Luke Bryan and Luke Combs haven’t announced any plans to perform at the 2026 CMAs, but we’ve got a theory they’re planning something. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Month: September 2026
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In a tragic twist, influencer Olivia Oras has died.
Reportedly, she underwent a cosmetic procedure.
Police are investigating her death as aggravated manslaughter.
What happened?
How did Olivia Oras die?
Finnish influencer Olivia Oras tragically passed away on September 3.
She was only 27 years old.
The content creator’s family have not rushed to share which cosmetic procedure she was undergoing.
However, in public statements, they have described her death as a result of a procedure “gone wrong.”
For the moment, what we know is that her parents say that she passed away after going under anesthesia at a private clinic in Helsinki.
Some surgeries have known — and feared — risks, such as embolisms.
We are still hoping for more details, but expect them in the near future.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 9, Finnish police confirmed that they are investigating Oras’ death as a crime.
Specifically, they are looking into it as a possible case of aggravated manslaughter.
However, the investigation is only days old. No arrests have been announced.
Who was Olivia Oras?
Fans may remember Olivia Oras for building a following on social media when she was just a teenager.
In 2016, she took part in the The Perfect Selfie documentary.
The doc followed a year and a half of her life as a high school girl.
Her following grew during that time, and the documentary explored her relationship with social media.
In the 2010s, social media as we know it was still a relatively new phenomenon — and, for the most part, not yet a weapon of division and discord used by governments and aspiring techno-feudal overlords as a weapon against most of humanity.
Later, Oras went on to launch a nonprofit.
The organization supports pulmonary disease research.
In the process — and true to her influencer roots — she worked with multiple tech and wellness companies.
There is no “good” age at which an innocent person should die. But Oras was only 27.
Her family, friends, fans, and followers are all mourning this loss — and hoping that an investigation can give them answers.
Influencer Olivia Oras, 27, Dies While Undergoing Cosmetic Procedure: Police … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
This story mentions suicide, if you or someone you know is struggling, please call Alaska’s crisis and suicide prevention lifeline at 988, help is available today.
NOTN- NAMI Juneau is inviting parents, caregivers and other trusted adults to a community event next week aimed at helping them recognize and respond to youth struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideations.
Charity Anderson with the National Alliance on Mental Illness said many young people hide their distress, even as their behavior changes.
“It’s really easy for people to mask how they’re feeling. You know, they’ll put on a smile, pretend everything is fine. In the background, maybe they are isolating a lot more, maybe they aren’t reaching out to friends as much, if somebody is sleeping a lot less or sleeping a lot more, if they are withholding food or eating too much, those could all be warning signs that somebody might be struggling.” Anderson said.
Anderson said warning signs of depression are showing up in younger and younger children, noting recent Alaska data on youth mental health is especially troubling.
As mentioned in a story by the Alaska Beacon, ‘The suicide-death rate for young Alaskans hit a 10-year high last year and the rate of suicide attempts has increased over the past decade.’
The free presentation, “Signs of Suicide,” will be held Sept. 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Floyd Dryden. Anderson said it is geared toward parents, caregivers, coaches and any adults who regularly interact with youth.
The program is built around the message ‘ACT’ acknowledge that something is wrong, show the person you care, and tell a trusted adult or help them connect with support.
Anderson said it is important for adults to share their own experiences with mental health struggles when appropriate, to normalize those feelings and show youth they are not alone. She also encouraged people to ask directly if they are worried someone may be suicidal, calling the common fear that the question might “put the idea in their head” a myth.
“Let that person know that you are a safe place to talk to. Sometimes people just need to know that they have somebody there.” She said.
The event will include food, youth activities and supervised childcare so adults can focus on the presentation.
By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
During a lengthy, meandering series of remarks last week, President Donald Trump offered another hint that his administration may seek to disrupt Alaska’s U.S. Senate election.
Fairbanks political writer Dermot Cole first noted Trump’s remarks.
On Aug. 18, NBC News — relying on unnamed sources — reported that the U.S. Department of Justice had issued grand jury subpoenas as it sought to investigate the campaign of Republican candidate Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg.
The Alaska Beacon has been unable to verify that reporting, but on Sept. 2, Trump alluded to a possible investigation.
Dan J. Sullivan has repeatedly said his campaign was inspired by his dissatisfaction with incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, and that he did not work with officials from Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign on his initial run for office.
Despite that, Trump and Dan S. Sullivan have repeatedly claimed — without providing evidence — that Dan J. Sullivan is a fraudulent candidate.
On Sept. 2, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he would travel to Alaska before the Nov. 3 general election in order to campaign for Dan S. Sullivan.
Hours later, talking with Republican lawmakers at a dinner in the Rose Garden, Trump again brought up the Alaska race.
“I’m going to go up to Alaska for Dan Sullivan. Think of it,” Trump said. “They have a man named Dan Sullivan running against him, the Democrats.”
“I think, Todd, you have a legal case on that,” the President said, referring to Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Blanche by a 50-49 margin on Aug. 8. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan was one of the decisive votes in favor of confirmation.
In the August primary election, Democratic candidate Mary Peltola had 49.5% of the vote, Dan S. Sullivan had 41.4%, and Dan J. Sullivan had 2.5% of the vote.
Under Alaska’s election system, the top four candidates advance to the November general election. The fourth-place finisher in the primary, Democratic candidate David Leslie, withdrew after the results were finalized, which advanced the fifth-place finisher, Gerald Heikes, who had 1.1% of the vote.
Trump, speaking on Sept. 2, said that even though Dan J. Sullivan had only 2.5% of the vote, his appearance on the November ballot could be decisive in a close contest between Peltola and Dan J. Sullivan.
“Let’s say he takes two or three points away. That’s the difference between winning and losing. It should be illegal. I don’t know how the judges are ruling (on) it, but it really is terrible,” Trump said.
Dan J. Sullivan did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the Beacon about the President’s remarks, but after the publication of this article, he answered by email: “I will not let President Trump’s threats of retribution force me out of this race. I’m running to give a voice to the Alaskans who voted for me and to honor the intent of our ranked choice voting system.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Sept. 9, 2026, at 9:03 a.m. with a response from Dan J. Sullivan.
Whiskey and bourbon may be cousins, but the two liquors taste quite different. Which one makes the better old fashioned cocktail and why? Here’s the answer.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
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Along with politically fueled outrage, sports betting and nudity are two things that make the internet go round in 2026.
So Sydney Sweeney’s new ad for the sports betting app Novig might actually make your local data center explode.
Yes, Sydney is once again using her most famous assets to capture the internet’s attention — and once again, it’s working like a charm.
If you’re like most people, you’d never heard of Novig before today.
Now, the little-known app is trending on Google and across social media platforms.
And it’s all because of series of eye-catching ads in which Sydney promises that the betting platform is devoted solely to sports and doesn’t dabble in politics like other prediction markets.
Of course, it’s anyone’s guess how many viewers are actually bothering to unmute the viral clips.
Needless to say, the folks running the show at Novig are probably very happy with their decision to shell out for a partnership with Sydney.
For the most part, reaction to the ads has been positive.
“Greatest ad ever,” wrote one enthusiastic commenter on Sydney’s page.
“She’s got the whole internet malfunctioning.. AGAINNNN,” another chimed in.
But as with Sydney’s previous ad campaigns, there’s been some blowback too.
Some folks are giving the actress a hard time for promoting a gambling app.
The decision to legalize sports betting remains a controversial one, and many critics are concerned about the impact on the lives of young men, who are the obvious target for these ads.
And then there are those who are criticizing Novig not for the nature of their business but for promoting themselves with such provocative content.
“Selling your body to a gambling company. There will be a new book in the bible about this one day,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“I mean can we all agree that at this point Sydney Sweeney is basically just a porn star without the stigma?” another added.
“Here’s Sydney Sweeney being naked to promote a new gambling app in what could be easily mistaken for an SNL skit,” a third account complained, adding:
“IDK who’s more pathetic: Sydney Sweeney or dudes.”
Meanwhile, others have pointed out that this is no mere endorsement deal, and Sydney is actually an equity partner in Novig.
So even if there’s truth to the reports that Sydney’s lingerie brand is failing, she might still be well on her way to becoming a billionaire.
And while she’ll likely continue to draw criticism from puritanical haters, there’s no denying that Sydney knows how to make her assets work for her.
Sydney Sweeney Goes Fully Nude For Sports Betting App Novig; Controversy Erupts on Social … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
There were plenty of meals that boomers loved. Here are the ones we think deserve a resurgence and a place at the center of your family’s table.
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He’s a familiar face to Taylor Sheridan fans. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Koe Wetzel announced that he has made the difficult decision to reschedule three upcoming shows, explaining that he needs to return home to be with his family.
He shared a new post on Instagram citing that the shift in tour dates comes as a result of an “unexpected family emergency back home.” The country-rocker acknowledged the inconvenience that rescheduling this weekend’s shows may have caused and expressed his appreciation to fans for their understanding during this time.
“I hate having to make this call, especially knowing how many of y’all have made plans to come see us. I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience and really appreciate your understanding and support right now,” he wrote.
Wetzel was originally scheduled to perform in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Sept. 16, Knoxville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22, and Greensboro, North Carolina, on Oct. 23 as part of The Night Champion World Tour. These shows have now been rescheduled for the dates listed below:
9/16 – Wilmington, NC
10/22 – Knoxville, TN
10/23 – Greensboro, NC
All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates. Wetzel concluded his statement by thanking all fans affected by the news.
