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A decade-and-a-half ago, John C. Reilly helped kill the musical biopic dead. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story mercilessly mocked movies like Walk the Line and Ray, skewering their tropes so devastatingly that no one dared make them for years and years. But they were bound to one day rise from the dead. And so they have. The last few years have seen movies like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, about Queen and Elton John, make a ton of money, all while reviving the clichés that once made the genre ripe for satire. So why hasn’t anyone done one yet about Dolly Parton? That’s what Dolly Parton wants to know.

According to CNN, the country music goddess, too occasional movie star, and theme park owner last month appeared on the radio show Mr. Nashville Speaks, where she discussed her first novel, Run, Rose, Run. She also revealed that she’s in talks to do a big screen Dolly movie.

“I do intend someday to be on Broadway, but I’m thinking now that I might do my life story as a feature,” Parton told host Larry Ferguson. “Maybe possibly even a musical feature, so we’re in talks about that.”

Parton said that a Broadway Dolly musical almost happened, but the pandemic delayed that so long that she changed her mind. Now she’s pursuing a Dolly movie.

But who on earth could ever hope to summon even a scintilla of the charisma of one of the great entertainers? Parton had some ideas.

“I love Kristin Chenoweth,” Parton said. “She’s just absolutely fantastic.” But perhaps Chenoweth, if she’s comfortable inhabiting the shoes of the woman who wrote both “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same frickin’ day, would only be one of multiple Dollys. “We’d probably have to have-as long as my career has been-like a little Dolly and a middle Dolly and then the older one.”

So there you have it, Hollywood. Go forth and make a Dolly Parton movie. In the meantime, go watch the too few movies she’s made over the years. Yes, even the one with Stallone.

You can watch Parton’s Mr. Nashville Speaks interview in the video below.

(Via CNN)

When Ted Cruz was busted throwing a hissy fit at an airport this weekend, it appears he had a very important destination: He had to rush back to D.C. to make a bigger show of himself than he usually does. This week finds Congress lording over the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Ketanji Brown Jackson, who may wind up replacing the departing Justice Stephen Breyer. The GOP made a whole show of swearing it wouldn’t turn into a circus. That promise didn’t last long.

At least Republicans spaced out their tomfoolery. Josh Hawley’s nonsensical attack on her was scheduled for Monday. Ted Cruz, meanwhile, was saved for Tuesday. He did not disappoint. Among the issues he grilled her on was Critical Race Theory, the academic discipline Republicans openly admit they don’t understand, despite making it one of their favorite culture war go-tos.

Cruz was dead-set on catching Jackson allowing books espousing CRT in Georgetown Day, a private school her kids attend and where she’s on the board of directors. Cruz then started pulling out books that are allegedly “either assigned or recommended” to young kids. One of them was called Antiracist Baby, a children’s book by How to Be an Antiracist author Ibram X. Kendi.

“There are portions of this book that I find really quite remarkable. One portion of the book says babies are taught to be racist or anti-racist,” Cruz steamed while giant blow-ups of the book were placed behind him. Enraged that a children’s book may point out that racism can be taught by racist guardians, Cruz then asked a possible future Supreme Court justice with a prolific judicial record, “Do you agree with this book that is being taught with kids that babies are racist?”

Jackson took a long pause — and a bottomlessly weary sigh — before responding. “I do not believe that any child should be made to feel as though they are racist or though they are not valued or though they are less-than. That they are victims. That they are oppressors,” she told Cruz. “I don’t believe in any of that.” She also reminded him that critical race theory is “an academic theory is taught in law schools,” which is true.

Cruz was, of course, not satisfied. He went on to cite out-of-context passages from another Kendi tome, a kids edition of his 2016 book Stamped From the Beginning. Eventually Jackson had to point out that none of these books “come up in my work as a judge, which I’m, respectfully, here to address.”

If Jackson can calmly respond to Ted Cruz, then maybe she deserves any gig, not the least a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

(Spoilers for Netflix’s Bad Vegan will be found below.)

Bad Vegan‘s a limited series with only four parts, but it’s apparently already doing huge numbers for Netflix. The show began streaming less than a week ago, and in five days, the latest scammer story — and perhaps the most what-the-hell-is-happening option in recent months — is telling the tale, alright. The show details how celebrity restauranteur Sarma Melngailis fell from grace and ended up (about five years ago) as a fugitive of the law (and then served time on Rikers Island). And people are gobbling it up, according to Netflix’s Top 10 Global chart.

