Dolly Parton’s Death at 80, Hayden Panettiere’s Rep Addresses Rumors and More Top Us Stories

Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on August 25, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:

• Country music icon Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville, her rep announced Tuesday, August 25. The singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist leaves behind a seven-decade legacy that includes hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” her Dollywood theme park and her Imagination Library book-gifting program.

• Hayden Panettiere‘s rep is pushing back on “disrespectful” online speculation surrounding the actress’ sudden death, saying there is “much more to this story” than what’s circulating publicly. Panettiere died on August 16 following a reported cardiac arrest, and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina are conducting a parallel investigation, with an autopsy finding no signs of trauma.

• Nearly seven months after Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy, was taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home, Us takes a closer look at the missteps, theories and clues that could crack the case. Experts weigh in on two ransom notes demanding millions in Bitcoin, criticism of early crime scene handling and the sheriff’s department’s limits on FBI involvement, and possible paths forward through DNA and digital evidence.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance