T(abel) Reads 52

Friday September 4th, 2026 - Edition 052

EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BI-WEEKLY NEWS SOURCE... UNLESS YOU'RE NOT EVERYONE

DOLLY PARTON 1946-2026

A Remarkable Life Leaves Behind a Legacy That Stretches Far Beyond Entertainment

MUSIC

All around icon Dolly Parton has passed away at 80 years old. The country music legend spent decades in the spotlight, dominating music charts, television, film, theme parks, and, most importantly, philanthropy. In her honor, Nashville’s BNA airport will be renamed to celebrate the Tennessee native, while the University of Tennessee football team will add stickers bearing her name to the back of its helmets. In other news, Oscar-nominated actor Tom Hardy just released a collaborative album with rap group Czarface, which includes Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. Titled Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer, the project introduces listeners to Frankie Pulitzer, Hardy’s longtime rap alter ego. The album brings in some serious talent, including Method Man and Busta Rhymes, but believe it or not, Hardy manages to hold his own alongside the underground legends. Check out the Abel Instagram story this weekend for our full ranking of the album.

ART AND FASHION

Two words: Sydney Sweeney. If being one of the most popular actresses of the decade wasn’t enough, Sweeney added another title with the launch of her lingerie brand earlier this year. The brand quickly drew attention thanks to Sweeney’s name, accessible pricing, and inevitable comparisons to Victoria’s Secret. With her birthday approaching on September 12 and a birthday collection in tow, the brand has taken over timelines once again. Another celebrity dipping his toes into fashion is Kai Cenat, whose clothing brand, Vivet, will hold its first runway show during New York Fashion Week. After spending the last four years becoming one of the internet’s biggest streamers, Cenat recently stepped away from the spotlight following a difficult period. During that break, he found another creative outlet, turning his passion for fashion into Vivet. With little publicly known about the brand beyond its name, the runway show will finally give fans their first real taste of what Cenat has been creating.

TV AND FILM

Horror fans have something new to circle on the calendar. Following the success of Insidious: Out of the Further, director Jacob Chase is staying with Blumhouse for Sleepover, an original horror film scheduled for October 8, 2027. Plot details remain limited, but the movie is being described as the “quintessential sleepover nightmare,” giving Chase another opportunity to build beyond Insidious. Meanwhile, another massive franchise is heading back to Hogwarts. HBO’s new Harry Potter series premieres this Christmas, with each season expected to adapt one of J.K. Rowling’s seven books. Despite Season 1 not airing yet, casting for Chamber of Secrets is underway, and Billy Barratt has officially landed the role of young Tom Riddle, better known as the future Lord Voldemort. He joins an impressive cast featuring John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid. We’ll soon find out whether television can recreate the magic.

SPORTS

Scottie Scheffler’s 2026 season was defined less by trophies than relentless consistency. Despite going winless across the four majors and winning only three events, Scheffler still led the PGA Tour in regular-season FedExCup points behind 13 top-five finishes and just one missed cut. He capped the year with a dramatic Tour Championship comeback, erasing a three-shot deficit to pass Viktor Hovland and claim his second FedExCup. The victory puts Scheffler alongside Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win the Tour Championship twice. Elsewhere, the international football world faced a tough reality this week as Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team. At 39, Messi leaves international competition having accomplished virtually everything possible, including finally capturing the World Cup. Luckily, American football is officially back. Over the next 10 days, every college and professional team will take the field, bringing football season back in full force.

DOMESTIC

Is the President falling asleep on the job? That question has followed Donald Trump throughout the year as videos continue circulating of the 80-year-old appearing to doze off during public meetings. The latest came during a White House event last week, where Trump appeared to repeatedly close his eyes and briefly slump forward while other officials spoke. It isn’t the first time. Similar moments have been captured during Cabinet and Oval Office meetings, creating plenty of discussion online about the President’s age and stamina. However, social media has also made separating reality from exaggeration increasingly difficult. Earlier this year, a viral video appearing to show Trump completely collapsing onto the Resolute Desk was proven to be digitally altered, despite authentic footage from the same event showing him closing his eyes. The White House has consistently pushed back on suggestions that Trump is sleeping during meetings. Either way, at 80 years old, every closed eye is now becoming a headline.