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Ice Storm Ravages Nashville: Country Artists Among Tens of Thousands Still Without Power

Country artists across Music City are among the tens of thousands impacted by the ice storm that swept through Middle Tennessee over the weekend of Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25. As of Thursday morning, more than 90,000 Nashville Electric Service (NES) customers remain without power, despite NES crews restoring electricity to approximately 140,000 homes and businesses.

Powerlines; Photo via NES on X
Powerlines; Photo via NES on X

Artists including Lauren Watkins, Meghan Patrick, Mitchell Tenpenny, Maddie & Tae’s Maddie Font, HARDY, Jessie James Decker, Drew Baldridge, Erin Kinsey, Levi Hummon, Sheryl Crow, Russell Dickerson, Maren Morris, and others have shared updates about enduring days without electricity, with many now entering their fifth day in the dark amid ongoing freezing temperatures.

On Thursday morning, Meghan Patrick revealed that temperatures inside her home had dropped to 41 degrees and that she had been advised their power may not be restored for “another week.”

Meghan Patrick; Photo via Instagram
Meghan Patrick; Photo via Instagram

“Thank God for good friends giving us a safe, warm place to stay,” she wrote. “Praying for those spending money they don’t have on hotels or riding it out.”

James Otto, known for his hit “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” was also affected by the widespread outages and damage left behind by the storm.

“We are going on our fourth day without power here in my part of Nashville,” Otto shared. “As a veteran of many North Dakota and Washington state winters, I’ve seen a ton of bad storms, but the widespread devastation from this ice storm is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. The amount of downed trees and massive limbs breaking off from the weight of the ice is crazy. Virtually every yard in my neighborhood has severe damage. I’m hoping that we’re getting close to having power back, but who knows. I’m grateful for all the crews out there cleaning up fallen trees and the linemen working to get us back online.”

RaeLynn with Daughter Daisy; Photo via Instagram
RaeLynn with Daughter Daisy; Photo via Instagram

Several artists were forced to seek refuge outside their homes as conditions worsened. RaeLynn stayed with Summer Pardi, while HARDY and his wife, Caleigh, relocated to a local hotel. Drew Baldridge shared that his family is currently staying with his manager while they wait for power to be restored.

“We’re right now going on day five of no power at our house,” Baldridge said. “We’ve been to a couple friends’ houses, and right now we are staying at my manager’s house, which has power, which is amazing. But there are so many people all over Nashville who are staying in their homes. Their homes are 40 degrees. Mine is currently like 43 right now. We were there this morning—still no power. Just sending out thoughts and prayers to everybody out there that’s struggling in the Nashville area and all around the country. This ice storm has really put us down.”

The outages have also disrupted local live music staples, including the iconic Bluebird Cafe, which remains without power. In a social media update, the venue shared that the storm resulted in the loss of food stored in coolers, and restocking the kitchen will “take time.” 

Teresa Broyles-Aplin, CEO and President of Nashville Electric Service, released a statement early Thursday acknowledging the “significant hardship” the prolonged outages have caused for residents.

“This storm was unprecedented for Nashville and our country, affecting almost half of the U.S. Its icy layers caused widespread damage across our service area to transmission lines, substations and distribution networks,” she wrote. “At this storm’s peak, 230,000 Nashvillians were without power, the largest number ever. Today, we have less than 90,000 homes remaining without electricity.NES has brought in partners from around the country to engage additional available, qualified crews.” 

Broyles-Aplin added that power is expected to be restored to thousands more households over the next two days; however, “for many, power will not be restored through the weekend or longer.”

Despite the challenges, the community has stepped up in true Nashville fashion. Local businesses like Edley’s Bar-B-Que are offering free meals to those impacted by the storm.

As Tim McGraw recently shared, “Woke up to the damage across Nashville this morning and my heart sank. So grateful our family is safe, but I know a lot of folks are hurting—homes damaged, power out, trees down. If you need help, ask. If you can help, go. That’s how Nashville works. We take care of our own.”

