976. She famously declined an offer from Elvis Presley to record the song because she did not want to give up her publishing rights. Years later, Whitney Houston's rendition of “I Will Always Love You” became a global blockbuster after appearing on the soundtrack of the 1992 film “The Bodyguard.” Houston won a Grammy for the recording in 1994, with Parton presenting her with the award. Parton's own move toward pop music also paid off. “Here You Come Again,” one of the few major hits she did not write herself, became a crossover success and earned her first Grammy Award in 1979. Other major hits followed, including the title song from the 1980 film “9 to 5,” in which she starred alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She also recorded the hugely popular duet “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers. In 1987, Parton joined Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris for the album “Trio,” which sold more than a million copies. A Unique Image and Feminist IconTo millions of fans, she was simply “Dolly” — a combination of Southern warmth, humour and glamour. Her flamboyant appearance, including rhinestone-covered dresses, figure-hugging outfits and elaborate hairstyles, became an inseparable part of her public identity. At the same time, Parton was widely regarded as a role model for women in the entertainment industry. She maintained control over her songwriting, publishing and business interests at a time when the industry was largely dominated by men. She was also willing to make herself the subject of jokes. During her 1989 appearance as host of “Saturday Night Live,” she allowed writers to poke fun at her image while maintaining that she would not use profanity or make jokes about Jesus. Parton frequently joked about her appearance and blonde persona, turning stereotypes about herself into a source of humour and a way to control her public image. She married Carl Dean, an asphalt paving contractor, in the mid-1960s. The couple remained together until his death in 2025 at the age of 82. Although Dean rarely appeared publicly, Parton said he influenced her career and inspired some of her songwriting. Success in Hollywood and on BroadwayParton's acting career took off with “9 to 5,” in which she played an office worker alongside Fonda and Tomlin. Film critic Roger Ebert described her as a natural movie star. The film's title song became another major hit and earned Parton two Grammy Awards. She later appeared in films including “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias.” Her connection with film and television continued for decades. She appeared alongside her goddaughter Miley Cyrus on “Hannah Montana” and contributed to numerous television specials, films and streaming projects based on her music. Parton also became a successful author, publishing books and memoirs, including “Dolly,” as well as the bestselling novel “Run, Rose, Run,” which she co-wrote with James Patterson. “9 to 5: The Musical” premiered on Broadway in 2009. Another stage production, “DOLLY: A True Original Musical,” is scheduled to open on Jan. 19, 2027, the date that would have marked her 81st birthday. A Legacy of PhilanthropyBeyond her music and entertainment career, Parton's charitable work became one of her most enduring legacies. After devastating wildfires struck the Smoky Mountains in 2016, she organised a televised benefit concert and established a foundation that provided monthly financial assistance to residents whose homes had been destroyed or damaged. Her Dollywood theme park became a major economic force in eastern Tennessee, attracting visitors from across the United States. She also expanded her philanthropic work through the Dollywood Foundation. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy. In 2025, she was selected to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She received 55 Grammy nominations and won 10 awards, making her the third-most nominated woman in Grammy history, behind Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. A Rare Figure Above PoliticsParton's popularity extended across political and social divides. Fans from different generations and backgrounds embraced her, and “Dolly for President” became a familiar slogan during US election seasons. Despite her enormous public profile, Parton generally avoided discussing her political views. She repeatedly said she preferred not to take sides because she had supporters across the political spectrum. When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation nominated her in 2022, Parton initially questioned whether she belonged in the institution because she did not consider herself a rock artist. The voters ultimately selected her for induction. Parton attended the ceremony, performed at the event and subsequently released a rock album. Her career, spanning music, film, television, business and philanthropy, established her as one of the most influential and enduring entertainers of her generation.

An old Fair & Lovely advertisement featuring Bollywood actresses Aishwarya Rai and Mahima Chaudhry has resurfaced online, sparking nostalgia among viewers and debate over Aishwarya’s voice in the commercial. The advertisement, reportedly made in the 1990s before both actresses became major stars, shows the two meeting at an airport. In the commercial, Mahima compliments Aishwarya on her glowing skin and suggests that marriage could be the reason behind her appearance. Aishwarya then reveals that she has been using Fair & Lovely for two months. The old commercial has once again gained attention on social media, with many viewers reminiscing about advertisements from the 1990s. The ad was directed by filmmaker Kailash Surendranath. Internet reacts to Aishwarya’s voice The video has drawn mixed reactions, particularly over Aishwarya’s voice, which appears to have been dubbed. A caption accompanying the resurfaced video said the advertisement “deserved Aishwarya Rai’s real voice.” Comments on the video posted on Surendranath’s YouTube page praised both actresses for their looks. “Wow, Mahima and Aishwarya — both of them are looking so pretty. Both of them are my favourite actresses,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Fun fact: After all these years, everyone knows the reality.” Some viewers questioned the voice used for Aishwarya, with one writing, “No way in hell that’s their voice.” Others focused on the actresses’ beauty, with one viewer saying Aishwarya’s looks had nothing to do with the fairness cream featured in the advertisement. Aishwarya Rai’s recent work Aishwarya Rai’s most recent film was Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part II’, released in April 2023. She played the dual roles of Nandini and Oomai Rani in the film. Source: NDTV

Colombian superstar Shakira has pledged to help build at least 10 new schools in a remote and severely affected region of her home country following last week’s devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of people and damaged thousands of educational facilities across western Colombia. The globally acclaimed singer made the commitment Monday during a surprise visit to Quibdó, capital of the province of Chocó, where she toured damaged schools, hugged students and posed for photos with them. “What worries me the most is that schools are not rebuilt once this emergency is over,” Shakira told reporters. “Every day that children don’t go to school is a day they miss out on their future.” She was accompanied by Howard Buffett, son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett and a longtime donor to Colombia who has previously helped Shakira establish schools in the country. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will work with Shakira’s Fundación Pies Descalzos, or Barefoot Foundation, on the project. “When she calls, I come,” Buffett said during the visit. Shakira also announced $500,000 commitments from Global Citizen and Live Nation to support the initiative. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck a large part of western Colombia on Aug. 10, killing at least 287 people and destroying more than 26,000 homes, according to authorities. The government has reported 194 people missing, while other civilian-run databases put the number at more than 4,100. The quake’s epicenter was in Chocó, one of Colombia’s poorest regions. According to the latest report from the regional government Monday, at least 3,100 homes were destroyed and more than 265 educational facilities were affected. “It’s a place I love, a place where I’ve seen our students grow in our classrooms,” Shakira said in a video posted on X by Colombian news outlet La FM. Her foundation, which works to improve educational access for young people in Colombia, has operated in Chocó for 22 years and runs two schools from which hundreds of students have graduated, she said. “I really want to see it rebuild again,” she said. Aid organizations have faced difficulties assessing the full extent of the damage in Chocó, an area roughly the size of Switzerland where communications are challenging. The province has limited road connections with the rest of Colombia, while many towns and villages are accessible mainly by rivers and unpaved roads. About 600,000 people live in Chocó, most of them in poverty, according to figures released last year by Colombia’s national government. The province is largely home to Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. “There is not a way to alleviate the pain of so many, there are no magic solutions,” Shakira said during a visit to a large high school in Quibdó. “But what there is, is commitment to be here alongside those from Chocó, to not abandon El Chocó like it historically has been abandoned, until every Colombian and every person from Chocó can return to their normal lives like they deserve and all the children can return to their schools and dream of the futures they deserve,” she said. The Grammy-winning singer, known for hits including “Whenever, Wherever” and “La Tortura,” as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” has long supported education initiatives. She told reporters Monday that she planned to devote all her “personal efforts” to rebuilding a local technological university in Chocó. Shakira, 49, has drawn significant attention to both her music and philanthropic causes. She headlined the halftime show at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in July and performed in May at Brazil’s Copacabana Beach before an estimated crowd of 2 million people. Following Venezuela’s twin earthquakes in June, Shakira announced that the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund would provide $500,000 for education recovery efforts there. Her latest pledge is among several commitments by prominent Colombians and other Latin American artists to support earthquake relief efforts in Colombia and Venezuela. On Sunday, Marc Anthony and Chayanne joined dozens of other artists at a benefit concert and live fundraiser in Miami for the two countries. Colombian singer Karol G pledged to match fan donations to her Con Cora Foundation during her three-night performances at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles last weekend. She is also scheduled to join Maluma, Sebastián Yatra and others at a benefit concert in Bogotá on Sunday. The Colombian Football Federation and South American Football Confederation jointly pledged $1 million last week to Colombian First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda’s “Colombia, one heart” recovery fund.

Hayden Panettiere, star of popular television series including “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died. She was 36. Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” his statement said. No cause of death was announced, and a publicist for Hayden Panettiere did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press. Panettiere, who would have turned 37 on Friday, began her career as a child actor in commercials and soap operas. Her role as a cheerleader with superpowers in “Heroes” propelled her to fame in 2006, with the series revolving around the mantra “Save the cheerleader, save the world.” “I think ‘Heroes’ is really hot because it’s just a really great combination of everything that people love — they love reality, they love sci-fi and things like X-Men where they get to dream of something bigger,” Panettiere told The Associated Press in 2008. “And at the core of it are these human stories that people can relate to, very rugged. And it’s just grabbed everyone in every age group.” She went on to win three Teen Choice Awards for that role and was a Grammy Award nominee for a children’s spoken word album recorded a few years after the release of the animated movie “A Bug’s Life.” Panettiere later played a brash country upstart opposite Connie Britton on “Nashville,” which aired on ABC for four seasons before being canceled and revived on CMT. She did her own singing in the show, which scored some hits on country charts, spawned U.S. tours and earned Panettiere two supporting actress Golden Globe nominations. Panettiere had 11 songs recorded for “Nashville” appear on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts during the show’s run, including two featuring Britton. Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen, who was also an actor, died of a heart condition in 2023, at age 28. She had been open about her struggles with alcohol addiction and depression, including after the birth of her daughter with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. In an interview with podcaster Jay Shetty after her memoir came out in May, Panettiere talked about the custody arrangement for her 11-year-old daughter, who lives full-time with Klitschko in Ukraine. News of the 2018 decision prompted headlines about Panettiere giving up custody of her daughter. “I think there’s been this very common misconception that I just gave up my child,” she said. “That could not be farther from the truth.” Panettiere said Klitschko suggested their daughter live with him full-time when the child was 2, as Panettiere struggled with mental health challenges and addiction. She said she was in a “horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse” while “just trying to find my way back, my way out of the darkness.” She entered rehab in 2015, while filming “Nashville.” “I was the one who put myself in the first treatment center. I was drowning,” she said in a 2023 interview with Women’s Health magazine. On Shetty’s podcast, Panettiere recalled the explosion of her fame when she was cast on “Heroes,” including the first time she was tracked by the paparazzi. When she’d imagined the moment as a younger actress, she’d planned to look chic. Instead, she said, “it was just sheer terror.” Panettiere also appeared in two of the “Scream” movies, starred as the title character in the 2009 film “I Love You Beth Cooper” and played the young daughter of a football coach in “Remember the Titans.” She had spoken positively about her experience filming “Remember the Titans,” saying she felt so similar to the character she played — Sheryl Yoast, the opiniated, football-loving daughter of Will Patton’s Coach Bill Yoast.

Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have been served show-cause notices by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, which authorities say may indirectly promote pan masala banned in the state. The three actors appeared together in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement in 2024. Maharashtra Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued the notices on Aug 11, directing the actors to immediately stop participating in the campaign and remove promotional material related to the advertisement from their official social media accounts. According to the nine-page notice, the advertisement appears to promote the Vimal brand, which is primarily associated with pan masala, the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of which are prohibited in Maharashtra. Mundhe said the use of the name “Vimal Elaichi” in the advertisement appears to create a connection with the Vimal pan masala brand and could mislead consumers or indirectly promote the identity of a prohibited product. The notice said that if the use of the Vimal brand for elaichi or a similar product is intended to maintain or strengthen its association with pan masala or tobacco-related products, the campaign could amount to surrogate promotion of a restricted product rather than an advertisement for an independent product. The FDA chief also asked the actors to provide complete copies of their endorsement agreements, campaign briefs, payment details and documents showing that due diligence had been carried out before joining the campaign. The action was taken under consumer protection laws and Maharashtra’s prohibition on pan masala. Authorities said misleading endorsements could result in fines ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, while endorsers could also be barred from promoting products for up to three years. Mundhe has been leading enforcement efforts against the manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products in Maharashtra. The latest action is not the first controversy involving Bollywood stars and the Vimal Elaichi campaign. In 2022, actor Akshay Kumar apologised after facing widespread criticism for appearing alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. At the time, Kumar said he did not endorse tobacco products and announced that he would withdraw from the campaign. He also said he would donate his endorsement fee to a charitable cause. He added that the advertisement could continue to be broadcast for the duration of his existing contractual obligations but promised to be more careful about his future endorsements. Source: NDTV

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has married his longtime partner, model and influencer Georgina Rodríguez, in a civil ceremony in Portugal, according to Portuguese media. The couple reportedly got married on Aug 11 in the coastal town of Cascais, near Lisbon, with their five children attending the ceremony. Ronaldo shared a photo on Instagram showing two hands wearing wedding rings, apparently his and Rodríguez's. He described the occasion as the "wedding of the year." The post received more than 3 million likes within 30 minutes. Ronaldo and Rodríguez have been together for about 10 years. They met at a Gucci store in Madrid, where Rodríguez was working while Ronaldo was playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid. The couple announced their engagement on Aug 11 last year after Rodríguez shared a photo of a large diamond ring and wrote in Spanish, "Yes I do. In this and in all my lives." Ronaldo has five children, including two with Rodríguez. She has also helped raise his other three children. The family currently lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their first daughter together, Alana Martina, was born in 2017. Their second daughter, Bella, was born in April 2022. Bella's twin brother was stillborn. Ronaldo, 41, has scored nearly 1,000 goals during a career that has included spells at Sporting in Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team. The Portugal captain recently appeared at his sixth and final World Cup, matching Argentina's Lionel Messi for the most appearances in the men's tournament. Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times, second only to Messi, who has claimed the award eight times. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022. The Saudi club confirmed last year that he had signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the Riyadh-based side until 2027. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated Ronaldo's wealth at $1.4 billion last year, making him the first football player to reach billionaire status. With inputs from BBC

Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is stepping into a new role as a recording artist with his debut album, “Life Is a Dream,” featuring 12 compositions he has written over six decades. The album, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, was recorded at London's Alexandra Palace in April. Decca Records will release it on Aug 21. For Hopkins, 88, music has always been more than a hobby. “My first love, or vocation really, is music,” he said, recalling how music influenced him while growing up in postwar Wales. He began playing the piano at age 4 and wrote his first composition, a waltz, in 1960 when he was 22. Hopkins said composing gives him greater freedom than acting. “Acting is a discipline, you have to know your stuff,” he said. “But music for me is a freewheeling kind of art form.” He has already composed music for several films, including “Shadowlands,” in which he played author C.S. Lewis. He later worked on the music for “August,” “Slipstream” and “Elyse,” films in which he also acted and, in some cases, directed. Album draws on childhood memoriesHopkins said “Life Is a Dream,” named after a play by Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca, reflects his childhood, teenage years and life growing up in Wales. The album also carries a sense of sadness and nostalgia, he said, reflecting on the passing of time and the realities of life. “From the moment we're born, we begin to die,” Hopkins said, joking about the rather gloomy thought. The album's first single, “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra: II. Bracken Road,” is part of a three-part suite inspired by a summer in South Wales. Hopkins said the piece carries a feeling of melancholy and nostalgia, particularly through its cello sounds. He described the song as reflecting “the strange, whimsical pain of life” and the human sense of longing. Another composition, “Stella Aria,” is named after his wife, actor and director Stella Hopkins. The piece explores loneliness but ultimately leads toward happiness, he said. Hopkins has also been looking back on his life in his memoir, “We Did OK, Kid,” released last year. Reflecting on his career, he said he never expected to achieve the success that came after choosing acting about 70 years ago. “I couldn't have planned any of this,” he said, adding that he initially became an actor partly because he did not know what else to do. Hopkins said he is grateful for his long life and has no fear of death. “I'm just so grateful I've lived this long,” he said. Bradley Cooper helped connect Hopkins with DudamelActor Bradley Cooper played an important role in bringing Hopkins and Dudamel together. Cooper had seen Hopkins' music performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under conductor Michael Seal several years ago and introduced him to Dudamel. When Hopkins later attended the recording session at Alexandra Palace, he admitted he was surprised by the complexity of his own compositions. “I'm sitting there thinking, ‘How the hell did I write this?’ I have no idea,” he said. Dudamel, however, praised the music and described Hopkins as a composer with a strong sense of storytelling and emotion. “The same depth of imagination, humanity and emotional truth that has defined his extraordinary work on stage and screen is present in his music,” Dudamel said. Hopkins hopes to perform liveWith the album set for release, Hopkins is already considering live performances, with Carnegie Hall at the top of his wish list. The venue has special meaning for him because of the 1947 film “Carnegie Hall,” which he remembers from his childhood. He also recalls his mother telling him that one day he would perform there. Now, decades later, Hopkins says playing at Carnegie Hall is a dream he still hopes to fulfil. END/UNB/SB

Singer Ariana Grande’s new music video and latest album have once again sparked public discussion about her appearance, raising broader questions about how society talks about celebrities’ bodies and beauty standards. The release of her new album, “Petal,” last week and a new music video have led to renewed comments about Grande’s thin appearance. Some people have expressed concern about her health, while others say such comments amount to body-shaming and invade her privacy. Others argue that celebrities’ influence on young fans makes discussions about their appearance unavoidable. Grande, 33, has faced public scrutiny over her appearance throughout her career. More recently, attention has focused on the visibility of parts of her body, including her sternum and rib cage. Grande has rejected suggestions that she is unhealthy and has repeatedly said that commenting on other people’s bodies is inappropriate. Her representative told People magazine that Grande plans to step back from public life after her current tour because of what was described as “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” Her latest video also addresses the pressure and judgment that often come with fame. In the nearly seven-minute video, Grande portrays the harsh process of being evaluated and judged as a public figure. The discussion has also prompted experts to question whether public comments about celebrities’ bodies are helpful. Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, said people should consider why they are making such comments and what effect those comments may have. Scrutiny of women’s appearances is nothing newPublic figures have long faced intense scrutiny, while women in particular have often been judged by their appearance. Although efforts to promote body acceptance have grown in recent years, changing ideas about beauty, health and thinness continue to fuel debate. The growing use of weight-loss medications, including among celebrities, has added another layer to the discussion. Some experts worry that the increasing visibility of very thin celebrities could affect people who already struggle with body image or eating disorders. Allison Butler, a senior lecturer in communication at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said the debate can become overly divided between criticizing Grande’s appearance and demanding that nobody discuss it at all. Experts generally agree that people should avoid making assumptions about another person’s health based solely on their appearance. Rachel Goldman, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, said people should resist speculating about celebrities’ bodies. Public comments about someone’s appearance, whether intended as praise or criticism, can reinforce the idea that a person’s value depends on how they look, she said. At the same time, experts say concerns about eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food should not simply be ignored. Kandel recalled that when someone first expressed concern about her own eating disorder, the comment was harsh rather than supportive. She said such issues should be discussed with curiosity and compassion instead of criticism. Talking to children about body imageExperts say parents can help children by shifting conversations away from judging bodies and toward understanding the messages society sends about appearance. Goldman said children should be reminded that appearance alone does not indicate whether someone is healthy or doing well. “Young people need to understand that their body is just one part of who they are,” she said, adding that a person’s worth is not determined by body size or shape. Jennifer Hill, a 56-year-old pediatric nurse from Broomall, Pennsylvania, tries to teach that message to her 16-year-old daughter, who is a cheerleader and runner. Hill said her daughter dislikes comments about her body, so she reminds her that everyone is different and that people are born with different bodies. Hill said attitudes have improved since her youth in the 1980s, when people were often more open about making harsh comments about appearance. However, she said social media has created new pressures for young people. Through her work with young people experiencing emotional difficulties or eating disorders, Hill has also seen how sensitive conversations about body image can be. Her advice to parents is to listen rather than make direct or judgmental comments. “Communication is key,” she said, stressing the importance of open conversations in which young people are given space to speak. Grande sets boundariesGrande recently addressed her fans from the stage, saying she knows some people are worried that negative attention is affecting her. She said the situation is more complicated and that setting personal boundaries and taking a break can both be necessary while still allowing her to enjoy her professional and creative work. Her comments were met with loud cheers from fans, many of whom are young women.

Foundations backed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have launched a $200 million initiative to help save 100 of the world's most threatened species. DiCaprio's Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund announced the Phoenix Species Project on Tuesday, describing it as the largest single fund ever created specifically to help recover critically endangered species. The project will support efforts to protect animals including lemurs, salamanders, pangolins, pigs, tortoises and echidnas whose survival is threatened by habitat loss, climate change and other pressures. DiCaprio has for years advocated for a major international effort to protect species at risk of extinction. In 2021, he and Re:wild co-founder and CEO Wes Sechrest met Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who are chair and vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund. The meeting was followed by discussions with governments, environmental organisations and Indigenous communities about ways to protect some of the world's most vulnerable species. Those discussions eventually led to the Phoenix Species Project. Among the species the initiative will support are the golden-crowned sifaka, a lemur found in Madagascar; the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, which lives only in a small canyon in North Carolina; and the Visayan warty pig, found only on islands in the Philippines. Other species include Mexico's Cozumel harvest mouse, the pink land iguana of the Galápagos Islands, the Malayan pangolin of Southeast Asia and Tanzania's pancake tortoise. The project will also help protect the starry night harlequin toad, found only in Colombia's mountains, and Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, an egg-laying mammal native to New Guinea and named after renowned naturalist David Attenborough. The initiative aims to provide long-term funding and support to conservation projects that have achieved progress but often struggle to secure enough resources to continue their work. “We've protected the golden-crowned sifaka for years on a budget that would never match what this species deserves, but letting it go extinct was never an option,” said Tiana Andriamanana, executive director of Association Fanamby, one of the organisations receiving funding. She said the new funding, along with global cooperation and technical support, would create new opportunities to protect the species.