“Everyone is always saying if you could make a play and give the audience the feeling they have in a horror movie, it would be an amazing thing,” he says.

Blum, whose Blumhouse has produced everything from “Get Out” to “Five Nights at Freddy's,” estimates he's gone to see 25 such plays, and 24 times “they come off goofy or you’re not scared at all.” That changed with his 25th — an adaptation of his “Paranormal Activity” franchise.

“I’ve never seen a play that’s made me scared ever and these guys pulled it off,” says Blum. “That they were able to make an audience feel like you felt when you watch the movie, I just couldn’t believe it.”

What's the play about?

The play, which has made its way through London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Toronto and Boston, is now on Broadway and is creeping out critics and audiences alike.

It's the story of a newly married couple who have relocated from Chicago to London and find strange things going on in their quirky new home, straining their loyalties and sanity and defying science.

The stage play — without film's benefit of cutaways, close-ups or jump scares — still makes audiences scream with quite simple effects: a TV flickering, candles getting snuffed out, shadows appearing and blankets mysteriously getting pulled.

“I think the lack of big effects actually makes it feel much more grounded and scarier and more real,” says Blum, who knows a thing or two about horror effects: He was off-camera on the floor pulling a sheet off a bed with strings during the filming of the first “Paranormal Activity” movie.

Variety said the play “delivers more thrills, chills and screams than Broadway has seen in years” and Entertainment Weekly called it “two hours and 20 minutes of hair-raising, heart-pounding, and blood-curdling horror mixed with a dash of unexpected heart and humor.”

Blum credits playwright Levi Holloway, director Felix Barrett and illusion designer Chris Fisher with bringing horror to the stage, a traditionally tricky place for it. He opened his wallet and invested.

How the team approached this stage horror

Broadway has pulled off eerie recently — Fisher delivered thrillingly with “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” while Tracy Letts' “Bug” was creepy and Stephen Karam had unsettling noises for “The Humans." But true horror, that sickening, throat-clenching dread, has largely eluded stage artists.

That's why Barrett, who created the immersive hit “Sleep No More” with his company Punchdrunk, jumped at the chance. He recalls as a fledgling director going to see London's long-running ghostly play “The Woman in Black” and feeling it was “desperately underwhelming.”

“The opportunities to try and do something which really does get under the skin and really just treats it as an art form rather than something that’s comedic and full of gags was such an amazing opportunity,” he says.

Central to his team's approach was rooting the play in a truthful domestic drama. “This was only going to work if you saw a couple that you knew. You might walk past them in the street. You might even see yourself in that couple,” Barrett says.

Once that was established, the illusions and effects were baked into the set, not added afterward. Designer Fly Davis’ two-story, multiroom house is kept very dark, with some rooms empty, allowing the audience's imagination to fill in the gaps.

“You really want to almost forget it’s horror for a bit, just actually deal with the drama and then, suddenly, like the best sort of horror, the tendrils of dread come and tap you on the shoulder and, as you turn around, all hell breaks loose,” Barrett says.

‘Less is more’

Aided by lighting, sound effects and the set, Barrett manages various sleights-of-hands, like a magician making you look at one hand while their other is doing something else.

“We’ve learned that less is more,” he says. “The more you do, the less the impact because the audience becomes desensitized. So actually, in earlier drafts of the script, there were far more crazy things happening which we’ve cut.”

Humor is also important, and Holloway has seeded the play with jokes, moments of lightness between the couple and a mother-in-law from hell.

“If you get the audience to relax and start laughing, you become much more scared," says Blum. “You can’t keep an audience on the edge of their seat like this for 90 minutes. Eventually you get tired.”

Barrett says he hopes more theater-makers try horror, but find their own way. “I don’t want to say, ‘This is the right way to do it and don’t try a different way,’ because I want other amazing creators to come in and do their version.”

The British singer made the announcement in an Instagram post on September 7, describing the decision as a “digital cleanse.” She told followers that she was “tapping out” of the digital world and returning her attention to her offline life.