The post Ice Storm Ravages Nashville: Country Artists Among Tens of Thousands Still Without Power appeared first on Country Now.

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How To Add A Full Sensory Experience To Your Kitchen

A perfect kitchen balances decoration with function, but building a multi-sensory experience doesn’t require a massive investment of time or money.

​Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips

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USA’s Crystal Dunn Retires: Career Included Women’s World Cup, Olympic Gold

One of the veteran leaders and most versatile players to have ever played for the U.S. women’s national team will be moving on. Crystal Dunn announced her retirement on Thursday, capping off a 12-year senior international career that included helping the USWNT win the 2019 World Cup and the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She ends her national team playing days with 160 caps and 25 goals. Dunn, 33, will always be remembered as one of the legends of the game not only because of what she accomplished on the field, but for also being a role model off of it. She was one of the first Black stars of the national team. Her vivacious personality was contagious in every locker room she stepped in, especially when she’d start a dance party out of nowhere or show off her DJ skills. She’s mentored plenty of young players, and always put her team first. Dunn is one of the most versatile players the national team has ever had. She could play any position on the field and often did. She was an attacking player in college at North Carolina, where she was a four-time All-American, won the MAC Hermann Award, and helped the Tar Heels win a national championship. She played attacking midfielder, winger and forward for her club teams, but was often saddled at left back for the national team. Playing on the back line wasn’t always Dunn’s favorite, as she had a nose for scoring goals. But she did what the team needed and was considered to be one of the best outside backs in the world, especially when it came to winning one-on-one battles. “I leave the game with a sense of peace and deep fulfillment for all that I’ve accomplished,” Dunn said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work with, from teammates and coaches to family and friends, and all the amazing moments we’ve shared. I’m very much looking forward to my next chapter ahead.” Dunn gave birth to her son Marcel in May 2022 and impressively returned to the field just a few months later. That NWSL season, she scored the winning goal for the Portland Thorns in second-half stoppage time of the NWSL playoff semifinal to send her team to the championship game. The next year, Dunn was one of three moms to play for the USWNT at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Dunn played for six different clubs over the course of her professional career, including the Washington Spirit, Chelsea, the North Carolina Courage (where she won back-to-back NWSL titles in 2018 and 2019), the Portland Thorns (where she won another title in 2022) and Gotham FC. She most recently played for Paris Saint-Germain. While USWNT manager Emma Hayes is doing a remarkable job developing the talent pool and young leaders, Dunn’s veteran presence will certainly be missed in the locker room as it prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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The Ohio Food Anthony Bourdain Called A ‘Mutant Hybrid’

Anthony Bourdain gave his opinion on the controversial “state dish of Ohio,” an iconic regional dish that is fiercely loved or outright hated by locals.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

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Music

Entenmann’s Unwraps Heavenly New Dessert Collab

Get ready for a sweet twist in the frozen aisle as Entenmann’s teams up with Turkey Hill for a dessert that chocolate lovers won’t want to miss. Continue reading…​The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs

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Ray J Says He Only Has a Few Months Left to Live

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Ray J has once again opened up about his severe health problems.

After telling followers that he was recently hospitalized for pneumonia, the ex-boyfriend and sex tape partner of Kim Kardashian elaborated on Wednesday via social media… actually saying that he doesn’t believe he’ll still be alive a year or so from now.

“2027 is definitely a wrap for me,” Ray J said during a January 27 Instagram livestream before gesturing to his heart. “This is black. This is, like, done.”

Ray J speaks on the BETX Main Stage: Where Black Music Lives during the 2024 BET Experience Fan Fest at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

From there, the rapper went on to reflect on how his condition got so bad that he “almost died” during his hospitalization.

“I f–ked up,” Ray J recounted. “I think I thought I had more weight. I thought I was big so I could handle all the alcohol, I could handle all the Adderall, I ccould handle all the drugs — but I couldn’t. It curved my time here.”

The 45-year-old even went on to that, prior to his health scare, he was drinking “like four or five bottles a day” and taking “10 Addys.”

That’s CRAZY!