That chart aims for transparency (after years of Netflix not being entirely clear about what “views” meant), and as of now, the show has reportedly accrued 26.96 million hours of streaming time over five days. That’s enough to bump it into the #5 spot on the global TV chart, and that could very well continue, considering how much conversation the show has generated already.

This controversy has (obviously) landed largely upon the show’s subject, Sarma, who declared that she felt “sick” over how Netflix was marketing the series, by “mocking” how she had fallen for the dog-immortality claim made by Anthony Strangis (who she initially knew as “Shane Fox”). Sarma claims that Strangis lured her into coercive control while progressively coaxing her to withdraw sums (from her restaurants) and take out loans from investors. She subsequently insisted that all her Netflix dollars went towards paying employees back.

Sarma has also expressed concern that the ending of the series “is disturbingly misleading” because it (arguably) creates the appearance that she’s still in contact with Strangis. Series director Chris Smith and executive producer Ryann Frase have defended their decision to end the show that way, claiming that the ending makes their subject appear “to be confident and strong.”

Bad Vegan is currently streaming on Netflix.

This Friday, two years after the release of her debut album, Latto will release its follow-up, 777, which she’s spent the last few months hyping with singles like “Big Energy,” “Soufside,” and “Wheelie” featuring 21 Savage. With just a few days to go, the Atlanta rising star shared the tracklist for 777, which defies industry conventions by clocking in at a relatively trim 13 tracks. Features on the album include Childish Gambino(!), Kodak Black, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Nardo Wick, and a mystery feature on the remix of “Big Energy,” Latto’s most commercially successful single to date.

Now that the tracklist is out, though, fans can’t help but speculate which of Latto’s male guests was the one she called out during a recent interview for withholding clearance over a direct message. “It’s a feature on my album… it was difficult to clear,” she told LA radio personality Big Boy. “They tryna drop they nuts on me because I won’t respond to a DM.”

Due to his previous misogynistic behavior and comments, many fans are sure it was Kodak Black who stalled the process, with responses ranging from outrage on her behalf to shading her for featuring him after those comments were made in the first place. For his part, though, Kodak denied the accusations from fans on his own Twitter, leaving just a handful of names to choose from… and perhaps that mystery guest.

In any case, 777 is due 3/25 on RCA.

Xbox is no stranger to crossover promotions. This is one of the few consoles where someone could theoretically own a Spongebob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and Garfield-themed box that plays current generation games. So when Xbox announced that it was doing a promotion with the upcoming movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it didn’t come as a surprise.

What was surprising was the exact giveaway that Xbox is presenting this time. Previous sweepstakes involved a themed console, but this one is going to be focused on the controller. Players can get a Sonic or Knuckles themed controller for their Xbox, which on its face sounds like a completely normal thing. Until you look closer and realize the controllers are fuzzy.

A logical assumption would have been that this is just the artist having some fun with the design and the controllers themselves will be the same smooth design that every controller has, but no they are just as fuzzy as they look. A blog post on Xbox Wire explained a little more about what makes these custom controllers so special.

The customized black Xbox Series S console features a golden portal ring shining on its surface alongside an embossed Sonic the Hedgehog 2 logo. With textured coatings reminiscent of the “bristly” texture of hedgehogs in the wild, the new Xbox Wireless Controllers come in Sonic Blue and Knuckles Red.

Well, they are certainly unique but we’re not sure these are going to be the most practical controllers ever made. If you enter and win these maybe plan on leaving them as a display on the shelf.

The origin story of sleeping together = LOVE.

Troxel shares in an essay for the TED blog that until the sexual revolution, the term “sleeping together” had a much more literal meaning. And that shift in cultural attitudes still influences us to equate separate beds with a lack of passion.

But considering we spend more time sleeping than making love, perhaps it’s time to shift priorities and release ourselves from this society-prescribed torture. In my experience, love doesn’t thrive in obligation.

The science suggests that our relationships might be better after sleeping separately.

Troxel’s research indicates that being well rested helps improve communication and makes us happier, more empathetic, even more attractive and funnier—all skills that help contribute to a strong and lasting relationship.

Inversely, we all know how monstrous we can become after a sleepless night. I remember during one particularly rough morning I refused to kiss my boyfriend goodbye because I resented him and his snoring. It wasn’t my best moment.

Plus, finding a good sleep solution can be a majorly helpful exercise in problem-solving together, which is yet another cornerstone of relationship success.

Lots of couples (more than you may realize) are sleeping separately anyway.

According to a 2021 poll, around one-third of couples prefer solo sleep. This might have been a privilege previously only known to the wealthy few (not everyone could bed like kings and queens, after all) but it’s easier now more than ever to afford and fit in a second sleeping space.

I mean, my boyfriend and I live in L.A.—meaning a tiny apartment with a less-than-generous floor plan. But we purchased a cushy daybed for our living room, placed some plants around it and now call it the “Zen corner” when guests visit. So far, so good.

Plus, there are so many other ways to invite closeness other than sleeping together.

Working out, morning coffee cuddles, tucking each other in … the list goes on. And who knows? Maybe those new rituals will feel even better than sleeping together. Especially if you’re both in better moods.

And it’s not like there has to be 100% commitment to either strategy. My boyfriend and I still share the bed every once in a while. And now it feels extra special, rather than an obligation.

Of course, the caveat to this is why you’re choosing to sleep in different spots in the first place. But if the intention is to take care of the relationship—rather than avoid it—then taking care of yourself, as we are learning more and more, is one of the first steps.

Bottom line: Rest is a necessity, not a luxury.

A healthy relationship is composed of two healthy people. And sleep absolutely affects our health. If it means doing so separately, who cares? What’s most important is that both partners are fulfilled, nourished and energized by more than caffeine.

Sleeping habits, like life, can be more of a choose-your-own-adventure, rather than a set of rules. Choose what feels best, and you often can’t go wrong.

Parents in Wales can no longer spank, slap, hit or shake kids, according to a new law outlawing all physical punishments for children. According to The Guardian, corporal punishment had been included as “reasonable punishment” in England and Wales since Victorian times, but that defense no longer applies.

“Until now, children were the only group in our society who it was acceptable to strike in certain circumstances,” Viv Laing, the policy and public affairs manager at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Cymru Wales, told The Guardian. “We don’t allow the physical punishment of adults or animals, so it is absurd that we have for so long with children.”

But not everyone is happy with the law.

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Some conservatives expressed concern that the law would lead to a “Stasi culture” in which citizens become informants and turn in their neighbors to law enforcement for parenting choices. But Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan rejected the notion. “We don’t want people spying,” she said, before adding, “Looking after children is the responsibility of the whole community.”

The law, which applies to both residents of and visitors to Wales, is being hailed as “historic” by the Welsh government. But Wales is hardly the first country to outlaw corporal punishment. In 1979, Sweden became the first nation to make striking a child illegal, and since then, more than 60 other countries have followed suit.

The countries that banned spanking first are regularly rated among the happiest on Earth.

Any time the topic of spanking comes up in the U.S., some people defend the practice as being not only acceptable, but preferable. The adage “spare the rod, spoil the child” (which many people think comes from the Bible—it doesn’t) is still alive and well in certain circles, and advocates of corporal punishment claim it’s necessary for children to learn what’s right and wrong and to exercise self-control. Some are quick to blame everything from disrespect to disobedience to criminal behavior on society’s move away from spanking.

But if we look at the countries that outlawed corporal punishment decades ago, those fears of bad behavior and criminality run amok appear comically unfounded. The Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark are pretty much always in the Top 10 lists of happiest nations, and they were four of the first countries to outlaw corporal punishment. They are also in the Top 10 list of safest nations ranked by perception in U.S. News and World Report, so clearly a lack of striking children for misbehaving has not led to some kind of mass societal downfall in those nations.

(For comparison, the U.S. ranked No. 38 on the safest nations by perception list and No. 19 on the happiest nations list. According to the nationwide American Family Survey, nearly half of Americans believe that “it is sometimes necessary to discipline a child with a good, hard spanking.” Correlation isn’t causation, of course, but these numbers indicate that spanking kids is not the key to a happy, safe society.)

Research shows that spanking affects the brain in the same way as more severe forms of abuse.

It was one thing to spank kids when people didn’t know better and just followed whatever they’d been taught, but we now have the ability to study and research the effects of parenting choices. The research has repeatedly led to the same conclusion: Spanking isn’t good for kids.

For instance, a 2021 Harvard study found that spanking can alter a child’s brain development in the same way that more severe forms of abuse do.

“We know that children whose families use corporal punishment are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and other mental health problems, but many people don’t think about spanking as a form of violence,” said senior researcher on the study, Katie A. McLaughlin. “While we might not conceptualize corporal punishment to be a form of violence, in terms of how a child’s brain responds, it’s not all that different than abuse. It’s more a difference of degree than of type.”

On top of that, spanking doesn’t even appear to work as intended. In the majority of studies analyzed in a review, children’s behavior actually worsened after physical punishment with external negative behaviors including aggression, antisocial behavior and disruptive behavior at school increasing over time.

We need to make sure parents are educated about parenting methods other than spanking.

However, if parents who feel that spanking is necessary are to be convinced otherwise, they need to be given tools for parenting. Too many people see spanking as discipline and everything else as permissiveness, which simply isn’t the case. There are plenty of ways to raise respectful, contributing humans without hitting them. (For those who don’t consider spanking as “hitting,” try articulating the difference. Is it not hitting if you’re hitting a child on the bottom? Why does that part of the body count any less than their arms or legs or backs or heads?)

There are plenty of alternatives to spanking, but parents may not have the knowledge, experience or support they need to figure out other methods of discipline. Outlawing corporal punishment might be a good way to get parents to stop striking their children, but we need to make sure parents are educated about what to do instead. Perhaps providing parents with free parenting classes throughout their children’s childhoods would go just as far, if not further, than merely outlawing spanking and slapping children as a form of punishment.

Writing it into law, however, is a good way for a society to express the importance of children’s rights and to impress upon parents the need to find nonviolent ways to interact with and teach their kids.

For the first time since 2017, the 2022 Oscars will have a host. For the first time since 2011, there will be multiple hosts. Hopefully Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes, who will reportedly each emcee one hour of a three-hour (hopefully) telecast, have a better time than Anne Hathaway did with her co-host, James Franco.

Hosting the Oscars seems like a lot of work, especially considering how little (relatively speaking) they’re getting paid. “I was really excited about [the Oscars gig], but then I realized that out of all the jobs that I have, this one is actually gonna cost me money,” Sykes told two-time Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel on Monday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. The comedian wouldn’t say exactly how much she’s getting paid (“It’s like scale, probably”), but Kimmel revealed his salary: $15,000. But, as he pointed out, there was “only one of me. You guys will probably have to split all that… It sounds like a lot for one night, but it’s months of work leading up to it. You’re getting robbed.”

You’re not helping, Jimmy.

Sykes has a plan to get back at the Academy, though. “I’ve already decided I’m just gonna steal an Oscar,” she joked (?). Maybe she can “borrow” one of the Oscars that went to La La Land instead of Moonlight from the first time Kimmel hosted.

You can watch the Jimmy Kimmy Live interview with Sykes above.

Last night, 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominee Beck was in Nashville, playing an intimate show at Basement East. Jack White was there, too, and to fans’ surprise, White briefly took the stage before Beck for a bit of fun.

White’s Third Man Records shared footage of the moment on Instagram, which starts with White getting the stage and declaring, “Hello ladies and gentlemen, I’m Beck. I’m gonna play you one of my favorite songs from the 1990s that I wrote.” White doesn’t particularly look like Beck, especially with his new blue hair, so his lie wasn’t a convincing one.

As for the ’90s song, White, wielding an acoustic guitar, started with Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” (aka the “I get knocked down” song), a 1997 single that Beck most certainly did not write (at least, he’s not officially credited for writing it). He then transitioned into “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers (another song not penned by Beck).

Beck (the real Beck) then got on stage and asked, “What are you doing, Jack?” White feebly responded he was tuning Beck’s guitar and that pretty much concluded the bit, which was surely a delightful diversion for those in attendance.

Watch the video above.

CMG rappers 42 Dugg and EST Gee have demonstrated natural, fan-pleasing chemistry numerous times over the last couple of years, so why not a full album? After sharing the tracks “Rose Gold,” “Cold Gangsta,” and “5500 Degrees” in the past few months, the two Midwesterners announced their joint project, Last Ones Left, at a CMG press conference last month. While they overshot their initial projected release date, they offered a promising sign of the album’s impending release today with the high-flying video for “Free The Shiners.”

The first inkling of the duo’s scintillating chemistry came on EST Gee’s I Still Don’t Feel Nun single “Members Only,” on which 42 Dugg contributed a verse to the Louisvillian’s breakout 2020 mixtape. That was also the tape that attracted the attention of CMG founder Yo Gotti, who scooped both rappers for his label. Gee then returned the favor on the Detroiter’s Free Dem Boyz mixtape in May of 2021. The duo went on to share the mic another two times, which helped spark the idea of putting both together as their waves crested at the same time, a la Lil Baby and Gunna in 2018. It sounds like a solid strategy, too; if it works out as well as it did for the two aforementioned Atlantans, EST Gee and 42 Dugg could end up being the next big names in rap.

Watch the “Free The Shiners” video above.