The Announcement

Jessie J began her message by saying that she was “OK,” although she added that she was not at her best. She said the preceding two years had been “magical, successful, life changing and extremely busy,” while also acknowledging that the period had taken a toll on parts of her life that she had not had enough time to address.

In her post, the singer said she wanted to give her “mind, body and heart a well needed hug.” She said the break would allow her to recharge, heal, rest, process recent experiences and spend time with her son, Sky.

People reported that Jessie J said future posts would generally come from her team or appear when she returned for work-related commitments. She also shared an image of herself holding her son’s hand and wrote that she would return to social media when she wanted to.

Surgery and Health Context

The planned surgery is connected to Jessie J’s earlier breast-cancer treatment. People reported that she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2025 and subsequently underwent a mastectomy. Her latest post referred specifically to having her “second cancer reconstruction surgery.”

Jessie J previously postponed United Kingdom and European tour dates and canceled her United States dates after announcing that she needed another operation connected to her cancer treatment. At that time, she said the additional surgery was not considered “too serious,” but needed to be completed before the end of 2025. Her latest announcement indicates that reconstructive treatment remains part of her ongoing health journey.

In May 2026, the BBC reported that Jessie J had announced she was cancer-free, approximately one year after publicly disclosing her breast-cancer diagnosis. Her current decision to undergo reconstructive surgery should therefore not be described as evidence that her cancer has returned, because she did not say that in the September 7 announcement.

A Demanding Two-Year Period

Jessie J’s announcement placed the upcoming break in the context of several major personal and professional changes. She referred to releasing an album, moving from the United States to the United Kingdom, undergoing cancer treatment, touring internationally, ending a relationship and raising a toddler. E! News likewise reported that she described the previous two years as a period in which she learned more about herself and what she wanted her life to feel like.

The singer also said that she had been managing aspects of her public presence herself, including social-media activity, styling, hair and makeup. Her announcement did not identify a planned return date.

The timing follows a period in which Jessie J returned to public performance after her cancer treatment. She has also continued to discuss balancing work, parenthood and recovery in public statements.

What Jessie J Said About the Break

Jessie J framed the decision as a move toward greater presence in her daily life rather than as a permanent departure from public work. She said she wanted to be present and “really live,” while spending time with her son and preparing for surgery.

People reported that her final Instagram Stories post included a photograph of her hand clasped with Sky’s and the message, “No place I would rather be.” She ended that post with a farewell to social media and said she would return when she felt ready.

The announcement provides no medical details about the date, procedure or expected recovery period for the reconstruction surgery. Jessie J’s statement also does not indicate whether the break will affect any specific future musical releases or performances.

For now, the singer has said that her priorities are healing, rest, family and personal reflection. Her announcement makes clear that any return to social media will take place on her own timetable.

The reports said friends confirmed Hardin’s death in comments beneath a post on his Instagram account.

Out reported that Hardin died by suicide. The public reports reviewed for this article did not include a statement from law enforcement or a medical examiner, and details beyond those supplied by friends have not been independently confirmed.

Hardin’s death was reported shortly after he posted a farewell message on Instagram. The message read: “I love you and I’m sorry I was unable to make it to the end. GOODBYE FOREVER. Love, LuLu.” The accompanying caption referred to being hurt by someone with whom he had shared his heart.

What Friends Reported

A close friend identified as Asuras wrote in the comments that Hardin’s roommates had broken down his door and called paramedics, but that emergency responders were unable to resuscitate him. Out also quoted the friend’s statement, which identified Asuras as Hardin’s best friend.

The account of the emergency response has been attributed to Hardin’s friend rather than to an official agency. No publicly cited report reviewed for this article provided additional official information about the circumstances of the death.

Another person commenting on the post said Hardin’s family was asking for privacy during what was described as an overwhelming period. The family had not issued a public statement in the reports reviewed for this article.

