Butterfly Records, LLCDolly Parton is taking over CMT.
On December 5, CMT is devoting a day’s worth of programming to the iconic star, which will include several of her classic music videos, a holiday movie marathon and reflections from Dolly herself.
The marathon begins at 9 a.m. ET with a Dolly takeover on CMT Hot Country Countdown, followed by an airing of Coat of Many Colors,the 2015 movie named after Dolly’s hit song that stars Jennifer Nettles, at 12 p.m. ET. That’s followed by its 2016 sequel, Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
Fans can also tune in to the beloved 1989 flick Steel Magnolias that features Dolly as beauty shop owner Truvy Jones, alongside leading ladies Julia Roberts and Sally Field.
In between screenings, viewers will be treated to surprises from Dolly, ranging from her favorite holiday memories to a preview of her upcoming CBS special, A Holly Dolly Christmas, named after her new Christmas album.
Timothy T Ludwig/Getty ImagesBY: JULIA JACOBO, ABC NEWS
(WASHINGTON) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Cameron Smith is feeling “great” as he recovers from open heart surgery for a birth defect that was detected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smith received a presumptive positive test result when the Vikings reported for training camp in July, but when another optional test came up positive for the antibodies, meaning he had contracted the virus at some point, a cardiac work-up was ordered.
The closer look at Smith’s heart may have saved his life, Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman told the Minnesota Star Tribune. Doctors discovered Smith was born with an bicuspid aortic valve, Smith wrote on Instagram in August, which means the valve has only two leaflets instead of three and can eventually lead to heart failure.
Smith’s heart was “severely enlarged” and would not have lasted much longer, he wrote. Doctors told Smith that had the condition not been discovered, it could have meant “sudden death,” he told the Star Tribune.
Smith has periodically posted updates to his recovery on the social media platform, including when the surgery was deemed a success and when he attempted his first steps following the surgery.
The linebacker told the Star Tribune he feels blessed he hasn’t struggled physically.
“I haven’t hit a low point. I haven’t struggled,” he said. “Sometimes I feel that’s not fair of me to say because I know some people struggle with open heart surgery. But for me, I just look at God and I say, ‘Thank you. I appreciate You giving me this sign.’”
Smith has slowly been increasing how much weight he can lift — starting from 15 pounds in September, but no upper body exercises, and 25 pounds through October. He has now been given unrestricted clearance and is building back the muscle he lost.
Smith believes the surgery changed him mentally as well, saying that he no longer feels “on edge” and doesn’t “get angry anymore.”
“It’s all just like, ‘Life’s too short for this.’ Life is supposed to be fun,” he told the newspaper. “It’s about doing things and creating memories, not just talking about it.”
ABCDarius Rucker has teamed up with Lindsey Stirling for a mystical rendition of “What Child Is This?”
Acclaimed instrumentalist Lindsey provides the haunting violin as Darius sings the Christmas classic that dates back to 1865, accompanied by a twinkling piano and steady drums.
The pair will perform their rendition of the song on CMA Country Christmas tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
“I was so honored when the CMA asked me to perform ‘What Child Is This?’ and to be getting to do it with an amazing musician like Lindsey is just awesome,” Darius says.
“I was so excited to be a part of ‘CMA Country Christmas’ again this year. Every year, they give me an amazing chance to sparkle in their spectacular show,” adds Lindsey, who also covered the song on her 2017 album, Warmer in the Winter.
She adds, “This year was extra special since I got to collaborate with the amazing Darius Rucker. Hope everyone loves it as much as we do!”
Disney+(NEW YORK) — Over the weekend, Star Wars fans lost David Prowse, the towering former bodybuilder who filled the unmistakable black suit of Darth Vader in the original trilogy. He was 85.
Standing 6’6′ in his prime, and even taller thanks to Vader’s hissing helmet, Prowse’s presence sent shivers down the spines of millions of moviegoers when he first appeared in the opening moments of 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.
One of those moviegoers was Giancarlo Esposito, who, years later, has been passed the torch of Star Wars villainy, thanks to his role as the calculating Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian.
Moff Gideon’s black on black armor is reminiscent of Vader’s, which was amazing, says Epsosito, who recently earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the Disney+ series’ first season finale.
“I was so excited to wear a cape!” the Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul vet enthused to ABC Audio. “You know, when I was a kid and watching Star Wars … people with capes had a little bit of aristocratic power and were also able to really bring the characterization through the costume,” he explained.
“My references were Darth Vader, who I really adored in the earlier movies just because of his powerful presence, and James Earl Jones’ [voice] and that incredible costume, which is just so far out. A throwback to old times, or is it really throw forward to contemporary times?”
A new episode of The Mandalorian drops Friday on Disney+. Disney is the parent company of ABC News.
ABC/John Fleenor(LOS ANGELES) — Celebrity chef, restaurateur, and Ugly Delicious host David Chang snagged the top prize on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ABC Sunday night — but it’s restaurant workers who will benefit.
Chang’s jackpot will be donated to the Southern Smoke Foundation, which is dedicated to helping restaurant workers in need — and thanks to the pandemic shutdowns, that’s no small number.
On the million-dollar question, Chang called upon ESPN personality Mina Kimes for help; she correctly advised him how to answer this: “Which U.S. president was the first to have electricity in the White House?”
“No celebrity in the 20 years that this show has been on has ever won the million dollars,” host Jimmy Kimmel warned before Chang pulled the trigger with the right answer Kimes gave: Benjamin Harrison.
In response, the charity tweeted its gratitude to Kimes and Chang, noting, “This is going to change so many peoples’ lives for the better!” along with the hashtag, “#takingcareofourown.”
Butterfly Records, LLCDolly Parton is taking over CMT. 
