Dolly Parton’s Husband, Carl Dean, Dies

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s beloved husband of nearly 60 years, passed away Monday at the age of 82.

According to Parton’s publicist, Dean died in Nashville and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” Parton shared in a statement.

Dean was famously known as the inspiration for Parton’s hit song Jolene, which was inspired by a bank teller who flirted with him. The family has requested privacy, and no cause of death has been disclosed. 

Brentwood Man Allegedly Planned to Bomb Courthouse

Detectives with the Metro Nashville Police Department have arrested Alexander Thompson, 35, of Brentwood, Tennessee, in connection with online threats made on Sunday to firebomb the federal courthouse in Nashville.​

The investigation traced several emails and online posts back to Thompson, leading to his arrest.​ 

Thompson reportedly admitted to sending the threats and expressed his intention to carry them out.

Thompson has been charged with making a terroristic threat and filing a false report. He is being held on a $100,000 bond and cannot be released until undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Music Stars to Headline Nashville’s First Rodeo

Music City Rodeo, Nashville’s first-ever Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, has announced its musical artists, who will perform at Bridgestone Arena on May 29-31.

By day, bull riding, barrel racing, and bronc riding will take center stage, with competitors vying for over $200,000 in prizes.

At night, the rodeo’s founding members—Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, and Jelly Roll—will headline concerts, with McGraw closing out the event.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to support pediatric healthcare and research. 

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: A bill requiring all Tennessee school districts to adopt policies banning cellphone use in classrooms is one step closer to becoming law after it passed in the House 80-10. (More)

➤ Harrogate: Sheriff Bob Brooks said a body was found inside a local restaurant following a Monday morning explosion. (More)

➤ Maryville: Maryville High School broke ground on a new $55 million expansion that includes 48 new classrooms, a 600-seat auditorium, an updated cafeteria, and a kitchen. (More)

➤ Memphis: A new mediator was appointed to help negotiate a settlement between the City of Memphis and the family of Tyre Nichols involving a $550 million lawsuit after he was fatally beaten by Memphis police in 2023. (More)

➤ Apison: Firefighters battled brush fires across the area Monday, as officials warned residents against burning due to dry conditions. (More)

➤ Bluff City: The Sullivan County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution giving teachers a one-time bonus of $2,000. (More)

➤ The University of Tennessee moved up to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll after beating Alabama, while Memphis moved up two spots to No. 16. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Lady Vols dropped seven spots to No. 18 in the women’s AP Top 25 poll after a loss to Georgia. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies will host the seventh annual Girls Summit, presented by Nike, this Thursday at Memphis Sports and Events Center, introducing young women to career opportunities in the sports industry during Women’s History Month. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Experience crystal-clear sound with Audien’s Atom 2 hearing aids, now 33% off. Enjoy 24-hour battery life, advanced noise cancellation, and a nearly invisible design. No prescription is needed. Plus, benefit from a 45-day risk-free trial and lifetime support. (Shop Now)

➤ Tennessee Valley Authority employees returned to the office Tuesday after four years of remote and hybrid work. (Watch Video)

➤ Wilson Lumber Co. announced Monday it reached an agreement to acquire Nashville Lumber, a building materials supplier, with plans to continue operations in Tennessee. (More)

➤ A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the $18.5 million Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science and Technology Hub at the University of Tennessee at Martin. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Experience ultimate comfort with the Odyssey Weighted Blanket. Designed for adults, this 12lb, 48″x72″ twin-size blanket features premium glass beads for even weight distribution. Its cooling and breathable fabric ensures a restful night’s sleep, making it ideal for individuals weighing 110-130lbs. (Shop Now)

Flying together with our sponsor

Answer the Call on This Pre-IPO Opportunity

Mode Mobile is gearing up for a possible Nasdaq listing (ticker: MODE). But the real opportunity is now – before they hit the big stage.

Mode’s disruptive smartphone innovation puts money in customers’ pockets for simply using their phones. That’s why 45M+ people use it worldwide. Mode has already helped them earn and save over $325M – earning $60M+ in revenue in the process. And with retail partnerships with names like Best Buy and Walmart, they’re scaling this breakthrough as far as possible.

Now, Mode is giving investors the chance to become a pre-IPO investor as they seek to transform the $1T smartphone industry for good. Invest for just $0.26/share and get up to 2X bonus shares.

➤ Tennessee Vols guard Jahmai Mashack launched a food drive after his epic buzzer-beater on Saturday, raising over $34,000 to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. (More)

➤ Boone and Jolene, the two eagles featured on East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Eagle Cams in Johnson City, welcomed their first chick into the nest Monday afternoon. (More)

➤ Jackson’s blessing boxes are helping fight hunger by providing non-perishable food for those in need while allowing others to donate supplies. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Introducing the Omega DataCube—a compact, powerful device that automatically backs up your photos, videos, and contacts every time you charge your smartphone or tablet. With up to 256GB storage capacity, it securely stores over 102,000 files, freeing up space on your mobile device. No Wi-Fi needed, no monthly fees—just effortless, secure backups. 

Have you ever been to a rodeo?

1. Yes
2. No

Previous Results:

Are you planning to travel for spring break?

1. Yes: 30%
2. No: 41%
3. Not sure: 29%                 

In which Tennessee city was the first Holiday Inn opened in 1952?

Show me the answer