Johani Montero, described by PinkNews as another person paying tribute to Hardin, called him one of the happiest and sweetest people Montero had known. Montero also encouraged people to check in with friends and to make space for conversations about emotional distress.

Work as LuLu LoveBottom

Hardin was known online and in nightlife settings as LuLu LoveBottom. Reports described him as both an adult-content creator and a burlesque performer.

A March 2025 interview with Out Sports provided publicly reported context about Hardin’s approach to burlesque. In that interview, Hardin said burlesque helped him connect femininity and masculinity in his identity.

The available reports did not provide a complete account of Hardin’s career, including the dates of his professional debut, the full extent of his performance work or a definitive list of productions and venues.

Reporting and Public Response

The news was published internationally by LGBTQ+ and queer-focused media outlets on September 8 and updated by some outlets on September 9.

The reports largely relied on Hardin’s public Instagram post and statements from friends in its comment section. That sourcing makes the friends’ confirmation central to the initial reporting while leaving some official details unavailable publicly.

Hardin’s death has prompted tributes from people who knew him and renewed calls from those friends for people to ask directly about one another’s wellbeing. Those comments reflect individual responses to the loss and should not be treated as an official explanation of Hardin’s death.

Because the reports concern a recent death and the family has reportedly requested privacy, further details should be published only when confirmed by the family, representatives or relevant authorities. The currently verifiable account is that Hardin died on September 7 at age 30, that friends announced his death after a farewell Instagram post, and that he was remembered publicly as LuLu LoveBottom, an adult performer and burlesque dancer.

Jepsen discussed the connection in a Hollywood Reporter interview published September 8, while speaking about her upcoming double album, Day and Night.

“It was an incredible show. Ilya is the name of my son. Maybe, not maybe because of that show,” Jepsen said in the interview.

The character Jepsen referenced is Ilya Rozanov, portrayed by Connor Storrie in Heated Rivalry.

Coverage of the disclosure identified Ilya Rozanov as one of the series’ central characters and described the character’s relationship with Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, as the dramatic center of the story.

Jepsen’s wording did not establish that the series directly determined her son’s name; instead, she presented the possibility with a qualified, joking formulation.

The Hollywood Reporter interview identified Jepsen and musician Cole M.G.N. as parents of a son but did not provide additional identifying information about the child beyond his first name.

A Possible Season-Two Collaboration

The interview also renewed attention to a possible musical collaboration between Jepsen and Heated Rivalry.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tierney had wanted Jepsen to write an original song for the series’ first season, but the track was not produced because it was outside the show’s budget.

Billboard reported that Jepsen had been approached about contributing to the first season and that the proposed collaboration did not proceed because the production did not have the budget for it.

Jepsen said she had not yet heard from Tierney about writing for the second season, but described the opportunity as a “dream.”

Billboard similarly reported that Jepsen remained open to writing a song for season two, while noting that no agreement had been announced.

The available reporting therefore establishes interest from Jepsen and prior interest from Tierney, but it does not establish that Jepsen has been commissioned to write a season-two song.

The Series’ Queer Romance

Heated Rivalry is based on Rachel Reid’s romance novel and follows two professional hockey players whose public rivalry contrasts with their private relationship.

The principal characters are Shane Hollander, a Canadian player portrayed by Williams, and Ilya Rozanov, a Russian player portrayed by Storrie.

The series depicts a same-sex romance between the two athletes and has been covered as a queer hockey drama.

That representation has made the show especially relevant to LGBTQ+ audiences, although the reports about Jepsen’s interview focus on her fandom and the potential soundtrack collaboration rather than on a new LGBTQ+ policy or social issue.

The Hollywood Reporter has described the program as a hit hockey romance series created by Tierney.

Season Two and Jepsen’s Music

The Hollywood Reporter reported on August 30 that season two was set for a spring 2027 release on Crave and HBO Max.

The same report said Williams and Storrie were returning and that Charlie Gillespie, Justice Smith, Daniel Diemer and Shaheen Jafargholi had been added to the cast.

