Giving the command to start engines for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington next month will be two athletes who are familiar to anyone who has paid an ounce of attention to Texas sports. Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez were announced as the grand marshals for the March 15 race. The race will be the inaugural street-course event in Texas on a 2.73-mile circuit, that winds its way through the Arlington entertainment district, including AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers). Ware, a former Cowboy linebacker, is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Rodriguez, a former Rangers catcher, earned 13 Golden Glove awards. “DeMarcus Ware and Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez represent the very best of North Texas, championship-caliber excellence, unwavering pride and a deep connection to this community,” said race president Bill Miller in a news release.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
This is their first time facing off in court, in person, since this began.
Blake Lively showed up to the courthouse.
So did Justin Baldoni — in an oddly similar outfit, actually.
This hearing is one final chance to end their legal war.
As a guest on ‘Late Night,’ Blake Lively’s dress was almost too big for her seat. (Image Credit: NBC)
This time, ‘see you in court’ means literally seeing each other in the courtroom
On Wednesday, February 11, Blake Lively arrived at the US District Court in Manhattan.
She was not alone.
Justin Baldoni also arrived at the courthouse that morning.
We have to acknowledge that the former co-stars who are now at odds in a legal battle were dressed oddly similarly.
Both opted for earth tones, with elements of green and a touch of warm colors, too.
Justin Baldoni arrives to Manhattan federal court on Wednesday morning for behind-closed-doors settlement talks in the Blake Lively “It Ends With Us” civil case.
(In fact, some of the thumbnails of Baldoni and his wife, Emily, could almost be mistaken for the actor walking side-by-side with Lively — if you didn’t know better, of course)
The Baldonis have been married since 2013.
They share two children.
Clearly, Emily’s goal — doubtless on the advice of Baldoni’s team — is to make a visible show of support for her husband.
On CBS Mornings, Justin Baldoni spoke about his then-upcoming film, ‘It Ends With Us.’ (Image Credit: CBS)
The man who once presented himself as the ultimate ally to women is having what you might call a ‘branding crisis’
Yes, Lively and multiple other actresses from It Ends With Us feel that her husband is a creep and have documented complaints on the subject.
He allegedly made comments on an Isabela Ferrer scene that seemed unprofessional and leering.
Baldoni made a much stronger impression upon Jenny Slate, who expressed her revulsion for him and his alleged feminist facade years ago, in writing, while filming the project.
Emily’s presence is meant to convey that there are women who like the guy.
Well, at least one woman. She even held hands with the guy!
HAPPENING NOW: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni arrive in Manhattan for their closed-door mediation/settlement conference with Judge Sarah Cave. We are outside and learning this could last for three hours or three days! My favorite pool photographer, Curtis Means snapped much… pic.twitter.com/YVTtptjNp7
Despite mountains of evidence, this trial doesn’t have a certain outcome
This is a complex legal case — one involving allegations of sexual harassment, workplace misconduct, and an smear campaign intended to preemptively discredit Lively just in case she ever came forward.
The public has already seen communications from Baldoni’s team and strategists, which include conversations about how willing
That doesn’t mean that the trial itself will be a slam dunk.
If you’re looking to supplement your understanding of this legal war ahead of the trial, we’d recommend this (admittedly dated) deep dive by Matt Bernstein.
And, of course, we’ll keep you up to date here at The Hollywood Gossip.
It’s no secret that Eric Church has always pushed creative boundaries rather than playing it safe in his artistry. His drive to explore new ways to challenge himself and his music recently led him to the IMAX® exclusive theatrical release of Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive. This rare concert experience gives fans and Church himself the chance to feel the energy of his live performances in a brand-new way.
During a recent appearance on CBS Mornings, the legendary entertainer shared that it is an “honor” to have done what he loves for so long and to have found great success in the process. Since he has had so many years of experience in the business, he has learned the importance of evolving and embracing change in order to stay relevant and continue connecting with fans.
Eric Church; Photo Courtesy of Facebook
“It was such a moonshot for me to ever be able to have one successful song or one successful album. I feel like the more successful you are, the more you should push that boundary. And that comes from the artists that I grew up with that had that creative compass,” Church explains. “And to me, it’s like people, sometimes when they get successful, they pull back and they do what made them successful because they’re making money and they’re successful and they stay there. I think that’s actually the time that you do push the boundaries.”