“Thank y’all and see you soon!”
Fans flooded the comment section with kindness, offering their support by saying that “family comes first” and sending their well wishes to his loved ones.
This past weekend, the “High Road” singer was seen celebrating opening weekend of college football at Louisiana State University alongside fellow country acts like Lainey Wilson and Jordan Davis. While in town, he also performed two shows across Baton Rouge and Bossier City.
Throughout the trek, Wetzel has been showcasing the new music off his most recent album, The Night Champion, alongside his latest release, “Jaded” featuring Ella Langley.
Co-written by Wetzel, Langley, Jordan Schmidt and ERNEST, the vulnerable new duet finds Wetzel and Langley carrying the emotions of two people who are burdened with the scars of past heartbreak.
The song has already impacted radio and is steadily becoming a fan-favorite, marking yet another successful between the two acts following their first duet, “That’s Why We fight,” in 2023.
Koe Wetzel is currently expected to return to the road on September 17 in Alpharetta, GA.
The post Koe Wetzel Reschedules Three Tour Dates Due to ‘Unexpected Family Emergency’ appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
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In early September, the Lindsay Clancy trial ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict.
As it turned out, there was one lone holdout preventing an acquittal.
Now, the jurors are speaking out, discussing their experiences — and describing the “arrogant” man who held up deliberations until the trial was over.
According to former members of the jury, he ignored evidence and answers to his questions, leaving the case in limbo.
‘He admitted he had reasonable doubt’
Three jurors spoke to NBC 10 Boston mere days after the Lindsay Clancy case came to a close.
Foreman Roni Carlson, a retired elementary school teacher, said that wrangling during jury deliberations was at times more challenging than managing a classroom full of Fifth Graders.
Speaking of the holdout, it sounds like he had reasonable doubt … giving the other jurors a brief moment of hope before he dashed it.
“He admitted he had reasonable doubt and I started filling out the forms. I was so excited,” she recalled.
Being on a jury is a grueling business, and the obligations of being even a prospective juror begin even before the trial. Everyone was understandably eager to leave the high-profile legal case behind them.
‘She had to have snapped’
“But I’m still not going to say that she’s not guilty by reason of insanity,” she recalled the lone holdout saying.
That sounds like a violation of the instructions that jurors are given. If there is reasonable doubt, acquittal is usually the verdict.
Carlson described how the defense laid out a solid argument, using a series of witnesses to portray Clancy as a loving mother who had suffered a psychotic episode.
“Everything proved she loved her children, from her journals to her mother-in-law, everything proved that she loved her children,” the foreperson summarized.
Carlson reasoned: “So she had to have snapped and not known what she was doing.”
Fascinating. Three jurors on the Lindsay Clancy case spoke with NBC Boston. According to the jurors, 11 jury members wanted to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity. The holdout juror “admitted he had reasonable doubt” and then said “but I’m still not going to say she’s not guilty…”
— Anna Bower (@annabower.bsky.social) September 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
‘He just completely disregarded the information’
During the interviews, one former juror spoke at length about the evidence from the Lindsay Clancy trial.
This is where the rogue juror earned the description of “arrogant,” for seemingly refusing to listen to the evidence presented at trial.
At one point, the lone holdout asked about medication, at which point jurors in the room — some of whom had expertise in the matter, which they of course disclosed during the voir dire process — answered his question.
“And he just completely disregarded the information that he gave,” the former juror described.
That sounds worrisome. It also sounds incredibly frustrating for the other jurors who were, to be blunt, ready to go home to their families.
Rogue jurors are not unique to this trial
Fortunately, the jury system — despite its many flaws — is designed to operate so that one or two jurors with bad intentions (or simply individuals who struggle to operate as intended) cannot send a guilty person to prison.
After all, it is better for 100 guilty people to go free than for one person to be condemned to our hellish carceral system. Even though the idea of that really sucks.
Many of us can imagine being on a jury where a guilty party is about to go free, and we are the lone holdout. “The demon,” a nickname that OJ Simpson’s defense gave to one juror during his famous murder trial, was apparently one such party — until she surrendered for reasons unknown, voting to acquit.
But the Clancy trial is a case of postpartum psychosis, a known and fortunately rare situation in which a parent who has given birth in recent months has their protective instincts reversed, killing one or more children — sometimes with the belief that this is the only means of “saving” the children.
It is not rational and it does not make sense, because the person is in a psychotic state from which they can recover, never again becoming a danger to anyone.
It is unclear how someone could review the evidence and believe that Clancy belongs in prison. There are countless evil, monstrous parents in the world. This case was a preventable tragedy.
Lindsay Clancy Jurors Describe ‘Arrogant’ Lone Holdout: ‘He Just … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip