NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. reads his final texts with Kyle Busch 1 day before driver's sudden death

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed his final text exchange with Kyle Busch one day before the driver's sudden death at 41 last week.

Key Points

• Earnhardt admitted that he has a "hard time believing" that Busch is gone.

• Busch died after his severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in complications, his family said.

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed his final conversation with Kyle Busch the day before the racing pro's unexpected death.

Earnhardt Jr. remembered his fellow driver,who died at 41on May 21, on the latest episode of his podcast,Dale Jr. Download, recalling their last text exchange and Busch's impact on him and the industry.

"I was texting with him the day before he passed away about getting together this Thursday to bring his seat for his late model over to my shop," Earnhardt Jr. began, explaining that they had agreed that Busch would drive the vehicle in the CARS Tour and that they were deciding which number they would run in the race, which spotlights late-model cars.

"He's texting me, and he's like, 'What scheme we going to run?' And I was like, 'You can run any scheme you want,'" Earnhardt Jr. said. "I was like, 'What number do you want to run?' He goes … he said it, literally, 'The Dale Jr. 8.' I was like, 'You got it.'" Earnhardt Jr. had driven the car from 1999 until 2007, making Busch's choice extra personal for him.

Busch responded to Earnhardt Jr.'s sign-off with the head-exploding emoji, Earnhardt Jr. said, referring to how race fans would react to seeing behind the wheel of the vehicle.

Earnhardt Jr. became emotional while discussing Busch's sudden death, saying he has a "hard time believing" that his friend and colleague is gone.

"What I've enjoyed, I guess, is learning more about Kyle the person," Earnhardt Jr. said, referring to recent conversations he has had with fellow drivers about Busch.

"We know who he is on the racetrack. We know how he is on the racetrack and in the media and so forth — what he was like at the track with the suit on and in that environment," he said. "I knew him on a personal level. But hearing how he interacted and how he was to others, the joke they may have shared in a text … I've really enjoyed learning who he was away from the track and how he interacted and engaged, or treated or talked to other people, and it's been good."

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"When he passed away this past weekend, we heard a lot of drivers say, 'He was my hero. I wanted to emulate him. I wanted to be like him,'" Earnhardt Jr. revealed, "and I know that that would have meant the world to him."

NASCAR, the Busch family, and the Richard Childress Racing team announced that the driver had died in a statement toEntertainment Weeklylast week.

"We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch," the statement read. "Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken … A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled, and he cared deeply about the sport and fans."

Busch is survived by wife, Samantha, and their children, Brexton and Lennix.

Busch was hospitalized on May 21 for a "severe illness," for which he was "undergoing treatment," his family said.

They announced hiscause of deathtwo days later. "The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications," they said in a statement to theAssociated Press.

Watch Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s full podcast episode below.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 27, 2026

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. reads his final texts with Kyle Busch 1 day before driver's sudden death

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed his final text exchange with Kyle Busch one day before the driver's sudden death at 41 last...

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Jay-Z's D'Ussé brand marks debut album with special release, events

This year,Jay-Z'sdebut album turns 30 and the celebrations have commenced with his cognac brand rolling out special-edition packaging, a signature cocktail and nationwide activations.

D'USSÉ, co-founded by the hip-hop mogul and the global spirits company Bacardi, will be selling a Jay-Z D'USSÉ VSOP box set to mark the 30th anniversary of the Grammy-winning rapper's 1996 debut album "Reasonable Doubt."

The collector's box set is now available at select retailers nationwide. The brand will also host a range of events throughout cities in the U.S. this summer, including Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.

D'USSÉ is serving up signature cocktail "CODE30," which the brand says is "inspired by the 'codes' of ambition, excellence, and cultural influence that have defined Mr. Shawn Carter’s legacy for the past 30 years."

Released by his label Roc-A-Fella Records in June 1996, "Reasonable Doubt" has been heralded by some, including Rolling Stone, asone of the greatest albumsof all time. It features collaborations with the likes of Mary J. Blige, the Notorious B.I.G. and Jaz-O.

"Mr. Shawn Carter's codes of ambition, craftsmanship, and excellence are woven into the DNA of D'USSÉ, and JAŸ-Z30 is a powerful reflection of that legacy," General Manager of D’USSÉ Gigi DaDan said in a statement. "For 30 years, he has shaped culture through music, art, style, and philanthropy, and as a brand built as an extension of his innovation, D'USSÉ has continued to redefine the cognac category while honoring its heritage."

The rapper and husband toBeyoncé, who recently changed the styling of his name to Jaÿ-Z to mirror how it appeared on the 1996 album, is poised to make a major return to the stage to celebrate its anniversary.

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Jay-Z willheadline the Roots festivalin Philadelphia on May 30 and 31 before taking the stage for threemajor showsin his hometown of New York.

On July 10, he will celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Reasonable Doubt" with a concert at Yankee Stadium. This will be followed by a 25th anniversary concert for "The Blueprint" on July 11. A third "EXTRA INNINGS" show was added on July 12 to combine both shows due to high demand.

The nationwide D'USSÉ activations will also take place at the festival as well as his New York shows.

Jay-Z already holds the record for the most sold-out performances at Yankee Stadium and will look to extend his achievement with a seventh sell-out.

Fans can visitDusse.comfor more information.

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network'sBeyoncéKnowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Jay-Z's D'Usse cognac honors debut album with special release, events

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 27, 2026

Jay-Z's D'Ussé brand marks debut album with special release, events

This year,Jay-Z'sdebut album turns 30 and the celebrations have commenced with his cognac brand rolling out special-edition packagi...

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Johnny Carson Bid an Emotional Farewell on His Final “Tonight Show” Broadcast, 34 Years Ago

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years before deciding to end his late-night reign

NEED TO KNOW

• Carson's final show aired May 22, 1992, and had over 50 million viewers

• Carson was openly emotional about what the journey meant to him while also making viewers at home laugh with him one final time

Johnny Carson's farewell toThe Tonight Showwas an emotional moment that still sticks with viewers, over three decades later.

The moment was a year in the making, with Carson announcing his departure with time to give fans time to digest it. The talk show host's 30-year run ended on May 22, 1992, with a look back at three decades of discussing the evolving pop culture landscape that late-night came up in.

In his self-written monologue, Carson explained how the show would play out, the night after an explosive farewell that featured appearances by Bette Midler and Robin Williams.

"The show tonight is our farewell show; it's going to be a little bit quieter," he said at the time. "It's not going to be a performance show. One of the questions people have been asking me, especially this last month, is, 'What's it like doingThe Tonight Show,' and what does it mean to me?"

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"Well, let me try to explain it. If I could magically, somehow, that tape you just saw, make it run backwards. I would like to do the whole thing over again. It's been a hell of a lot of fun," he continued.

Carson added, "As an entertainer, it has been the great experience of my life, and I cannot imagine finding something in television after I leave tonight that would give me as much joy and pleasure, and such a sense of exhilaration, as this show has given me. It's just hard to explain."

While Carson's tone met the moment, he didn't take it too seriously either, concluding the monologue with "This is not really a performance show. This is kind of a look-back retrospective. We are going to show you some moments in time. Some images of the many people, and there have been some 23,000 people. We are going to show you a little excerpt of how the show is put together, so go get some more cheese dip and we'll be back in just a moment."

Further, the audience consisted only of family, friends, and loved ones of the crew members as Carson led the intimate goodbye, which was watched at home by over 50 million viewers.

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Carson's last words to his audience struck a balance between emotional and jovial as he shared gratitude one final time.

"And so it has come to this: I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something I always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I want to thank the people who’ve shared this stage with me for 30 years. Mr. Ed McMahon, Mr. Doc Severinsen and you people watching," he said.

Carson continued, "I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you. And I hope when I find something that I want to do — and I think you would like — and come back, that you’ll be as gracious in inviting me into your home as you have been. I bid you a very heartfelt good night."

On the same night, 34 years later,Byron Allenis stepping into what wasStephen Colbert's former CBS time slot, the night afterThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertended.

In an interview withTheWrap, Allen shared that his takeover being on the anniversary of Carson's farewell was by design. He explained that while the show could have premiered in the time slot in September, he encouraged the May 22 start date.

Allen himself made his wider comedy debut onThe Tonight Show with Johnny Carsonin 1979, at just 18. He was the youngest comedian to ever perform during Carson's late-night reign.

"Normally, you would premiere in September, but I said ‘No, no, no, no. That’s when Johnny stepped down. That’s when I’m stepping up,' " he told the outlet.

Comics Unleashedtakes over the time slot on Friday, May 22.

Read the original article onPeople

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 26, 2026

Johnny Carson Bid an Emotional Farewell on His Final “Tonight Show” Broadcast, 34 Years Ago

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years before deciding to end his late-night reign NEED TO KNOW Carson...

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Hilary Duff returns to 2026 AMA Awards in sultry metallic gown

Hilary Duffturned heads in a sultry early 2000s-inspired number at the 2026 American Music Awards.

The singer-actress, 38, walked on the red carpet at the AMAs in a metallic chainmail gown with silver stilettos on Monday, May 25.

She kept her accessories light with dangling earrings and dainty rings so her dress could do the talking.

Duff's ensemble, which isreportedly from Rabanne, made a statement on stage as she presented theaward for New Artist of the Year.

It's her first time at theaward ceremony since 2005,according to People. That year, the former Disney starperformedher song "Beat Of My Heart."

Hilary Duff:Former Disney star reveals world tour – How to get tickets, presales, more

Duff is reclaiming the spotlight

Duff's AMA appearance comes amid her comeback to the spotlight. The "So Yesterday" singer was one of the stars who graced the cover ofthe 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, rocking a cream one-piece bathing suit by OYE Swimwear.

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"I'm a mom of four, and I'm not a spring chicken," Duff told the magazine of her Sports Illustrated debut. "I don't typically frolic around in a bathing suit, so it was a little scary. But it was also incredibly empowering. It was a mostly female crew on set, and it really felt like a celebration of women."

Earlier this year, Duff took fans back to the beginning with herLas Vegas residency,where she performed songs like "Wake Up" and "Someone's Watching Over Me."

Following the release of her latest project, "Luck...or something," Duff isgearing up for her "Lucky Me Tour"this summer.

Speaking toBillboard on the 2026 AMA Awardsred carpet, she said she has "some surprises" in store for her upcoming show.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Hilary Duff makes epic comeback in silver gown at 2026 AMAs

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 26, 2026

Hilary Duff returns to 2026 AMA Awards in sultry metallic gown

Hilary Duffturned heads in a sultry early 2000s-inspired number at the 2026 American Music Awards. The singer-actress, 38, walked ...

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“Wuthering Heights ”Director Says She Regrets Cutting Margot Robbie's 'Extremely Hairy Armpits' from the Film

Emerald Fennell said she regrets cutting a Wuthering Heights scene showing Margot Robbie's character with unshaven armpits

NEED TO KNOW

• The director said she'd been bothered by how period dramas often showed women as smooth-skinned, despite razors not being available at the time

• "They're all kind of hairless like eels," Fennell recalled of women in other period dramas, set around the time of Wuthering Heights

Emerald Fennellis looking back on aWuthering Heightsstyle decision that was cut from the film.

On Friday, May 22, the director spoke at Hay Festival in Wales and opened up about her adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel, which was released in theaters in February 2026.

In hindsight, she admitted, Fennell wished she'd kept a scene with Cathy (played byMargot Robbie) in which her unshaven armpits were visible, because it would have been more accurate to the time period.

Fennell said she was often bothered by the hairless skin of women in period dramas, because it applied modern beauty standards to a time when they weren't physically attainable.

"Where are the razors that these women are using?" she recalled asking while watching Jane Austen film adaptations. "They're all kind of hairless like eels. I'm like: ‘What's going on? It's completely mad.'”

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Waxing and hair removal creams existed for many centuries prior to the events ofWuthering Heights, though it was only truly accessible to wealthy nobility.

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PerGillette UK, English women began removing hair from their face and body with safety razors in the early 1900s, after the First World War — several centuries after Brontë's novel was published in 1847.

