At 95, William Shatner is nothing less than a living legend in the world of television.
And he earned even more public adulation on Wednesday, when he and daughter Melanie Shatner Gretsch both spoke candidly about their stage 4 cancer diagnoses.
The father-and-daughter duo appears on the cover of this week’s issue of People magazine.
Actor William Shatner on the main stage during “Star Trek: Mission New York” day 3 at Javits Center on September 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Inside the mag, they opened up about learning in 2023 that they were both battling Stage 4 cancer.
Thankfully, both are now cancer-free. But as Melanie revealed in an in-depth interview, the fight was not without its frightening moments.
“I was having a moment and was hysterical,” Melanie recalls of the days when she was receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. “I called you and said, ‘I think I’m dying.’
“He gave me, what I think of ever since I was a little girl, a ‘daddy bear hug,’” she adds. “He said, ‘This is going to be a blip in your life. You’re going to get through this, and it’ll be a memory.’”
Shortly thereafter, William was diagnosed with Stage 4 salivary cancer.
“I remember vividly thinking, ‘I don’t have the strength to take care of myself and lose my father at the same time,’” says Melanie.
“They said, ‘You got cancer. If you came in later, you would have been dead.’ See? That’s my life,” William recalls. “I think the universe is taking care of me.”
William adds that he and Melanie leaned on one another throughout their shared battle, and the rest of the Shatners cheered them on.
“We’re a very together family,” he said. “We’re bonded by all kinds of difficulties that we’ve overcome.”
William went on to say that the experience has left him with a greater appreciation for the small pleasures in life.
“I’m thinking of the miracle of a hummingbird, and of my dog taking a ball, and my children,” he said, adding:
“I’m aware of the magic of it all.”
Here’s hoping William and Melanie will be able to enjoy many more happy years together,
For Gabby Barrett, the most meaningful songs are the ones that allow listeners to see themselves in the story. That’s exactly what drew her to “In On It,” a powerful ballad that shares a message about trusting the bigger picture even when life’s challenges are difficult to understand.
Over the years, the songstress has built close relationships with esteemed songwriters who understand her artistry and know when they’ve written something that would perfectly complement her catalog. The single, written by Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, and Jimi Bell, was sent to Barrett and she immediately fell in love with it.
“I loved everything about it. I loved the message. I loved the movement of the song. It felt really good. We’re actually performing it live already now at shows and it’s been received really well by folks. And so that’s all you can hope for really,” she told Country Now.
Photo Courtesy of Gabby Barrett
It was the compassion and raw honesty woven throughout the lyrics that immediately resonated with Barrett. She recalls feeling a personal connection to the song’s reminder that even the most uncertain seasons of life serve a greater purpose, even when that isn’t clear in the moment.
“I think the song is really about looking back on your life and realizing that even when you can’t understand something going on or couldn’t understand what was happening, that God already knew where the story was headed,” she shared. “And I feel like we’ve all had moments that didn’t make sense in real time, but later you realize they were leading you somewhere better. And so that’s really what the song is about, trusting that there can be purpose even before you can see it.”
Gabby Barrett; In on It
The “I Hope” singer specifically remembers the uncertainty she felt early on in her career before and during her American Idol days. She was working so hard day in and day out to turn her dreams into a reality, not knowing if it would all be worth it in the end.
“It’s just like you don’t truly know what the outcome is going to be even when you’re in the midst of a hard season. But I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older that it’s really helpful having this mindset of believing that things are going to work out for the good in the end,” she pointed out.
Gabby Barrett’s clear and commanding vocals shine through behind each lyric, built around a steady production that gradually grows in intensity and allows her voice to take center stage before amplifying the powerful message. Throughout the track, she depicts everyday people facing challenges like a farmer fighting to save his land, a single mother working tirelessly to provide for her children, and a child facing a life-threatening illness.
By sharing these stories, Barrett captures the struggle of wanting answers and learning to trust the path set by the man above, but beneath it all is a reminder of hope.
“Keep betting on a dream even when you can’t win on it/ Keep holding on when you’re way out on a limb on it/ Might be your hands but he’s got his fingerprints on it/ God’s got a plan even if you ain’t in on it/ Take all the nights that you don’t think that you can take anymore/ Take all the weight that you can’t carry, let it fall to the floor/ Lift up your hands and put an amen on it/ God’s got a plan even if you ain’t in on it,” she sings on the chorus.
