Latest news with #DukesofHazzard
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
Jessica Simpson's daughters cheer her on during 1st TV performance in 15 years
Jessica Simpson took the "American Idol" stage Sunday night for her first television performance in 15 years. The singer, who released her EP " Nashville Canyon, Pt. 1" in March, performed her song "Blame Me." Afterward, former season 23 "American Idol" contestant Josh King joined Simpson onstage to perform Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," which Simpson covered for the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" film. See Simpson's full performance with King here: On her Instagram story, the singer reposted a performance photo from her daughter Maxwell, which was captioned, "Go mommmmm I love you so much and I am so happy your dreams are coming true." Simpson commented, "My 13yr old, Maxwell, has never seen me singin' on TV and her pure pride, love and support is the very reason why I AM BACK." Addressing her daughter, Simpson added, "Mommy LOVES you! You are my guidin' light forever foralways. I am strong because of you my sweet daughter." Simpson has also booked another big performance: She'll headline the 5th annual Women Who Rock benefit concert, taking place Sept. 5 in Pittsburgh. The event is a benefit for the Magee-Womens Research Institute, the country's largest research institute dedicated to women's health issues, according to its website. Sunday's "American Idol" finale saw contestant Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old PE teacher from Meridian, Mississippi, crowned the winner. Click here to read more about the new "American Idol" winner.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Southern town's economy booming thanks to long-forgotten tween drama
A small Georgia town that served as the backdrop to a 2000s tween drama is still living off the fanfare years later. Covington is home for only 14,700 people and is not even 14 square miles long, but the tiny town located 35 miles outside of Atlanta has had plenty of shows filmed there, including The Vampire Diaries, featuring Canadian actress Nina Dobrev. One of the most recognizable spots on the show was clocktower downtown, which appeared in all eight seasons of the CW show, which ran from 2009 to 2017. In one scene, Ian Somerhalder and Dobrev's characters leap from the cornice of the tower hand-in-hand in the second season. The show, although set in a fake town called Mystic Falls, was primarily shot in the Georgia town and its fans keep coming to explore the filming locations even years later, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Other shows, such as Dukes of Hazzard, Remember the Titans, and Sweet Magnolias, have all called parts of Covington home while filming. 'I tell people I see gold all over the ground throughout the state, and all we have to do is grab it,' Lynda Lee Smith, the founder of Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia, told The Journal-Constitution. She sees the small town continue to grow as long as its entertainment business does, as film crews often hire local talent, shop and eat in town, and fill hotels during shoot days. Nina Dobrev in character at the Mystic Grill. The show's success is such a big win for the town that they see people as far as Australia coming to check out the filming locations And now fans want to experience these places for real. In 2014, the Mystic Grill gutted the inside to make it look just like the show, which later prompted its owner, Angi Beszborn, to hope Mystic Mercantile, which sells The Vampire Diaries merchandise, the outlet said. Beszborn even tracked down some of the set's original builders to recreate Salvatore's living room in the show, where brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Somerhalder) talked about Dobrov's character, the outlet said. 'I probably had a million dollar's worth of stuff I could have sold that I just put in the dump,' Carpenter, James Wheeler, who worked on the original set, told The Journal-Constitution. The show's success is such a big win for the town that they see people as far as Australia coming to check out the filming locations. 'Fans come from all over the world. Brazil and Europe. We had some just here from Australia,' Mystic Mercantile Manager, Carin Rutledge, told The Journal-Constitution. 'When I ask them why they came here, they say: "For this."' Other places, like Ace's Used Cars and Hazzard's Square in Dukes of Hazzard were filmed at First Baptist Church and the town's square, respectively. Mystic Grill also served as Brooke's restaurant and the Lee-Porter House was The Corner Spa in Sweet Magnolias, among other locations. Despite several successful shows filming in the town, film productions in Georgia overall are on the decline, according to The Journal-Constitution. Productions spent 37 percent less in the 2024 fiscal years as they did in the year prior, the outlet reported. The Peach State also dropped from 412 productions to 273. So the state is looking to continue to capitalize on entertainment tourism and the fans dying to step foot inside their favorite film sets - or at least as close as possible. Different hangouts and events surrounding the productions that had previously filmed there are popping up and new souvenir shops too. Epic conventions brought in more than 15,000 visitors to Covington in 2023, The Journal-Constitution said. Despite the shows ending years ago, some fans aren't ready to let it go and Covington is making a bunch on that demand.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Like A Wrecking Ball: Felon Fleeing Police Sends Jeep Literally Flying
Read the full story on The Auto Wire We're not quite sure what this 19-year-old felon driving a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee had in mind for a plan when he got cornered by Georgia State Patrol. Instead, it looks like he was just trying to do as much damage as possible to the boosted SUV before getting arrested, and he did a the wild dashcam footage we've shared, he literally sent it so hard while tearing through a neighborhood the Jeep caught serious air, landing in the parking lot of a Family Dollar. He came in like a wrecking ball. Immediately, troopers were on him, pitting the Grand Cherokee as the kid was trying to still get away. He had no plan, but he was determined to sow chaos and destruction. The end result is he was pitted so hard, the Jeep went flying out of the parking lot, hitting a power pole, knocking down electrical lines. What's crazy is in the aftermath all the cops seem to give the live lines little notice. But they get their man in the end. It's not every day you see a police chase which looks like something out of a big budget Hollywood movie. Even dumb criminals understand sending a vehicle this hard is a dumb idea. How exactly the Grand Cherokee didn't blow its suspension or just split in half after doing that Dukes of Hazzard jump is beyond us. Although we wouldn't be surprised to learn it sustained frame damage. Either way, the Jeep was most definitely totaled. Some insurance companies will even total a vehicle that's been stolen, even if it's not been in a crash. Perhaps that's why troopers had zero reservations about trashing the SUV, or maybe they just wanted to stop the wrecking ball before it put a hole in the side of a building. Image via Route33/YouTube Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ashlee Simpson Shares Update on Sister Jessica Simpson Amid Eric Johnson Separation: ‘So Proud'
Ashlee Simpson Ross is cheering on her big sister, Jessica Simpson, amid her separation from estranged husband Eric Johnson. The 'Pieces of Me' singer, 40, said that Jessica, 44, was in the 'best, best spirits' during an interview with Us Weekly published on Thursday, February 6. 'I just did an interview with her today. She has music coming, and it was so exciting. And I'm so proud of her,' Ashlee continued. 'We are strong little ladies, and, you know, I think that's a cool thing about life is just always growing and finding yourself, wherever that's supposed to be.' Ashlee's words of encouragement came a little less than a month after the 'I Wanna Love You Forever' singer confirmed that she and Eric, 46, were separating. 'Eric and I have been living separately, navigating a painful situation in our marriage,' Jessica told People in a statement published on January 13. 'Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family.' Rumors of trouble in the Dukes of Hazzard star's marriage began when she failed to acknowledge Eric's birthday in September of last year on social media. Instead, she shared a clip of a preacher talking about forgiveness. 'Forgiveness doesn't change the person who hurt you. Are you listening to me?' the preacher said. 'Forgiveness doesn't change that person. Forgiveness changes you. Guess what forgiveness does not do? Forgiveness does not mean you forget. One of the most crazy theories is that you forgive and forget. You don't forget, but you do have the opportunity to forgive every time you remember.' Jessica was later spotted without her wedding ring, and she continued to fuel the speculation when she posted a cryptic message via Instagram about her return to music on November 11, 2024. 'Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic,' Jessica wrote alongside a photo of herself in a white dress and black over-the-knee boots. 'This comeback is personal, it's an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.' The following day, a source exclusively revealed to Life & Style that Jessica and the former NFL player's marriage was essentially over. 'Jessica has been reevaluating her happiness, her marriage and her business empire, and she is ready to start fresh,' the insider explained on November 12, 2024. 'It's pretty much over between her and Eric; it's only a matter of time before she files for divorce.' Almost two weeks later, a separate source told Life & Style that Jessica had turned to Ashlee for advice about what to do regarding her crumbling relationship. 'Jessica's needing advice and support, and Ashlee's being there for her, picking up the phone when Jessica calls, taking Jessica shopping, and volunteering to look after the kids,' the insider said at the time. 'Ashlee has that street-smart edge, and she knows a few things. Ashlee is listening but she's also reminding Jessica of Eric's good qualities and giving Jessica a lot of food for thought.'