“I’m like, ‘Ain’t nothing happening to me,’” he continued. “I’m undestructible.”

Ray J speaks on the BETX Main Stage: Where Black Music Lives during the 2024 BET Experience Fan Fest at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

Earlier this week, Ray J admitted that his heart is “only beating 25 percent,” although he expressed optimism that he would ultimately recover.

“As long as I stay focused and stay on the right path, everything will be all right,” he said in a January 25 Instagram video. “My health is not okay, so I thank everybody for supporting and praying for me through everything I’ve been in the hospital.”

Most notably, the artist made an effort to single out Brandy, his older and famous sibling; along with Love Cabin castmate Shila Hasanoff, who the star said was “sitting in the f–king hospital, just watching me be sick.”

“There’s a few people that’s helped me kind of survive this,” he emphasized. “I love you, Sheila.”

Sadly for Ray J, who has quite the history with Kardashian and her family members, this is not the first time he’s been very sick.

Back in 2021, the singer/rapper also sought treatment for the lung infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ray J attends the BET Experience Celebrity Basketball Game on June 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for BET)

“I thought it was over,” Ray J told celebrity gossip outlet TMZ at the time, stating how shared a hospital wing with COVID-19 patients despite testing negative for the respiratory virus.

“I started praying and knew God is good, so I just kept praying.”

Amid his latest medical emergency, the For the Love of Ray J lead was also dealing with his divorce from Princess Love, with whom he shares daughter Melody, 7, and son Epik, 5.

“After much reflection, discussion, and counseling, we have come to the difficult realization that our paths have diverged, and it is in the best interest of both of us to part ways,” Princess told People Magazine 2024.

“We want to reassure you that this decision was made thoughtfully and with mutual respect and consideration for each other’s well-being.

“While our relationship as spouses may be coming to an end, we remain committed to co-parenting our children and maintaining a positive and supportive family dynamic.”

Ray J Says He Only Has a Few Months Left to Live was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Last Night in College Basketball: Even Without Key Players, UConn Dominated

