Thursday, August 27, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2023, former Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist passed away, leaving behind a legacy of military service and economic development.

Tennesseans are gathering from Memphis to Sevierville to grieve and honor the Iron Butterfly, Dolly Parton. We’ve gathered the tributes and what comes next for her businesses and charities below. What’s the Dolly song, movie, or memory that means the most to you? Hit reply and share it with us. 🦋

Have you heard about this debate over whether couples should combine all their finances? Maybe you, your kids, or even your grandchildren are dealing with this decision right now. It’s one of the first big money decisions every couple makes, and most people assume there’s an obvious right answer. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla shares the ins and outs of combining finances and which way today’s generation is leaning. Tune in here!

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TN Gets $752M in Landmark Meta Settlement

Tennessee will receive nearly $752 million through a landmark multistate settlement with Meta over allegations that Instagram and Facebook harmed young users.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said the money will go to a new Children’s Digital Protection Fund supporting the mental health and safety of Tennessee kids.

The deal, part of a roughly $17 billion national settlement, ends Tennessee’s state-court trial, which was nearing its conclusion in Davidson County Chancery Court.

It requires Meta to add time limits, overnight restrictions, stronger age verification, and expanded parental controls, resolving claims that the company designed Instagram with addictive features and misled the public about platform safety.

Dolly Parton Remembered across America

Tennessee is mourning Queen of Country Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at 80. Tribute sites have sprung up in spots like Dollywood, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and her Brentwood estate.

Fellow artists led an outpouring of grief, as Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, and others paid tribute on social media. President Trump, as well as both of Tennessee’s U.S. senators, shared messages mourning her.

In New York, the Empire State Building lit up pink at 9:25 p.m., a nod to her hit 9 to 5. Sevier County landmarks and agencies also paid tribute, including its historic courthouse, which rang its bell in her honor.

Parton’s family has asked that donations go to her Imagination Library, which Dolly founded in honor of her father, who never learned to read. The charity has given away more than 250 million books to children.

Here’s When Tennessee’s Fall Colors Will Peak

Tennessee’s fall foliage is expected to arrive gradually this year, starting with occasional premature yellowing in early September as dry conditions stress some trees.

Isolated patches of color should appear by mid-September, building toward moderate color at higher elevations by mid-October.

West and Middle Tennessee are expected to reach peak color in late October, with Nashville’s display cresting around Nov. 1. Higher elevations in the Smoky Mountains typically see their peak earlier in October.

Forecasters note the timing can shift with rainfall and temperature, so a wet stretch could deepen and extend the season.

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➤ Statewide: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is proposing an increase to hunting and fishing license fees, its first major adjustment in years. (More)

➤ Middle Tennessee: Multiple local, state, and federal agencies have revealed the results of an illegal-gambling investigation, following raids on Gallatin convenience stores and machine seizures across the region. (More)

➤ Nashville: Podcaster Clay Travis added $15,000 to the reward for information after a teenager was shot and killed in a drive-by following a football game Friday night. (More)

➤ Smith County: A local man was banned from hunting for life after TWRA found years of illegal hunting and seized 18 deer mounts, 52 turkey beards, and dozens of turkey spurs. (See Photos)

➤ Shelby County: The county commission has approved new limits on the controversial tactic of solitary confinement at youth detention centers. (More)

➤ Memphis: St. Jude’s incoming president says he’s looking ahead to what he called a “new era” in childhood cancer treatment, driven by emerging technologies. (More)

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➤ The NCAA reduced Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter’s suspension from two games to one, a restriction set after he accepted a $427 flight from an agent. He’ll miss the Furman opener but returns for Week 2 at Georgia Tech. (More)

➤ Former UT quarterback Peyton Manning paid tribute to Dolly Parton following her death, writing that Tennessee will not be the same without her. Manning escorted Parton onto the field at Neyland Stadium in 2023 for her iconic Rocky Top performance. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans unveiled their “Music City” Rivalries uniform, featuring neon-inspired numbers modeled after Nashville’s famous signage and a guitar-string stripe down the pants. They will debut the look Nov. 15 against Jacksonville. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators announced a team-owned streaming service that will carry every locally broadcast game starting this season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | U.S. Open | Soccer | Little League World Series

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➤ Dolly Parton’s businesses and charities, including Dollywood and the Imagination Library, already have a leadership plan in place to carry on her legacy, her team says. (See Details)

➤ Clarksville’s regional planning commission deferred the site plan for a proposed In-N-Out Burger, a 3,890-square-foot restaurant with a drive-through slated for Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. (More)

➤ West Nashville staple Sir Pizza is closing its original Charlotte Avenue location after six decades, with the owner exploring plans to relocate. (More)

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➤ A secret song by Dolly Parton is reportedly locked away at Dollywood, not to be opened and performed until 2045, offering one last surprise from an artist full of them. (More)

➤ A burglar wearing a cow onesie, along with accomplices, broke into a Smyrna smoke shop and made off with an armful of vape products. The bovine bandit remains at large. (See Cow)

➤ Tennessee’s newest state park has opened, showcasing the Clinch River, one of the most biologically diverse waterways in North America, as its centerpiece. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Is a joint bank account the key to a happy relationship, or a trap? (Hear Debate)

➤ One of Wall Street’s best-known investors admits his headline-grabbing op-ed attacking the Treasury secretary was written with AI. (Hear Details)

➤ Hackers tied to China’s military allegedly spent years hiding inside some of America’s most sensitive government networks. (Listen Now)