“In On It” serves as the Pennsylvania native’s first release of 2026 and sets the tone for the next chapter of music that she’s working on.
“It felt like the right song to introduce people to where I’m headed creatively,” she pointed out.
“I think they can expect a lot of honesty with my music. I want songs that people want to live with, not just hear once,” Barrett continued. “So songs that make you laugh and make you think and make you feel something and hopefully become part of people’s lives. In regard to the next record, I’m still letting it become what it’s supposed to be, which is honestly my favorite way to make a record. I don’t like forcing a scene too early. I just want to chase the very best songs and let the world naturally reveal itself as we continue to nail that down. So I would say that’s a good idea of creatively where I’m going.”
With her next collection of songs in the works, Barrett is also gearing up to join Parker McCollum’s 2026 tour, starting July 24 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
“It’s always very exciting to be put in front of potentially some new fans and again, hope that they can connect to your music and find themselves in the midst of it. And you never know. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll pop up and do a song with him or something at some point and that would be really fun, but definitely excited.”
Joining her on the road will be her husband, Cade Foehner, who typically plays lead guitar for her band and their three children.
“I really enjoy having them there. It’s literally like take your kids to work. I can have it all just mixed into one, which is so nice…it is truly like living the dream.”
Carly Pearce has never been one to shy away from being honest with her fans, and her latest TikTok post is no exception.
After a TikTok user commented on one of her videos asking, “Are you still deciding about having kids? Getting married again?” Pearce responded with a raw and heartfelt answer, sharing her true thoughts and feelings on both topics.
The Kentucky native, 36, held nothing back as she opened up about the pressure many women feel to become mothers, explaining that while she loves children, motherhood has never been a personal dream of hers.
Carly Pearce; Photo via Facebook
“Okay. So here’s the deal with this. And I don’t know, maybe some of you out here are like me. I always feel bad saying that I actually don’t want children. I love children. I love my friend’s children. I’m a great aunt, but it was never my dream. My dream was to pursue country music and live on the road,” she shared. “And I know that some people do that and they’re great at it, but it has never been my dream. And I think that we should normalize people that truly know they don’t want to have kids. I don’t think it should be for everyone just because society tells us to. So I don’t want children and I’m totally okay with that.”
As for marriage, Pearce, who endured a very public divorce with fellow country artist Michael Ray and documented the emotional experience through her deeply personal album 29, shared that she is still open to tying the knot again.
Despite what some may expect after going through such a difficult chapter, Pearce made it clear that her past will not prevent her from pursuing marriage in the future.
“And I absolutely want to get married again and intend to get married again and will never let my past hinder me from doing that again. So what?I was divorced. It was my startup marriage and now I get to have the real one.”
Pearce has been a bit more private when it comes to her current relationship with boyfriend Jordan Karcher, but she has occasionally offered fans a glimpse into their romance through sweet snapshots of game nights and date nights. Recently, she revealed that Karcher relocated to Nashville and even referred to him as her “LOML” (love of my life).
Carly Pearce with Jordan Karcher; Photo via Facebook
As always, Pearce’s music will continue to reflect the current chapter of her life, and fans can expect to hear that honesty when she releases her new album, Honest Woman, on August 28 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
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The source explained: “He thought it would be the ultimate tribute to President Trump.”
By all accounts, Trump dislikes Vance because the latter is fundamentally awkward and unlikable, with no rizz and no popular appeal. The guy is VP because business-brained tech weirdos like Peter Thiel find him useful.
Maybe such a desperate, sycophantic tribute could fix that?
“JD knows the President appreciates loyalty,” the insider continued, “and he believed it would be a meaningful gesture.”
Fortunately, Usha didn’t want to impart this malediction upon her newborn.
“She shut it down — politely, but firmly,” the source then described.
“Usha wanted their son’s name to reflect their family,” the insider continued, “not make a political statement.”
The source then commented: “She wasn’t about to turn her newborn into a headline before he could even walk.”
Naturally, a sitting VP welcoming a newborn is news — as it hasn’t happened in over 150 years. But it’s a blip on today’s hellish news cycle of wars, plagues, disasters, and corruption.
A modeling recruiter who allegedly helped introduce young women to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead in France while under investigation for rape and human trafficking.
French authorities confirmed that the body of Daniel Siad, 69, was discovered Monday evening at his home in Colombes, a suburb northwest of Paris.
Police have opened an investigation into the cause of his death and ordered an autopsy, though officials have not yet released any findings.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman announces charges against Jeffery Epstein on July 8, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Siad had come under renewed scrutiny earlier this year after the U.S. Department of Justice released thousands of pages of documents connected to Epstein’s criminal network (via The Guardian).
The files referenced Siad extensively and prompted multiple women in France to file criminal complaints accusing him of rape and human trafficking.
According to investigators, Siad worked as an international modeling scout and maintained a professional relationship with Epstein for years, introducing aspiring models during the disgraced financier’s trips to Paris and other parts of Europe.
In interviews before his death, he claimed he believed Epstein was conducting legitimate model castings and insisted he had no knowledge of the abuse that would later become synonymous with Epstein’s name.
“I trusted him and believed this guy was a professional person,” Siad previously told CNN (via The Guardian), adding that none of the women he introduced to Epstein ever reported mistreatment back to him.
However, documents released this year painted a more troubling picture, including emails between Siad, Epstein, and fellow model scout Jean-Luc Brunel discussing the recruitment of young women from across Europe.
One exchange reportedly referenced a 15-year-old girl, further fueling investigators’ concerns.
One of Siad’s accusers, former Swedish model Ebba Karlsson, alleged that he raped her after scouting her for modeling work decades ago.
She later filed criminal complaints in France, accusing him of rape and human trafficking. Siad denied those allegations through his attorney.
His death comes more than four years after another prominent Epstein associate, French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, was found dead in a Paris prison while awaiting trial on charges including rape of minors and human trafficking. Authorities ruled Brunel’s death a suicide.
For now, French prosecutors say the circumstances surrounding Siad’s death remain under investigation. An autopsy is expected to help determine exactly how he died.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available,
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In July of 2025, Ozzy Osbourne passed away. The rock legend was 76.
Fellow musicians later claimed that he knew that he was dying as he put on his farewell concert, but did it anyway.
Sharon has confirmed as much.
What’s more is that she’s sharing that it gave Ozzy a wonderful boost and source of joy in his final weeks.
Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne speak onstage during the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020. (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
‘It was a gift …’
On Wednesday, July 22, Sharon Osbourne was in Birmingham to reflect upon the life and passing of her late husband — one year later.
Exactly one year after rock legend Ozzy’s death, his widow spoke to The BBC about his legacy, his fans, and about how doctors tried to warn him against his final concert.
In early July of 2025, Ozzy performed while enthroned on a stage at the Villa Park stadium.
“Ozzy knew that he was dying,” Sharon confirmed on Wednesday.
She added: “He was told two weeks before the show that he was dying, and they said ‘don’t do the show.’”
At 76, Ozzy wasn’t interested in doctors’ advice.
“He said, ‘Yeah, right. Get out of here,’” Sharon characterized his reaction.
“It was a gift to be surrounded by his loyal crew, his friends, his family, the fans,” she gushed.
“His greatest love affair was with the audience,” Sharon praised, “and that’s the way he wanted to go out.”
She added: “Just one more time and he got to do that — and he smashed it.”
‘It was just so great to see him every day smiling’
According to Sharon, Ozzy “was the happiest I had ever seen him” in those final two weeks of his life.
She expressed that “It was just so great to see him every day smiling.”
Sharon called the farewell show an “absolute joy,” boosting Ozzy in his final weeks of life.
“He had been so down, so depressed because he knew it was the end,” she explained.
Sharon also confessed that her late husband had been “so afraid that he wouldn’t be able to sing.”
“I can’t forget what Birmingham did for Ozzy,” Sharon said, choking up one year after losing her husband.
Ozzy came from humble roots and rose to global stardom. He was and remains a music icon.
She also had words of advice for his fans.
“As Ozzy would say, ‘When you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang,’” Sharon relayed.
That is a beautiful tribute on an emotionally heavy day for Sharon. And, of course, for Ozzy’s legions of fans.
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