Dolly Parton’s estate asked a Tennessee court this week to keep the singer’s nephew and former head of security away from the company that now runs her business empire, accusing him of threats meant to extract money after her death.
She’s Alive LLC, the trust entity that oversees Dollywood and Parton’s brand deals, sued Bryan Seaver and his firm, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, on Tuesday in Davidson County Chancery Court.
The Wall Street Journal reports Longtime manager Danny Nozell, who runs She’s Alive, asked a judge to bar Seaver from interfering with the company’s relationships and from coming within 1,000 feet of anyone tied to it. Some reports said a temporary restraining order was granted Tuesday.
Noon Update: The White House on Thursday began readmitting journalists from three media outlets — MS NOW, CNN and Politico — after a federal judge temporarily lifted President Donald Trump’s ban on those outlets.
The move came after Secret Service officers initially barred some journalists from those outlets from entering the White House earlier Thursday despite the judge’s order.
Judge Timothy Kelly ordered Trump and other defendants in a lawsuit by the outlets to respond by 12:30 pm. ET to their new court filing notifying him of non-compliance with his temporary restraining order against the president’s ban.
The White House’s director of operations responded to Kelly with a declaration that said the White House had restored press passes to the affected outlets.
Kelly issued his restraining order, which will last for at least two weeks, late Wednesday night. It directed the White House to “immediately” restore access to the three outlets.
A federal judge has ordered U.S. President Donald Trump to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico, saying the ban was likely unconstitutional.
A federal judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that his ban on the three outlets was likely unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order in a lawsuit the news organizations filed after Trump announced the ban on September 18. The decision marked a significant setback for the president in one of his sharpest confrontations with the press.
Kelly directed the administration to immediately restore the outlets’ press passes and barred officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days.
Fox News joined ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC this week in refusing to film President Trump’s public events until CNN is restored to the White House press corps, after Trump banned CNN, Politico and MS NOW as “fake” news.
Fox co-signed the five-network statement: “No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” Two senior Fox journalists have been among the lead actors in the press corps’s standoff with the administration.
The five networks share the presidential TV pool, rotating the cost and duty of filming the president’s daily movements. After last week’s ban, they refused to replace CNN’s camera. On Tuesday night, Fox was scheduled to cover Trump’s Air Force One arrival at Joint Base Andrews and declined to film it.
A Fox spokeswoman referred questions to the joint statement.
The stance has surprised some liberal Fox critics and unsettled some Trump hard-liners. Inside Fox, journalists have framed it as both history and self-interest, people familiar with the deliberations said.
Fox joined the White House TV pool in the 1990s as a young network seeking Washington legitimacy. In 2009, when the Obama administration labeled Fox “a wing of the Republican Party” and tried to bar it from a Treasury event, the other networks refused to participate until Fox was reinstated.
Fox officials also note that a future Democratic administration could try to ban Fox the way Trump has banned CNN. Standing with CNN now, they argue, is insurance later. Former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer put the same point on X: “Don’t ban them. Or one day they’ll ban us.”
On Friday, September 25, 92.5 XTU (WXTU-FM) is turning up the music, the rhinestones and the Dolly spirit to celebrate Dolly Parton Day - a day dedicated to one of country music’s most beloved and influential icons.
Why September 25th? Because 9/25 gives a wink to Dolly’s legendary anthem, “9 to 5.” It’s the perfect day to celebrate Dolly’s music, generosity, larger-than-life personality and enduring impact on country music and beyond.
For 92.5 XTU, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate everything that makes Dolly… well, Dolly.
“Dolly Parton is one of those rare artists who managed to make everything feel bigger, brighter and more fun,” said Andie Summers, host of The Andie Summers Show. “Her music has been part of so many people’s lives, but it’s her heart, humor, and generosity that made her truly special. We’re going to have a lot of fun celebrating Dolly on 9/25 and on 92.5 XTU, Philly’s Country Station. BTW - I fully support going all-in on the rhinestones. It’s your day to shine!”
Throughout the day, XTU will spotlight Dolly’s unforgettable career, from classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You” to the stories, humor and heart behind the songs. Listeners are encouraged to celebrate in true Dolly fashion - with a little more kindness, a little more sparkle and a whole lot of country music.
So, grab your rhinestones, turn up the radio and get ready to celebrate a country legend.
FNC Continues to Beat CBS in Weekday Primetime Year-to-Date, Quarter-to-Date and Month-to-Date
FNC Posts Week-to-Week Growth in the 25-54 Demo in Total Day Viewers
CNN Sees Year-over-Year Losses in Viewers
FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of September 14th with 1,941,000 weekday primetime viewers, leading CBS (1,877,000 viewers) for the 17th consecutive week, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.
To date, FNC continues to beat CBS in weekday primetime viewers for the year (12/29/25 - 09/20/26), quarter (06/29/26 - 09/20/26) and month (08/31/26 - 09/20/26). The network averaged 2.8 million viewers year-to-date, 2.4 million viewers quarter-to-date and 2.1 million viewers month-to-date while CBS only claimed 2.7 million viewers year-to-date, two million viewers quarter-to-date and 1.9 million viewers month-to-date. In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC notched 1.6 million viewers.
In Monday – Sunday total day, FNC nabbed 1.1 million viewers and 106,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, posting growth week-to-week in the demo.
Notably, CNN saw year-over-year losses in both total day and primetime viewers. In total day, the network posted a five percent loss in total viewers (382,000 viewers) and a seven percent loss in the 25-54 demo (54,000 viewers). In primetime, CNN saw a three percent loss in viewers, claiming only 552,000 viewers. Additionally, the second episode of CBS’ 60 Minutes delivered week-to-week declines – down 15% in total viewers and 31% in the 25-54 demo. With just under 6.8 million viewers, this marks the third consecutive season in which its second episode has averaged under seven million viewers.
As of Wednesday, new customers will pay $21.49 a month for each ad-free premium plan, a $2.50 increase, and $12.49 for the ad-supported versions, up 50 cents.
Existing subscribers will see the higher rates on their next monthly bill. Bundles are being treated differently. The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu package remains $12.99 a month. The ad-free bundle rises $2 to $21.99 is 50 cents less than buying two separate premium subscriptions. The changes are meant to push customers toward packages instead of standalone plans.
Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundles now range from $21.99 to $44.99 a month. ESPN recently raised its Unlimited plan from $29.99 to $31.99 a month and its annual plan from $299.99 to $319.99.
Disney launched Disney+ in 2019 and signed up more than 10 million customers on its first day. The service carries Disney classics such as “The Lion King” and “Lilo & Stitch,” plus titles from Marvel and Lucasfilm. The company acquired a controlling stake in Hulu as part of its $71.3 billion 2019 purchase of much of 21st Century Fox and later took full ownership. It has been integrating the two streamers, and ESPN programming, into Disney+ since then.
Disney is not the only streamer raising prices. Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV and YouTube Premium have all increased fees this year.
Gen Z Prefers Mobile Devices: Americans ages 13 to 34 now spend more of their in-car audio time on a smartphone than on the car’s AM/FM receiver, according to Edison Research’s Share of Ear study. Mobile devices account for 46% of that group’s daily listening time in the car. MORE
Trump Setback: A federal judge has ordered U.S. President Donald Trump to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico, saying the ban was likely unconstitutional. MORE
Friday is 9/25 Day: Dolly Parton’s estate granted temporary restraining order against singer’s nephew. MORE
Americans ages 13 to 34 now spend more of their in-car audio time on a smartphone than on the car’s AM/FM receiver, according to Edison Research’s Share of Ear study. Mobile devices account for 46% of that group’s daily listening time in the car.
The built-in radio receiver accounts for 43%. The phone has taken the lead by three points — reversing what was once a 47-point advantage for the radio set.
The finding measures the device, not the content. Some of the phone time is still radio: streams of AM/FM stations played through CarPlay, Android Auto, or a Bluetooth hookup. Edison is tracking how young listeners hear audio in the car, not what they hear. Share of Ear subscribers can see the content split separately.
The crossover is the latest chapter in a longer shift. Across Share of Ear’s history, the smartphone has become the default audio device for younger consumers in most rooms of the house. The car was the last holdout. That gap has now closed.
The distinction matters for radio companies and advertisers. Weeks ago, Edison reported that AM/FM still takes most of this age group’s ad-supported in-car audio time. The new cut shows the device pipe has changed even when the product has not. Young listeners are bringing their phones into the dashboard. The radio receiver is no longer the automatic first screen.
CNN CEO Mark Thompson told staff Wednesday he wants to remain at the network after Paramount completes its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery — but said he has not been told how the new owner plans to run CNN or whether he will have a job. “I am enthusiastic about staying,” Thompson said at a quarterly town hall that ran from about 11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m., according to people briefed on the remarks. He also said he remained “fully committed to CNN” and wanted to stay “if Paramount finds me useful.”
He added that “how Paramount wants to run news” is unknown to him. CNN declined to make executives available for comment, according to Variety.
NBC News’ TODAY finished the 2025-26 broadcast season as the #1 morning news program in total viewers and the key demo for the first time in 14 years (since the 2011-12 season). TODAY delivered its most-watched season in four years and posted the largest year-over-year total viewer growth among the morning shows.
TODAY averaged 2.938 million total viewers, leading GMA by +114,000 (+4%) and CBS by +1.174 million (+67%). TODAY posted its biggest season advantage over GMA in 14 years and its widest lead over CBS in 11 years. TODAY grew its total audience by +7% (+185,000) versus the prior season, the largest increase among the morning shows, and expanded its advantage over CBS by +60%.
In A25-54, TODAY averaged 609,000 viewers, beating GMA by +134,000 (+28%) and CBS by +332,000 (+120%) to rank #1 in the key demo for the 11th consecutive season. TODAY delivered its biggest demo win over GMA in eight years and over CBS in five years, while capturing its largest share of A25-54 morning show viewers in 15 years (45%).
Shareholders of The New York Times Company sued the newspaper’s parent company Wednesday in New York County Supreme Court, asking a judge to force the board to turn over internal records the company has refused to produce for four months.
The petitioners — Florida’s State Board of Administration, acting for the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund, and the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research — say they need the files to determine whether directors failed to oversee the paper’s editorial standards. Most of the requested records concern coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
➦In 1933...Radio's first dramatic "Roses and Drums" show, was heard on WABC 880 AM (then a CBS station) in New York City. It was heard until 1936 and was originally an anthology program drawing its material from American history.
1968
➦In 1934...Radio personality Pat O'Day born Paul W. Berg (died August 4, 2020 at age 85). He is probably best known as the afternoon drive personality at Seattle's KJR 950 AM in the 1960s, he would eventually become program director and general manager. He owned KYYX 96.5 FM 96.5 Radio in Seattle in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. The frequency is now occupied by KJAQ.
Starting in 1967, O'Day served as race announcer and commentator during Seafair for various radio and TV stations, most recently KIRO TV. The television station, however, announced it was parting ways with O'Day in 2013 and he would not return to broadcast the race. He set the Guinness world record for water skiing non-stop (around Lake Washington) for 4 hours 52 minutes, in 1959.
He is responsible for bringing the Seattle music scene to national prominence.
➦In 1935...CKLW Windsor-Detroit lost its CBS affiliation to WJR Detroit, and hooked up with the Mutual network instead. When the CBC debuted a year later CKLW became an affiliate, but also remained connected to Mutual.
➦In 1942...Glenn Miller ended his Moonlight Serenade radio show on the CBS Radio Network. Miller (March 1, 1904 - presumably December 15, 1944), was an American jazz musician and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1942, leading one of the best known "Big Bands". Miller's signature recordings include, "In the Mood", "Tuxedo Junction", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Moonlight Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", and "Pennsylvania 6-5000". While traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Miller's plane disappeared in bad weather. His body was never found. Miller's recordings are still familiar refrains, even to generations born decades after Miller disappeared.
➦In 1948...U-S citizen Mildred Gillars, known as "Axis Sally" pleaded innocent to charges of treason. She was convicted and wound up serving 12 years behind bars for being a Nazi wartime radio propagandist.
Country music and TV westerns are dominating American pop culture even as the country grows more urban, more foreign-born, and more racially diverse, an apparent contradiction that may itself explain the boom.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, outlasting landmark runs by Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” and Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
In the first week of August, country singles occupied the entire top five of the Hot 100 for the first time. Taylor Swift’s latest release, a pop-leaning track tied to Toy Story 5, has been sold as a country song, an implicit bet that the genre she left in 2014 now carries commercial advantage.
On television, Nielsen’s multi-platform ratings put westerns and neo-westerns such as Landman and Dutton Ranch among four of the season’s top 10 shows.