Those production details provide a potential window for a Jepsen contribution, but no announced song, recording schedule or soundtrack release has been reported.

Jepsen’s interest comes as she prepares to release *Day and Night*, which The Hollywood Reporter describes as a double album divided into two thematic sections.

The album’s “Day” section is described as psychedelic pop, while “Night” is characterized by synth-driven electropop.

Billboard reported that Day and Night was scheduled for release September 18, 2026.

For now, Jepsen’s relationship to Heated Rivalry is confirmed in two ways: she has publicly praised the series and connected its Ilya character to her son’s name, and she has disclosed that she would welcome the chance to write music for its second season.

No formal announcement has confirmed that Jepsen will appear on the season-two soundtrack.

The remarks appeared in ELLE’s October 2026 cover story, published online Sept. 8. Coverage published by The Express Tribune the following day characterized the film as unfinished and reported that there is still no confirmed production date, studio announcement or release plan for the original project.

Garner’s comments therefore represent continued support for the film rather than confirmation that production has resumed. A separate report on the interview similarly said Garner addressed the project without confirming that cameras would begin rolling.

A long-delayed feature

Universal Pictures originally developed the project as a film about Madonna’s life, with Madonna attached to direct and co-write it. Garner was selected to portray Madonna after an intensive audition process that included performance-related preparation.

The project’s development became uncertain in 2023, when reports said the Universal version was no longer in development. The film was subsequently associated with repeated reports of delays, possible changes and efforts to find a path forward.

Madonna later said the film’s collapse followed a disagreement with Universal over its budget. The Los Angeles Times reported that Madonna had explored making the project as a lower-budget production and had also considered a streaming-series format.

Those developments help explain why Garner’s latest comments are significant but limited. The actress has continued to express belief in the film, but the available reporting does not identify a financing agreement, production company, shooting schedule or distributor for a revived feature.

Garner and Madonna reunite on screen

The latest update comes after Garner and Madonna appeared together in connection with the second season of Apple TV+’s The Studio. Reports said the pair filmed scenes in Venice, Italy, for the series.

Madonna and Garner also shared an Instagram video in which they lip-synced to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” while riding in a Venetian gondola. The moment drew attention because Garner had been linked to portraying Madonna in the abandoned or stalled biopic.

Madonna’s appearance in The Studio was reported as a rare live-action acting role and as a reunion with Garner after the biopic’s uncertain development. The series connection has kept the two performers publicly associated even though it does not establish that the biopic itself is moving forward.

What is confirmed—and what is not

The confirmed development is Garner’s renewed public support for the film in the September 2026 ELLE interview. Garner’s statement indicates that she still regards the project as worth making, but her qualification—“But we’ll see…”—does not specify whether she remains formally attached under an active deal.

The available reports do not confirm that Universal has reinstated the original production. They also do not confirm a new studio partner, a completed screenplay, a start date, a release date or a final format for the project.

The Express Tribune additionally reported that Netflix is pursuing a separate Madonna-related series project, but the report did not establish that Garner’s feature has been transferred to Netflix or that she is attached to that series. That distinction is important because reports about a separate television project do not constitute confirmation of a revived film.

For now, Garner’s comments place the biopic in a familiar but clearly defined position: publicly supported by its prospective star, but without verified evidence of active production. The next decisive development would be an announcement from Madonna, Garner, a studio or a production company confirming the project’s format and production plans.

Moroney was discussing the challenge of writing songs that draw on her life while managing public interest in the relationships and experiences behind them. Brazilian Vogue also reported that Moroney described intense frustration connected to feeling that audiences did not fully understand what she was experiencing.

“There were definitely nights where I would cry myself to sleep ’cause I felt so misunderstood and I wanted to tell people everything,” Moroney said, according to TODAY. The remark was presented in the context of the early stages of her career rather than as a report of a current mental-health crisis.

Balancing Disclosure and Privacy

Moroney said the difficulty was finding a balance between protecting her personal life and communicating the emotions that inform her songs. “It was challenging trying to find the balance of not telling everyone my entire personal life, but also letting people know, like, ‘This is how I feel,’” she said.

She cited “Who Hurt You?” from her album Cloud 9 as an example of a song intentionally written to avoid inviting further questions about its subject. Moroney said she deliberately wrote the track so that listeners would not be able to use it to extract additional information from her.

“If you listen to the song, and you still have questions, I got no answers for you,” Moroney said. Her comments indicate that she distinguishes between emotional honesty in songwriting and complete disclosure of the events that inspired a song.

From Heartbreak to Songwriting

Moroney also described the personal history that led her toward music. She said she grew up in Douglasville, Georgia, and learned guitar after injuring her knee while participating in cheerleading at about 16 years old.

With the injury limiting her activities, Moroney said she began learning to play Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine.” She then experienced her first heartbreak and recalled crying so much that her father took her to Guitar Center, where she selected a Taylor guitar.

Moroney said the guitar purchase followed a conversation in which she told her father that, after having her heart broken once that week, she could handle the disappointment of learning that the guitar was not on sale. She described that episode as the beginning of a path that eventually became her professional music career.

Music as Emotional Release

During the interview, Moroney discussed the way she uses songwriting to process difficult emotions. She described herself as an overthinker and said transforming emotions into art has helped her move forward from painful experiences.

“That’s the best way that I’ve found to move on from things is when I take those emotions and I turn it into art,” Moroney said. She added that the resulting songs allow audiences to connect with experiences that may have begun as intensely personal.

Moroney has described her concerts as a form of “group therapy,” a characterization Geist raised during the interview. She said the shows create a collective setting in which she and audience members can release emotions together.

“It’s very empowering to be in a room where everyone feels the same way,” Moroney said. She gave the example of concertgoers recognizing that other people have also been mistreated or hurt, creating a shared response to those experiences.

Confidence and the Current Era

Moroney said that growing older and gaining more experience have changed her relationship with both public attention and her own writing. She told Geist that, at 28, she trusts herself more and feels more confident that she will be able to handle whatever life brings.

She connected that confidence to the writing on Cloud 9, saying her current outlook had naturally influenced the album. The album is part of the period in which Moroney is touring internationally and performing songs built around heartbreak, vulnerability, and emotional release.

Reports from TODAY, NBC News, Vogue Brasil, and Holler all identify the remarks as part of Moroney’s recent conversation with Geist, while TODAY provides the fullest account of the specific comments about crying, privacy, songwriting, and her early musical development.

The announcement came Tuesday, Sept. 8, alongside plans for a North American holiday tour that will begin Nov. 28. David Archuleta’s official website is promoting the album in physical CD, vinyl and cassette formats, with preorders available.

The album will combine traditional Christmas material with newly written songs. The track list publicly identified so far includes “Warm Me Up,” “Let It Snow,” “Merry Christmas, Baby,” “Santa’s On His Way Tonight,” “Nochebuena,” “Grown-Up Christmas List” and “Happy Christmas.”

People reported that the full album contains 12 tracks and is influenced in part by New Edition, the Gap Band and Freddie Mercury. Those influences point to a project intended to move beyond a strictly traditional holiday format, although the album’s complete track list and production details have not yet been published in the sources reviewed for this report.

Archuleta’s Description of the Album

Archuleta said in a press release that Warm Me Up was a project he wanted to approach with enjoyment and experimentation. He said he hoped to find “my own way of connecting to the holiday in this new chapter of life.”

According to the statement reported by People, Archuleta wrote the album’s “side B” the previous year but chose not to promote it at that time because he wanted to complete the project in 2026. He described “Let It Snow” and “Grown-Up Christmas List” as connections to his earlier holiday recordings and said he wanted the music to retain the emotional quality associated with his ballads while also encouraging listeners to dance and celebrate.

In an Instagram post cited by People, Archuleta described the album as containing “so much heart,” along with nostalgia, warmth and new songs. The singer’s official website similarly describes the planned live show as a full holiday set featuring new songs, his original “Christmas Every Day,” and established Christmas standards including “O Holy Night” and “Let It Snow.”

The Tour Plan

The Warm Me Up North American Tour is scheduled to open Nov. 28 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the opening performance will take place at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The tour is scheduled to continue through Dec. 20, with stops across North America. The reported final date is at the Foster Family Theatre at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, California.

Archuleta’s official website says tickets went on sale Aug. 7. People also reported that tickets were available through the singer’s website when the album announcement was published.

The tour announcement preceded the album announcement by several weeks. On Aug. 3, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Archuleta had announced the holiday tour, including the Salt Lake City opening date, before the new album’s title and release date were reported Sept. 8.

A Continuation of His Holiday Catalog

Warm Me Up will be Archuleta’s latest holiday project following Christmas from the Heart, released in 2009, Winter in the Air, released in 2018, and My Only Wish, released in November 2025. His return to Christmas music therefore extends a catalog that spans more than a decade.

The forthcoming record also arrives during a period of increased public attention to Archuleta’s personal story. Earlier in 2026, he released the memoir Devout, in which he wrote about leaving Mormonism, confronting childhood abuse and coming to terms with his sexuality.

In an interview quoted by People, Archuleta said that self-acceptance had changed how he viewed his life and future. That autobiographical context is separate from the content of Warm Me Up, for which the published announcement emphasizes musical influences, holiday themes and a desire to connect with audiences.

For now, the confirmed milestones are the Oct. 30 album release and the Nov. 28 launch of the North American tour. Additional songs, venues and performance details may be released before the album reaches listeners.

The pair announced the split on Tuesday, September 8, through a joint statement shared on their respective Instagram Stories.

“After a lot of honest conversations and reflection, we've made the difficult decision to end our engagement and go our separate ways,” Conley and Edwards wrote.

“There wasn't one moment that brought us here,” the statement continued.

The former couple described the previous year and a half as a period that gave them memories and experiences they would continue to cherish.

Although they acknowledged that the breakup was not the ending they had imagined, Conley and Edwards said they retained love and respect for each other and for their shared relationship.

They concluded by saying they were moving forward “with grateful hearts” and genuinely wanted happiness for one another.

Neither person publicly identified a specific incident as the cause of the split in the statement.

A Relationship Forged on Reality Television

Conley and Edwards met while filming the 10th season of Bachelor in Paradise, the ABC reality-dating series that brings former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants together in a resort setting.

The couple left the season’s finale engaged after Conley proposed to Edwards in Costa Rica.

Their engagement was broadcast during the season 10 finale on September 2, 2025.

At the time, Conley and Edwards were the only couple to leave that season engaged.

The finale included a decision involving a potential cash prize, and the couple ultimately left the show with a reported $190,000 check after choosing to remain together.

Plans After the Finale

After the engagement aired, Conley and Edwards discussed plans to build a life together outside the show.

Edwards said she planned to move from San Diego to Dallas, where Conley lived, at the beginning of 2026.

In September 2025, the couple said they were not rushing to establish a wedding timetable and expected to assess their plans over time.

They also discussed beginning more formal wedding planning around the following year, while leaving open the possibility that their timeline could change.

The couple’s public plans later became a subject of renewed attention as the September 2026 announcement ended their engagement.

A More Private Period

In August, Edwards addressed the couple’s reduced visibility on social media and said Conley had not been appearing in her content as frequently.

Edwards said the pair had felt pressure to post frequently together after appearing on Bachelor in Paradise, but that the practice had begun to feel performative rather than natural.

She said Conley wanted to take a break from social media and that they were trying to live as normally as possible after receiving a public platform through the show.

That explanation was published before the couple publicly announced the end of their engagement, but it did not identify a breakup or provide a reason for one.

What They Have Said About the Breakup

The joint statement provides no allegation of misconduct, infidelity or any other single event behind the decision.

Instead, Conley and Edwards framed the announcement as the outcome of conversations and personal reflection.

Their wording also emphasized mutual respect and gratitude rather than assigning blame.

US Weekly reported that the statement was shared after nearly two years of dating and a brief engagement.

Bachelor Nation, the franchise’s official news platform, also reported that the two posted the announcement to their individual Instagram Stories on September 8.

As of September 9, the public information available from the couple and entertainment-news reports consists of the breakup announcement and their stated wish for each other’s future happiness.

Griffin discussed the relationship in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published September 8, while promoting her upcoming stand-up tour, New Face, New Tour.

The interview followed Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80 after what her family described as a brief battle with cancer.

According to Griffin, Parton told her privately on two occasions that she appreciated Griffin’s willingness to say things that Parton herself might hesitate to say publicly.

Griffin quoted Parton as calling her “a funny bitch” and saying, “You say the stuff I’m afraid to say, but I want to hear you say it.”

The remarks were presented by Entertainment Weekly as Griffin’s recollection of private conversations, rather than as statements independently confirmed by Parton or her representatives.

The invitation to appear on Bravo

Griffin said she had hoped Parton would make a guest appearance on My Life on the D-List, the series that followed Griffin’s professional and personal life and concluded after six seasons in 2010.

She said she was reluctant to ask Parton directly and considered approaching the singer through their mutual attorney.

Griffin said Parton ultimately declined because Griffin’s material was more outrageous than what some of Parton’s fans might expect from the country singer.

Despite turning down the appearance, Parton allegedly sent Griffin a letter expressing support for the program and its host.

Griffin recalled the letter as saying, “I wish I could do it. I watch it all the time. Keep doing your thing. You’re so good at what you do.”

Griffin described the letter as unusually meaningful because Parton was honest about liking the show while also explaining why she would not participate.

No image of the letter or independent confirmation of its contents was included in the Entertainment Weekly report.

Griffin’s tribute after Parton’s death

Griffin had also referred to Parton in a post on Threads after the singer’s death.

In that post, Griffin said Parton had privately encouraged her not to retreat from her style of comedy and had urged her to continue confronting people she considered dishonest.

Griffin also praised Parton’s laugh and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have spoken with her.

The account was one of many personal tributes that followed Parton’s death, which prompted messages from entertainers, public figures and fans internationally.

Reuters described Parton as a singer, songwriter and actress whose career and public image had reached audiences around the world over nearly six decades.

The BBC reported that Parton’s family held a private funeral in Nashville and that a tribute concert took place at the Grand Ole Opry House.

The Guardian reported that Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones, citing a statement from her team.

Contrasting public personas

Griffin and Parton built markedly different public identities, although Griffin’s account suggests that Parton privately appreciated the comedian’s provocative approach.

Griffin became widely known for confrontational celebrity satire and for the reality series that documented her effort to advance her career in entertainment.

Parton, by contrast, was publicly associated with country music, songwriting, acting, philanthropy and businesses including Dollywood.

The reported letter therefore represents Griffin’s description of a private exchange between two entertainers whose public styles were different but whose professional relationship included mutual recognition.

Parton’s reported support also centered on Griffin’s creative independence rather than on a joint project that was ultimately completed.

Tour context

Griffin’s comments were made while she was preparing to take New Face, New Tour on the road.

The tour was scheduled to begin September 11 in Tacoma, Washington.

The timing placed Griffin’s recollections within the broader period of mourning and remembrance following Parton’s death.

For Griffin, the story was not about a public collaboration but about encouragement that she says Parton offered away from cameras and audiences.

Her account adds a small, personal dimension to the public record of Parton’s career: a claim that the singer followed Griffin’s work, valued its candor and privately encouraged her to continue.

Because the central details come from Griffin’s own recollection, the letter and private conversations should be understood as reported personal testimony rather than independently verified documentation.