The North Carolina native has seen first-hand how music is able to bring people of all walks of life together, even if only for one night. With the IMAX film, he’s hoping to recreate that powerful sense of community for those who cannot or choose not to experience live music in a real concert setting.
“I see it every night. When I go to these cities and we play for 15,000, 20,000 people, I know that a majority of those people that are watching me do not agree with the person beside them. But for those three hours, they do. And they’re all pulling on the rope the same way.”
He goes on to explain how music and sports both serve as a setting for people to come together, but unlike sports, you can’t tune into any concert around the world at any time to watch. To him, that’s what made creating something like the IMAX film so important. Plus, he felt drawn to the idea that the film “freezes a moment in time.”
“I’m going to get older. Those fans are going to get older, but we froze that moment in time forever musically.”
Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive makes its exclusive IMAX debut across the U.S. and Canada on Friday, February 13, 2026. In collaboration with IMAX, MCA, Mercury Studios, and Q Prime South, the limited theatrical release captures Church performing his eighth studio album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, front-to-back, as well as many of his hits that were reimagined with a 6-piece band, 4-piece horns, 4-piece strings, 8-piece choir and vocalist Joanna Cotton.
“The instruments we use for this are instruments that have been used for hundreds of years in orchestra music,” he told CBS Mornings. “And we tried to bring that in to show that you can still take the same song that I wrote on the first album many years ago, I write the song now, and this is the changes that can be made musically to give a different interpretation.”
Filmed over two nights at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee, the experience comes alive with IMAX’s groundbreaking 12-channel sound and unmatched image quality, delivering Church’s music on a cinematic scale unlike ever before. Accompanying the film is the 19-track live album, Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) arriving Feb. 13 via MCA.
Eric Church; Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Chief hosted a special screening event for members of his passionate Church Choir in Nashville, allowing them to preview the limited theatrical release before it opens to the public. When asked what it was like to see himself on a screen of that scale, Church admitted, “It was unnerving” as it gives him a completely different perspective of the show that he normally does not get to see.
“From my perspective, every night I see my microphone and I see the people. I never see this behind me. And first of all, in IMAX, you’re 12 foot tall, which I didn’t mind. But it was unnerving in that. And also kind of enlightening to see it all happen. The stuff that I never get to see, I got to watch it on the IMAX thing.”
Eric Church at the Jan. 21, 2026 screening of his IMAX film in Nashville, Tenn. (L to R: John Peets, Q Prime South President & Founder; Mike Harris, MCA President & CEO; Stephanie Wright, MCA EVP/Head of A&R; Eric Church; Robert Femia, MCA COO & EVP Business & Legal Affairs; Katie McCartney, MCA EVP/General Manager)
A full list of locations for the February showings is can be found at IMAX.com/EricChurch, with tickets on sale now.
As fans flock to the theaters to experience the film, Eric Church will continue to bring his live shows to audiences across the country with the second leg of his Free The Machine Tour. The trek launched January 22 and runs through April.
Now, an informant has come forward offering to assist the investigation in exchange for one Bitcoin.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie during one of Nancy’s many guest appearances on the ‘Today’ show. (YouTube)
According to a report from TMZ, the outlet has received an email — which they have since forwarded to the FBI — by a person claiming to know the name of the person responsible for Nancy’s abduction.
“If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant,” the email reads.
One Bitcoin is valued at about $66,000, and the reward for information about Nancy is currently $50,000.
So the demand is not outlandish from a price standpoint.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie in happier times. (YouTube)
But investigators and the Guthrie family are left with the same problem that they had with the original ransom note — namely, they have no way of verifying the legitimacy of this message.
But thus far, they have not received the evidence they’ve asked for.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah Guthrie said in her most recent video.
Nancy Guthrie is still missing, several days after being taken from her home. (YouTube)
“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Sadly, the kidnappers have not had any direct contact with the Guthrie family, meaning Savannah and company have no way of verifying if Nancy is alive and well.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah said in the video, which was captioned, “Bring her home.”
“She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer.
The 84-year-old Tucson resident disappeared from her home on Sunday, February 1.
Police found blood on the scene, and they’ve confirmed that they believe she was abducted.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Meet the three new farmers looking for love on Season 4 of ‘Farmer Wants a Wife.’ Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Parker McCollum’s latest music video has arrived, and it comes with a special on-screen appearance from his wife, Hallie Ray Light, marking her official music video debut. The just-released cinematic footage finds the country star bringing his captivating song “Killin’ Me” to life alongside his other half.
A few days prior to the video’s release, both Parker and Hallie Ray took to social media to share their excitement surrounding the chance to work together on set. He encouraged fans to give his “absolutely stunning” wife a “round of applause” for stepping out of her comfort zone and being a part of this project.
Hallie Ray Light, Parker McCollum; Photo Courtesy of Facebook
In her own post, she admitted that she was “so nervous” to be on camera but was ultimately proud of herself for making her long-awaited debut.
“i did it!!! work day with my hot husband & it was so much fun!!!”
While Hallie Ray might have been feeling uneasy in the moment, she appears to be calm, cool, collected and full of love for the man in front of her throughout the clips.
The Dustin Haney-directed video opens with McCollum pulling up to Hotel Drover, which sits right in the heart of Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards. Viewers follow him through the lobby, up the elevator, and into a smoky bar setting of the iconic Billy Bob’s Texas. Between performance clips, he’s seen sitting at the bar, sipping on bourbon until suddenly a stunning blonde in a long, silky black dress catches his eye as she moves swiftly across the dance floor.
Couples two-step around her, but it’s clear she’s on her own and looking for some company. After a few exchanged glances, he finally makes his way over, and they begin to dance, fitting together like two puzzle pieces that are just as magnetic as the song depicts.
Penned by McCollum with Randy Rogers and Monty Criswell, “Killin’ Me” finds the Texas native having an internal battle over wanting someone so badly, despite knowing that they won’t be good for him in the end. He begins by setting the scene of a dimly-lit room as the woman before him slips off her black dress, creating a tension he simply cannot resist.
“One more last time/ Are you all mine?/ Take your sweet time, go on/ Black dress slips off/ Dim lights, bedroom wall/ Catch me, I’m too far gone,” McCollum sings with his low, southern drawl creating a seductive energy.
Underneath the passion of the moment is emotional turmoil of a love so strong it feels fiery, intoxicating, and a little reckless. Over a mid-tempo, guitar-driven production that builds with intensity and leans into Parker McCollum’s signature grit and traditional country storytelling, he goes on to confess just how consuming that connection has become as a result of the woman’s irresistible appeal.
Photo Courtesy of Parker McCollum
“You turn every head and stop a room on a dime/ And when you look at me, I know you know I’m dying inside/ You’re everything I want/ You’re the last thing in this world that I need/ Yeah, every move you make is killin’ me.”
“Killin’ Me” appears on McCollum’s self-titled fifth studio album that was born from a week spent in New York city’s legendary Power Station alongside Grammy-winning producer Frank Liddell and his band. All that time in the studio led to a critically acclaimed 14-song collection that feels like the “What Kinda Man” singer’s most honest and creatively free project to date.
He recently announced plans to drop PARKER MCCOLLUM Deluxe Edition on March 20. The collection will offer four new tracks, including the fan-favorite, “Big Ole Fancy House.”
Parker McCollum Deluxe Edition
In between fans buzzing about the expanded project and McCollum and his wife preparing to welcome their second baby, he launched headlining tour.
The trek features support from Gary Allan, Gabby Barrett, Vincent Mason, Max McNown, and Jake Worthington on select dates and runs through the fall.
Additionally, he’s set to make his fourth consecutive appearance at the Houston Rodeo return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre after performing to a sold-out crowd three years in a row.
Instant pudding can be used for a lot more than, well, just pudding. From smoothies to fudge to cookies, use that box of instant pudding mix creatively.
NOTN- A proposed ferry terminal at Cascade Point near Juneau is drawing increasing criticism from Alaska lawmakers and the public alike, who are question its cost, planning and long-term benefit to the state’s struggling ferry system.
“I’m really struggling when we talk about the Cascade Point project and a few of these other proposed items, to understand how, from that statewide perspective, we’re investing the amount of money we’re investing into these projects.” Said Representative Ashley Carrick, “Why this? I’d like this money to stay in Southeast and be reinvested back into the Marine highway system in some way. But when you talk about there being controversy and welcoming the dialog, it doesn’t seem to jive with the fact that the dollars are already dedicated towards this project. So the discussion seems to be sort of moot and after the fact.”
Ryan Anderson, Commissioner for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said, “When we are looking at that balance between the cost of a ferry, I view it as the time of a person, so if you can reduce the time you have to be on the ferry by hours, I see that as a value. We’re constantly looking for ways for operational efficiency.”
The Department of Transportation has already begun spending money on the project despite what lawmakers call unresolved issues, including plans for fresh water, sewage handling and access for walk-on passengers.
“They have a sort of big concept of a plan,” Kiehl said. “You shouldn’t start spending money before you’ve worked that stuff out.”
An economic analysis completed earlier this year concluded the project would not pay for itself within a reasonable time frame, Kiehl said. Lawmakers are also concerned that the terminal would not reduce operating costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System, which has faced years of service cuts and budget challenges.
“The other thing that’s super weird is, We really use a lot fewer of Alaskans dollars if we put the projects through the federal process, 9 national dollars for every 1 Alaska dollar.” He said, “I want to be able to promise you that I’m using your money as efficiently as I can. Well DOT has decided to do this with 100% Alaska dollars, no federal money in it.”
The Marine Highway Operations Board has formally opposed the project, and Kiehl said many legislators share those concerns.
“I have a huge number of colleagues who are just saying, this is crazy.” Kiehl said, “When I talk to DOT, and I say, show me the homework, and I get the dreaming stage, that’s tough defense to play.”
Supporters of a proposed ferry terminal at Cascade Point point to a partnership with Goldbelt Inc. as a key advantage, but Alaska lawmakers say the collaboration has not resolved broader concerns about the project.
“I guess most folks in the legislature are really questioning, is a second ferry terminal in Juneau, the way to go? Does it save us money long term? Does it make the ferry system more efficient long term?” Kiehl said.
The NASCAR Cup Series has been unpredictable for several years, and a few of FOX Sports’ motorsports experts expect the 2026 season to be just as wild. In the most recent edition of “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” Bob Pockrass, Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith were all over the map with their predictions for the upcoming season. Each of them had different picks on who’ll be this year’s breakout driver, who’ll have the most wins and who’ll ultimately be the Cup Series champion. So, with Sunday’s Daytona 500 just days away (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), here is how Pockrass, Harvick and Smith expect the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series to play out. Which team has the most to prove this season? Pockrass: Richard Childress Racing With an uncertain future looming around RCR following an underwhelming season, Pockrass believes that Richard Childress Racing is under the most pressure in 2026. “You talk about Kyle Busch being a free agent and can you get the track right there with a new crew chief and get him feeling like this can be a place where he wants to keep racing at,” Pockrass said. “Where is Austin Dillon in his career? He obviously wants to run better as well. You’ve got a couple of young guys there who want to go Cup racing. Where are they looking for their futures? To me, RCR, they’ve gone through another round of competition changes, which seems like they’ve had a lot over the last two or three years. To me, they’re probably under the most pressure.” Both Dillon and Busch finished outside the top 12 in the Cup Series standings last year, placing 15th and 21st, respectively. Harvick: 23XI Harvick simply believes that 23XI needs to do more in 2026, specifically pointing to Tyler Reddick as a driver that needs to step up. “We gave them a mulligan last year,” Harvick said. “The bottom line is, Bubba [Wallace] got to victory lane, and we saw improvement from that car last year. Tyler Reddick has to win. I think he’s expected and went there to win races and been there long enough to win races. I think the scrutiny of that organization if they don’t, there’s no gimme this year. “Bubba’s been there long enough now that it’s time to start creeping into that multiple wins [per season]. Riley will hopefully run better after his first year in Cup. But the big Tyler Reddick scenario to me is you’re expecting multiple race wins out of that car and that company and, in my opinion, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin expect them to go out and contend for a championship.” After a three-win season in 2024, Reddick wasn’t able to get a win in 2025. He had seven top-five finishes, placing ninth in the season-long standings. Smith: RFK/22 Group Smith has a pair of teams that he believes need to step up in 2026. “RFK needs to show they can be a top team again,” Smith said. “Obviously, what we just saw with Ryan Preece, that was great. He’s their top guy. He’s consistently their fastest guy. If I would say who is the most motivated, the 22 Group is the most motivated because of maybe how much people on social media talk about their championships. “Watch the 22 Group show you what they can do in a different format. Watch them come out and be a top team as far as average, because it’s different.” None of RFK’s racers won a race last year, with all three finishing outside the top 15. Breakout Driver of the Year Pockrass: Chris Buescher Pockrass believes that Buescher could benefit from a potential strong season from RFK Racing. “When we talk to other drivers about, ‘Who do you think is gonna make the chase this year who didn’t make it last year?,’ a third of them didn’t even think twice before they said Chris Buescher. If RFK is stronger as a group, he’s going to be really strong,” Pockrass said. Buescher has taken a step back in the last two seasons following his seventh-place season finish in 2023, but had five top-five finishes in 2025. Harvick: Ty Gibbs Harvick thinks that one of Gibbs’ traits makes him strong enough to break through in 2026. “Just because he’s been so fast. He’s got the speed in the race car to keep himself in contention, can race well, and it’s just about getting over that hump to get to victory lane,” Harvick said. “I think they have the capability, the stability within the team now that they think they can have a breakout year.” The 23-year-old has finished in the top 20 of the Cup standings in all three of his seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. He had five top-five finishes in 2025. Smith: Chase Elliott Yes, Elliott is a past Cup champion, but Smith believes he’s due to climb back into contention after slipping to outside the top five in recent years. “I’m just thinking that they started figuring it out with the car,” Smith said. “That was just the biggest thing. He wasn’t very comfortable driving this car. Now, they figured it out. They went through all their gremlins. And their system is more to their liking. They probably feel like, ‘It’s back in our wheelhouse.” They’re probably going to have a good year.” Elliott finished eighth in the standings last year, picking up two wins. Who has the most wins this season Pockrass: Kyle Larson Pockrass thinks we see another strong year out of the No. 5 car in 2026 following his second Cup Series win last year. “I don’t see any reason why they’re going to get any worse,” Pockrass said. Harvick: Denny Hamlin Harvick believes that some external factors could come into play and lead to Hamlin having a strong year in 2026 following his second-place finish in 2025. “I could definitely make the argument for Larson, but there’s still a lot of motivation for Denny Hamlin,” Harvick said. “I just know he’s talked about his shoulder being hurt, being through so many things with his family, losing the championship and his dad’s passing and everything. I still believe there’s some fire in there to motivate him and as a driver, every year you’re looking for something to motivate you when you’ve done it that long. I hope that plays out, because I think he deserves it. I think sentiment for Denny Hamlin this year is going to be different. It started to shift last year. I believe that fan sentiment is going to be pretty positive this year as he rolls into the race track.” Smith: Christopher Bell Similar to Harvick with Hamlin, Smith thinks that motivation will play a role in Bell getting the most wins in 2026 after his midseason struggles last year. “I almost went with his other teammate, Chase Briscoe, but Christopher Bell is highly, highly motivated to win a championship,” Smith said. “That group is so fast. There’s really not any holes in his game. So, I think there’s a very good chance he ends the year with the most wins.” Who will be the Cup Champion? Pockrass: Ryan Blaney Pockrass didn’t offer an explanation for his pick, but Blaney has consistently been among the Cup Series’ top drivers. His sixth-place finish last year came two years after his 2023 title and a year after his 2024 second-place finish. Harvick: William Byron Harvick thinks it’s time for Byron to get over the hump following three top-five finishes. “It’s just that maturity and the things that go with a team. I think he and Rudy have a great relationship,” Harvick said. “They have worked through a lot of hard moments together, and that’s what it takes to be the champ.” Smith: Christopher Bell If Bell is going to get the most wins, why can’t he win the Cup Championship? That’s what Smith thinks of Bell entering 2026 as he had his fourth straight top-five finish in 2025. “Last year, I went with William Byron, and I still feel like the fire is there. But this year, I’m going with Christopher Bell. There’s something about it with him, and I think it’s his time.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