For that reason, it was "so important" to Fennell to show Cathy's body hair as historically accurate, the director said. "Unfortunately, the scene that we see them [in] didn't make it in there," she added.

Fennell's adaptation ofWuthering Heightsdrew some criticism for its lack of historical accuracy — from Cathy's ostentatious attire, to the race of Heathcliff (played byJacob Elordi), to the plot of the film itself, which deviated significantly from Brontë's gothic novel.

However, Fennell previously explained the disparities by noting her rendition was meant to embody the version she "remembered reading" as a 14-year-old, in which she "wanted stuff to happen that never happened."

"So it isWuthering Heights,but it isn't," Fennell said of her adaptation in aninterview with Fandango, published in January. "The thing for me is you can't adapt a book as dense and complicated and difficult as this book— I can't say I'm makingWuthering Heights. It's not possible. What I can say is I'm making a version of it."

Wuthering Heightsis now streaming on HBO Max.

Read the original article onPeople

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 25, 2026

“Wuthering Heights ”Director Says She Regrets Cutting Margot Robbie's 'Extremely Hairy Armpits' from the Film

Emerald Fennell said she regrets cutting a Wuthering Heights scene showing Margot Robbie's character with unshaven armpits NE...

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Prince William Praises Kate Middleton as a 'Proper Pro' in Her Royal Work

Kate Middleton will take more international trips for her early years mission as she widens its influence and learning

NEED TO KNOW

• Her husband, Prince William, said on May 22 that she is hoping to follow her successful Italy visit with others

• An aide tells PEOPLE the Italy trip was "about maintaining balance while returning to a broader program of activity"

Kate Middletonhas a proud husband inPrince Williamas she looks ahead in her mission to help children.

After a successfulvisit to the city of Reggio Emilia, in Italy, the Princess of Wales, 44, hopes to widen the impact and the experience of her help for the youngest children as she creates a global conversation around the issue.

Prince William, 43, confirmed during a recent interview with the U.K.'sHeart Breakfastthat his wife was “just sort of edging herself back into doing more and more of those trips.” He added that they have to be careful to manage things in light of her recovery from thecancer treatmentshe revealed she was undergoing in March 2024 (the Princess of Wales announced with "relief" that she wasin remissionin January 2025).

"She's been amazing. She's been through so much in the last couple of years, particularly," William told cohosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston. "She'd been looking forward to the Italian trip a lot, and so I'm really glad it went really well."

William added that the family will have to continue managing the workload of visits like that, saying "away trips like that take a lot out of you...so we have to balance that, make sure she's okay and rested. But she's in good form.”

The trip to Italy was “about maintaining balance while returning to a broader program of activity," an aide has told PEOPLE. "The visit reflects that steady progression.”

The mission for the under-fives and those who raise and care for them has been a central part of Princess Kate's public work for more than a decade, and she has set up the Royal FoundationCentre for Early Childhoodto funnel those ideas and her work. As she builds her knowledge, Prince William said that he has to pick his way past her reading and paperwork, as he called her a “proper pro” in the subject.

"She spends, God knows how much time now, looking through all the paperwork," he said. "She's a proper pro on early years. Most evenings I'm fighting to get past in the bedroom, what paperwork that she's got lined up, ready to read."

A palace aide explains to PEOPLE that the visit to Italy was a "clear moment of progression” of the “work moving beyond a U.K. focus and beginning to engage more actively with international thinking and practice."

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"Over the past few years, the princess has concentrated on building a strong evidence base and practical programs at home, and this now creates the opportunity to look outward. It is less about a shift in direction and more about an evolution, connecting that work with global expertise and placing early childhood firmly within a shared international conversation," they say.

The source adds, "There is a recognition that the challenges and opportunities in early childhood are not confined to one country. They are universal. The intention is not to position it as a personal project on a global stage, but rather to contribute to and learn from a wider body of knowledge. There is a natural alignment with other countries that are also prioritizing these early years."

Christian Guy, executive director of Kate's Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, told PEOPLE that the visit to Reggio Emilia "is the start of the princess and the Centre leading a global conversation about how the first five years of life give us that chance to get ahead of some of the toughest social challenges we face around the world.”