Men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball – there’s no shortage of college ball, every night. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you figure out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in college basketball. UConn shows off its depth, extends win streaks UConn faced off against Xavier on Wednesday without starting senior forward Serah Williams — last year’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year before her transfer from Wisconsin — and freshman forward Blanca Quinonez, who is averaging 10.6 points in 19.6 minutes per game off the bench this season. You would not know this was the case unless you were told or saw it yourself, given the way the game played out. Junior guard Ashlynn Shade stepped up with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and a career-high and Division I-leading 9 steals, helping UConn force an absurd 34 turnovers. And sophomore guard Allie Ziebell was red-hot off the bench: she played 29 minutes and scored a career-best 34 points on 11-for-15 shooting while sinking 10 3-pointers, which tied the Huskies’ program record. Ziebell also had 3 assists and 2 steals, and her 34 points represented more than what Xavier’s starters managed, combined — the fivesome put up 33 points as a unit, with the bench adding the other half-dozen in a 97-39 defeat. Ziebell just likes shooting against Xavier: every time she has made at least 5 3-pointers — this is the third time it’s happened — it has been against the Musketeers. What’s maybe most incredible about the final score is that UConn was up just 22-17 after the first quarter, and Xavier even had a lead for a bit. Then things got very ugly for the Musketeers. The Huskies not only forced 34 turnovers, but scored 48 points off of them, and the defense held Xavier to 7, 7, and 8 points in each of the three remaining quarters. UConn stole the ball 22 times as a team; Xavier didn’t register a single theft. And again, this was without Williams and Quinonez, a starting defensive-minded forward and the primary option off the bench that’s trusted to run things when Williams or sophomore star forward Sarah Strong needs a breather, and the two top scorers after Strong and fifth-year guard Azzi Fudd. (Williams, incidentally, is now behind both Shade and Ziebell in points per game after last night.) UConn has now won 50-straight Big East matchups, tied for the 12th-longest conference winning streak in Division I women’s basketball. It was also the Huskies’ 38th win in a row overall, breaking a tie with 2013-2014 Notre Dame for the 11th-longest streak in women’s D-I history. Three more victories would give UConn half of the top-10 such streaks in Division I women’s basketball, as the Huskies would pass 1985-1987 Texas’ 40-game run. Standing in UConn’s way on Sunday is the last team that it lost against: No. 15 Tennessee. The Huskies lost to and in Tennessee on Feb. 6, 2025, 80-76. They then won the final seven games of the regular season, however, then the Big East tournament and the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, and are now 22-0 in 2025-2026. Sunday’s big game, by the way, will air on Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. ET live on FOX and the FOX Sports app. Washington upsets Maryland in 2OT No. 25 Washington took on No. 16 Maryland on the road, and some killer basketball was the result. Not only did the Huskies upset the Terps, but they did so in double-overtime, 83-80. Junior guard Sayvia Sellers was the driving force behind the Huskies’ attack, with a career-best 38 points — the most in Division I men’s or women’s ball last night — on 15-for-32 shooting with 5 3s, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. There was also a serious battle for boards in this game. Maryland junior forward Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu D-I led all of D-I’s women with 16 rebounds, tied with Army’s Kya Smith, and she got more than a little help from 6-foot-2 senior guard Saylor Poffenbarger, who logged a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and senior guard Yarden Garzon, who dropped 24 points with 7 rebounds. Maryland, as a team, pulled down 52 boards, but that was barely enough to beat out Washington, which had 50 of its own rebounds thanks to sophomore guard Avery Howell and freshman forward Brynn McGaughy collecting 11 each. The two were basically this close in everything. Both sank 30 shots, with the Huskies shooting 37% and the Terps 38%. Both hit 13 free throws, were one apart in assists and Washington scored 40 points in the paint to Maryland’s 36. There was some real separation in the score for a bit, however, with Maryland going up 13 at one point, and leading for 59% of the game as a whole. Then, Washington won the third quarter, 23-11, and senior guard Ella Ladine hit a 26-footer with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 59; Maryland would miss both of its layup attempts to win as time expired. With no time left in overtime, Poffenbarger was fouled and had a chance to win it for the Terrapins. Instead, she got the first to tie the score, 72-72, then missed the second, while Washington grabbed the rebound. Poffenbarger would once again get the chance to be the hero in the second OT with 12 seconds left and the Huskies up 82-80, but she missed a layup, got her own rebound, passed it out and then watched Kyndal Walker also miss a layup. McGaughy got the rebound with 2 seconds left, and outside of one more sank free throw for Washington, that was that — the Huskies won, 83-80, and moved to 7-3 in Big Ten play, half-a-game behind fifth-place Ohio State, while Maryland fell to 5-5 and a tie for eighth. Wisconsin comes back from down 20 With 14 seconds left in the first half, Wisconsin had managed all of 15 points, but Minnesota had just hit a 3 to extend its lead to 20. The Badgers would manage another bucket before heading to the locker room down 35-17. When play resumed, it would be the Gophers unable to put together any offense — with 10:37 left in the second half, junior guard John Blackwell hit a 3-pointer to bring Wisconsin within 2, 39-37. In those nearly 10 minutes, the Golden Gophers had managed just 4 points. While Minnesota’s offense eventually woke back up, that stretch of nearly 10 minutes cost them. The Gophers scored 24 points over the next 10:37, but the Badgers put up 30. Blackwell scored 23 points total (and Wisconsin’s final 7 points) with 7 rebounds and an assist and steal each, while senior guard Nick Boyd contributed 21 points and 5 assists. Wisconsin got very little from anyone else besides this duo as far as the box score goes, but defensively? Minnesota didn’t even get many opportunities to shoot in the second half, as they shot 8-for-18 total in the last 20 minutes, and didn’t even attempt a bucket until the first five minutes of the second had nearly gone by. Wisconsin is now 7-3 in Big Ten play, tied with Purdue and UCLA for fifth in the conference. All three teams are one win and two losses behind Illinois and the possibility of a double bye in the conference tourney. Iowa State upsets Texas Tech When junior forward Addy Brown suffered a lower body injury, it was a disaster for Iowa State. The Cyclones lost the last game she played in, as well as the next four matchups — Brown was not only the second leading scorer on the team, but also its best facilitator and a key rebounder. After those five losses, however, Iowa State seems to have found its footing again. They dropped 93 points on Cincinnati and 90 on Arizona in back-to-back wins, and on Wednesday upset No. 21 Texas Tech, 84-70, on the road. Division I women’s leading scorer and junior center Audi Crooks scored 33 points on 13-for-19 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds — her best night since Brown’s injury, which also included her 2,000th career point. Junior guard Jada Williams added 15 points with 9 assists, and senior forward Sydney Harris played 31 minutes off the bench, filling at least part of Brown’s shoes with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. Outside of the second quarter, when the Lady Raiders asserted themselves with a 20-14 showing, Iowa State was in control throughout. The Cyclones are now back to 5-5 in Big 12 play, and look like they are capable of being a dangerous opponent even without their key facilitator. If Iowa State can get the ball to Crooks in the paint, good things are going to happen for its offense, and that’s exactly what went down on Wednesday. Iowa State’s coach, Bill Fennelly, is now also the winningest coach in Big 12 women’s basketball history after Wednesday’s W: it was the 297th Big 12 win of his career. Houston, Florida rebound from defeats Both No. 10 Houston and No. 19 Florida had been surging of late, until they were not. The Cougars fell from No. 6 in the poll after an upset against ranked Texas Tech, while the Gators were upset by unranked Auburn, 76-67, on Saturday, dropping them from No. 16. Both teams avoided a losing streak in Wednesday’s action, though, with Houston topping TCU, 79-70, while Florida routed South Carolina, 95-48. While beating TCU by nine points might not wow in a vacuum, the Horned Frogs entered play ranked 44th in the NCAA Evaluation Tool — that’s a top-50 team with aspirations for March. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings was the key to the W for the Cougars, as he scored a game-high 27 points on 8-for-16 shooting and a perfect 9-for-9 from the line, while grabbing 5 boards with 5 assists. Senior guard Emmanuel Sharp added 23 points, and the team as a whole shot an excellent 22-for-24 from the line while also outpacing TCU from deep, 9 3-pointers to 4. South Carolina isn’t as significant of an opponent as TCU, but it still came into the game ranked 90th in NET. Florida beat them by 47 points, nearly doubling up on the Gamecocks. Four of the five Gators’ starters scored between 10 and 18 points, and junior guard Urban Klavzar scored 11 points in 20 minutes off the bench, as well. Florida outrebounded South Carolina, 45 to 24, had 28 assists to the Gamecocks’ 4, and shot 62% overall compared to South Carolina’s paltry 26%. It was a thrashing, and just what Florida needed to right itself. Troy beats Marshall despite Lewis-Eutsey The Sun Belt is a competitive conference in the sense that it’s got plenty of teams vying for the top, but it might also have just the one March Madness bid — the automatic one each conference receives for its champion. Which makes games like Wednesday’s between Troy and Marshall significant for the Sun Belt: Arkansas State sits atop it at 9-1, Georgia Southern second at 9-2, then came Marshall (8-2) and Troy (7-2) behind them. The Trojans would win this matchup, 85-82, and did so despite a huge effort from the Thundering Herd’s Timaya Lewis-Eutsey. The senior guard scored 33 points on 12-for-24 shooting with 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and a D-I leading 10 assists. Troy made up for those points and then some, though, with four starters reaching double-digits and three of them scoring at least 17. Senior forwards Zay Dyer and Fortuna Ngnawo both logged double-doubles, with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the former and 21 points with 12 rebounds for the latter, helping the Trojans to a commanding 51-31 lead in rebounds that allowed for significant opportunities for second-chance points: Troy pulled down 23 offensive boards to Marshall’s 9. Marshall had the lead, 81-80, with 1:39 left on the clock after a Lewis-Eutsey and-1, but Dyer hit her own free throw to tie it up and then senior guard Ashley Baez sank a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left to go up 84-81 — all 18 of her points came in the second half, helping Troy make its 21-point comeback. The win was also the 500th of Troy coach Chanda Rigby’s collegiate career. Of those, 272 wins have come with Troy, leaving her three shy of becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach. St. John’s wins 7th-straight Things were rough for St. John’s for a while there. Ranked No. 5 in the preseason, the Red Storm fell and fell in the poll until they slipped off it entirely for four weeks. St. John’s reentered the poll at No. 25 this week, however, and then faced off against a top-50 team in Butler in Big East action on Wednesday. The Red Storm won handily, 92-70, pushing Butler to 57th in NET while moving their own rank in the NCAA Evaluation Tool up to 24th. St. John’s shot 56% overall and outrebounded Butler 41-31, allowing them to also handle the Bulldogs in the paint, 46-32. St. John’s is now 14-1 in the past two seasons in January — non-conference play might have been tough for the Red Storm, but they went right back to beating up on the Big East when conference play opened. They are now 9-1 in conference play, second in the Big East behind 10-0 UConn. While the conference has left a little to be desired this season as far as March aspirations go, St. John’s reviving its season could go a long way toward changing that.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