Speaking as Princess Kate ended her second day, in which she spent time with some children outside in their school garden, Guy explained, “This morning, the princess was in her element in nature, seeing the power of the outdoors. She has spoken about how important that's been for her. But what the science shows is how crucial that is to help children flourish and thrive and to nurture the skills they need. Seeing her in the garden today, I can tell it is something that will stay with her for a very long time.”

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During the trip, there was no doubt among those who met her that the Princess of Wales' expertise in the sector shone through. Before she left, the royal was introduced to a group of women who've taken the philosophy across the world to South America.

Norma Guinto, President of RedSOLARE Mexico, says, “She was very interested in learning about the Reggio Emilia Approach that has inspired us. We have been coming here for many years. She wanted to know how we bring this philosophy this pedology to our country and the changes we have seen in our educational system in bringing this new way of teaching and learning.”

Guinto adds, "Being the person she is, she can influence education around the world to benefit children from different backgrounds. We need that in this moment of our history for humanity.”

A teacher from the city, Sara Montanini, met Kate and added, “When she started her early childhood project, I always thought that sooner or later she would come here because it's been a staple in our community since the Second World War. I can see why she came to Reggio Emilia because her vision is so similar to ours.”

Read the original article onPeople

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 25, 2026

Prince William Praises Kate Middleton as a 'Proper Pro' in Her Royal Work

Kate Middleton will take more international trips for her early years mission as she widens its influence and learning NEED TO KN...

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Jacob Elordi Reacts to This “Euphoria” Character's Gruesome Death Involving a Boa Constrictor and a Coffin

Warning: this post contains spoilers for the penultimate episode ofEuphoriaseason 3.

NEED TO KNOW

• In the penultimate episode of Euphoria season 3, one main character died

• Following the episode, Jacob Elordi broke down the episode

• The finale airs next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO

Nate Jacobs has finally met his maker.

On the May 24 episode ofEuphoriaseason 3,Jacob Elordi's character Nate died. Nate (Elordi) has been in trouble all season due to money he owes Naz (Jack Topalian), and in the penultimate episode of the season, his luck ran out.

Nate was trapped inside a coffin that was buried underground, with just a small hole for air. A rattlesnake got through the hole and he was brutally attacked. Hours later, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Maddy (Alexa Demie) found his body.

Following the episode, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at how Elordi's death was filmed as he detailed what it was like being placed inside a coffin with a real snake.

"I had to go into this coffin. My shoulders were touching the side, and I couldn't move my arms, and then they would drill the lid on, and it would get dark," Elordi, 28, said during a post-show segment that aired on May 24 on HBO. "It was really nice, actually. It was quite peaceful in there."

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He was "tucked in this box, with dust falling on me, and a snake coming down the pipe," he said.

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There was a real snake involved in the scene, too. "They had a boa constrictor that they put a fake rattler on the end of, and [creator] Sam [Levinson] was like, 'We're just gonna drop a snake on you,'" Elordi said. "The snakes were rattling, which is really alarming when you're locked in a box."

In the end, he said the snake was "super cute."

"He was, like, real cuddly, so he just saddled up next to me, and it was nice," the actor said. "But he was real sleepy. I had to kind of nudge him to get him to come up."

Despite Nate's gruesome end, he thought it was a "cool way to go."

"Nate is someone who's made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices. It's cool to see it all come to what it's come to," Elordi said of the character he's played since 2019.

Nate's death is the first major character to die in season 3. Elordi called it "bittersweet" in his post-episode interview.

"This show is a massive part of, not just my career, but my life. It's been amazing, and I'm so proud, being a part of this," he said.

TheEuphoriaseason 3 finale airs Sunday, May 31, at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Read the original article onPeople

byAsher Jeferson

in

May 25, 2026

Jacob Elordi Reacts to This “Euphoria” Character's Gruesome Death Involving a Boa Constrictor and a Coffin

Warning: this post contains spoilers for the penultimate episode ofEuphoriaseason 3. NEED TO KNOW In the penultimate ep...

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