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Music

‘McArthur’ Mystery Revealed — We Missed a Big Clue!

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Music

‘McArthur’ Mystery Revealed — We Missed a Big Clue!

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Melania Trump Documentary Crew Ask For Their Names to Be Removed From Credits Following …

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The long-touted Melania Trump documentary hits theaters this week.

And the drama surrounding the film’s release might be more compelling than anything that happens on screen.

As we previously reported, Melania is receiving horrendous reviews, and ticket presales are some of the lowest ever seen for a film that’s screening in this many theaters.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump at his inauguration in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump at his inauguration in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images)

And just when it looked like the situation couldn’t get any worse, crew members began publicly bad-mouthing the film and asking to have their names removed from the credits.

It’s a highly unusual move, as a credit on a high-profile project like this one is the sort of thing that careers are built on.

But despite the hard work they put in — and it sounds like this was not an easy film to work on — crew members are either so unhappy with the finished product or so wary of the tainted Trump brand that they would prefer not to be associated with it.

“People were worked really hard. Really long hours, highly disorganized, very chaotic,” one person who worked on the set told Rolling Stone.

“It wasn’t easy money,” another added.

First Lady Melania Trump arrives for the State Banquet hosted by King Charles III and members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle during the state visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.
First Lady Melania Trump arrives for the State Banquet hosted by King Charles III and members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle during the state visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“It was very difficult because of the chaos that was around everything.… Usually [for a documentary] it’s like, ‘Oh, follow the subject.’ Well, it’s Melania Trump. With the first lady and Secret Service, you can’t just do things you usually do,” the second source explained, adding:

“I’m much more alarmed now than I was a year ago.”

Others said their beef had less to do with the subject of the film than with its director, Brett Ratner.

Before being tapped for Melania, Ratner had not helmed a film since 2017, when several women publicly accused him of sexual harassment.

Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump, arrives at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson, with former first lady Melania Trump, on April 6, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida.
Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump, arrives at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson, with former first lady Melania Trump, on April 6, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images)

“I feel a little bit uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this. But Brett Ratner was the worst part of working on this project,” said one insider.

“There was more talk about Brett being slimy than there was about Melania.”

“She was totally nice,” another added. “She was the opposite of Brett Ratner.”

Since seemingly no one wants to see this movie, and no one even wanted to work on it, there are questions about why it was made in the first place.

The answer might lie in the film’s financing. Amazon Studios shelled out a reported $75 million to produce Melania, and $28 million of that was a “licensing fee” that went straight to the Trumps.

In other words, this might all be an elaborate way for Jeff Bezos to grease the president’s palm.

Bezos almost certainly won’t be making his money back at the box office, but he may recoup his losses in the form of favors from the White House.

Melania Trump Documentary Crew Ask For Their Names to Be Removed From Credits Following … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip