NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. reads his final texts with Kyle Busch 1 day before driver's sudden death

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed his final text exchange with Kyle Busch one day before the driver's sudden death at 41 last week.

Key Points

• Earnhardt admitted that he has a "hard time believing" that Busch is gone.

• Busch died after his severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in complications, his family said.

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed his final conversation with Kyle Busch the day before the racing pro's unexpected death.

Earnhardt Jr. remembered his fellow driver,who died at 41on May 21, on the latest episode of his podcast,Dale Jr. Download, recalling their last text exchange and Busch's impact on him and the industry.

"I was texting with him the day before he passed away about getting together this Thursday to bring his seat for his late model over to my shop," Earnhardt Jr. began, explaining that they had agreed that Busch would drive the vehicle in the CARS Tour and that they were deciding which number they would run in the race, which spotlights late-model cars.

"He's texting me, and he's like, 'What scheme we going to run?' And I was like, 'You can run any scheme you want,'" Earnhardt Jr. said. "I was like, 'What number do you want to run?' He goes … he said it, literally, 'The Dale Jr. 8.' I was like, 'You got it.'" Earnhardt Jr. had driven the car from 1999 until 2007, making Busch's choice extra personal for him.

Busch responded to Earnhardt Jr.'s sign-off with the head-exploding emoji, Earnhardt Jr. said, referring to how race fans would react to seeing behind the wheel of the vehicle.

Earnhardt Jr. became emotional while discussing Busch's sudden death, saying he has a "hard time believing" that his friend and colleague is gone.

"What I've enjoyed, I guess, is learning more about Kyle the person," Earnhardt Jr. said, referring to recent conversations he has had with fellow drivers about Busch.

"We know who he is on the racetrack. We know how he is on the racetrack and in the media and so forth — what he was like at the track with the suit on and in that environment," he said. "I knew him on a personal level. But hearing how he interacted and how he was to others, the joke they may have shared in a text … I've really enjoyed learning who he was away from the track and how he interacted and engaged, or treated or talked to other people, and it's been good."

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"When he passed away this past weekend, we heard a lot of drivers say, 'He was my hero. I wanted to emulate him. I wanted to be like him,'" Earnhardt Jr. revealed, "and I know that that would have meant the world to him."

NASCAR, the Busch family, and the Richard Childress Racing team announced that the driver had died in a statement toEntertainment Weeklylast week.

"We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch," the statement read. "Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken … A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled, and he cared deeply about the sport and fans."

Busch is survived by wife, Samantha, and their children, Brexton and Lennix.

Busch was hospitalized on May 21 for a "severe illness," for which he was "undergoing treatment," his family said.

They announced hiscause of deathtwo days later. "The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications," they said in a statement to theAssociated Press.

Watch Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s full podcast episode below.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 27, 2026

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. reads his final texts with Kyle Busch 1 day before driver's sudden death

NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed his final text exchange with Kyle Busch one day before the driver's sudden death at 41 last...

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Bodybuilding Influencer Gabriel Ganley's Death Certificate Indicates Possible Cause of Sudden Death at 22

Bodybuilder Gabriel Ganley's death at age 22 was related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition caused by the thickening of the heart muscle, per reporting by Brazilian outlet G1 Globo

NEED TO KNOW

• The influencer's death on May 23 was confirmed with an Instagram post shared by his sponsor, supplement brand Integralmedica

• Ganley had over 2 million Instagram followers, over 1 million on TikTok and 403,000 subscribers on YouTube

Brazilian bodybuilderGabriel Ganley's death at age 22was reportedly related to a heart condition.

Days after his death on Saturday, May 23,G1 Globocited the late influencer's death certificate, which states that he died suddenly due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. PerMayo Clinic, the disease involves the thickening of the heart muscle, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.

G1 stated that local authorities are still investigating what happened to Ganley, and his official cause of death has yet to be determined. Per the outlet, the local SSP (Public Security Secretariat) stated that police are currently awaiting the results of forensic reports from the IML (Institute of Legal Medicine) to determine an official cause of death.

Over the weekend,CNN Brasilreported that a friend found Ganley dead in the kitchen of his apartment in São Paulo, and no "apparent signs of violence" were present at the scene. According to G1, which cited a police report, the athlete's body was discovered after his family and friends were unable to contact him for about two days.

The news was alsoconfirmed in a postshared byIntegralmedica, a Brazilian supplement brand that sponsored the late athlete.

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The company shared a photo of Ganley flexing his arms while surrounded by an audience of smiling fans posing in the same manner in the post on May 23.

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"Today we lost [...] far more than a talented and dedicated athlete with a bright future ahead. We lost a sports influencer who inspired thousands of young people daily with his energy, discipline and authenticity," read the caption of Integralmedica's post. "Ganley left his mark wherever he went. His charisma, his presence, and his passion for life will live on in the memories of all who had the privilege of knowing him and walking alongside him."

The Brazilian influencer boasted 2.3 million followers onInstagram, where he regularly posted photos and videos of himself in the gym. He had another 1.3 million fans onTikTokand 403,000 subscribers onYouTube.

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 26, 2026

Bodybuilding Influencer Gabriel Ganley's Death Certificate Indicates Possible Cause of Sudden Death at 22

Bodybuilder Gabriel Ganley's death at age 22 was related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition caused by the thickening of th...

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Johnny Carson Bid an Emotional Farewell on His Final “Tonight Show” Broadcast, 34 Years Ago

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years before deciding to end his late-night reign

NEED TO KNOW

• Carson's final show aired May 22, 1992, and had over 50 million viewers

• Carson was openly emotional about what the journey meant to him while also making viewers at home laugh with him one final time

Johnny Carson's farewell toThe Tonight Showwas an emotional moment that still sticks with viewers, over three decades later.

The moment was a year in the making, with Carson announcing his departure with time to give fans time to digest it. The talk show host's 30-year run ended on May 22, 1992, with a look back at three decades of discussing the evolving pop culture landscape that late-night came up in.

In his self-written monologue, Carson explained how the show would play out, the night after an explosive farewell that featured appearances by Bette Midler and Robin Williams.

"The show tonight is our farewell show; it's going to be a little bit quieter," he said at the time. "It's not going to be a performance show. One of the questions people have been asking me, especially this last month, is, 'What's it like doingThe Tonight Show,' and what does it mean to me?"

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"Well, let me try to explain it. If I could magically, somehow, that tape you just saw, make it run backwards. I would like to do the whole thing over again. It's been a hell of a lot of fun," he continued.

Carson added, "As an entertainer, it has been the great experience of my life, and I cannot imagine finding something in television after I leave tonight that would give me as much joy and pleasure, and such a sense of exhilaration, as this show has given me. It's just hard to explain."

While Carson's tone met the moment, he didn't take it too seriously either, concluding the monologue with "This is not really a performance show. This is kind of a look-back retrospective. We are going to show you some moments in time. Some images of the many people, and there have been some 23,000 people. We are going to show you a little excerpt of how the show is put together, so go get some more cheese dip and we'll be back in just a moment."

Further, the audience consisted only of family, friends, and loved ones of the crew members as Carson led the intimate goodbye, which was watched at home by over 50 million viewers.

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Carson's last words to his audience struck a balance between emotional and jovial as he shared gratitude one final time.

"And so it has come to this: I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something I always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I want to thank the people who’ve shared this stage with me for 30 years. Mr. Ed McMahon, Mr. Doc Severinsen and you people watching," he said.

Carson continued, "I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you. And I hope when I find something that I want to do — and I think you would like — and come back, that you’ll be as gracious in inviting me into your home as you have been. I bid you a very heartfelt good night."

On the same night, 34 years later,Byron Allenis stepping into what wasStephen Colbert's former CBS time slot, the night afterThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertended.

In an interview withTheWrap, Allen shared that his takeover being on the anniversary of Carson's farewell was by design. He explained that while the show could have premiered in the time slot in September, he encouraged the May 22 start date.

Allen himself made his wider comedy debut onThe Tonight Show with Johnny Carsonin 1979, at just 18. He was the youngest comedian to ever perform during Carson's late-night reign.

"Normally, you would premiere in September, but I said ‘No, no, no, no. That’s when Johnny stepped down. That’s when I’m stepping up,' " he told the outlet.

Comics Unleashedtakes over the time slot on Friday, May 22.

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 26, 2026

Johnny Carson Bid an Emotional Farewell on His Final “Tonight Show” Broadcast, 34 Years Ago

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years before deciding to end his late-night reign NEED TO KNOW Carson...

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Yes, that was Martin Scorsese you heard in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

The release ofThe Mandalorian and Groguthis holiday weekend marked the return ofStar Warsto the theaters for the first time since 2019'sStar Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker. While the movie hasn't gotten rave reviews from critics --it sits at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes-- the audiences are loving it to the tune of 89%.

Moviegoers may have been in for a surprise when they sat through the opening credits in theaters this weekend as a very familiar, yet unexpected, name popped up on screen. Martin Scorsese, the iconic director of movies such asGoodfellas,Taxi DriverandKillers of the Flower Moon, got high billing inThe Mandalorian and Grogu.

So, who did he play? That would be Hugo Durant, the very helpful informant and sandwich maker on the remote planet of Shakari.

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It's not the first time Scorsese has lent his voice talents to a movie -- he voiced Sykes inShark Talein 2004 among others -- but it might be the first time he has four arms.

The Mandalorian and Groguis in theaters now.

This article originally appeared on For The Win:Yes, that was Martin Scorsese you heard in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

byAnio Baumeister

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May 25, 2026

Yes, that was Martin Scorsese you heard in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

The release ofThe Mandalorian and Groguthis holiday weekend marked the return ofStar Warsto the theaters for the first time since 2019...

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“Wuthering Heights ”Director Says She Regrets Cutting Margot Robbie's 'Extremely Hairy Armpits' from the Film

Emerald Fennell said she regrets cutting a Wuthering Heights scene showing Margot Robbie's character with unshaven armpits

NEED TO KNOW

• The director said she'd been bothered by how period dramas often showed women as smooth-skinned, despite razors not being available at the time

• "They're all kind of hairless like eels," Fennell recalled of women in other period dramas, set around the time of Wuthering Heights

Emerald Fennellis looking back on aWuthering Heightsstyle decision that was cut from the film.

On Friday, May 22, the director spoke at Hay Festival in Wales and opened up about her adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel, which was released in theaters in February 2026.

In hindsight, she admitted, Fennell wished she'd kept a scene with Cathy (played byMargot Robbie) in which her unshaven armpits were visible, because it would have been more accurate to the time period.

Fennell said she was often bothered by the hairless skin of women in period dramas, because it applied modern beauty standards to a time when they weren't physically attainable.

"Where are the razors that these women are using?" she recalled asking while watching Jane Austen film adaptations. "They're all kind of hairless like eels. I'm like: ‘What's going on? It's completely mad.'”

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Waxing and hair removal creams existed for many centuries prior to the events ofWuthering Heights, though it was only truly accessible to wealthy nobility.

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PerGillette UK, English women began removing hair from their face and body with safety razors in the early 1900s, after the First World War — several centuries after Brontë's novel was published in 1847.

For that reason, it was "so important" to Fennell to show Cathy's body hair as historically accurate, the director said. "Unfortunately, the scene that we see them [in] didn't make it in there," she added.

Fennell's adaptation ofWuthering Heightsdrew some criticism for its lack of historical accuracy — from Cathy's ostentatious attire, to the race of Heathcliff (played byJacob Elordi), to the plot of the film itself, which deviated significantly from Brontë's gothic novel.

However, Fennell previously explained the disparities by noting her rendition was meant to embody the version she "remembered reading" as a 14-year-old, in which she "wanted stuff to happen that never happened."

"So it isWuthering Heights,but it isn't," Fennell said of her adaptation in aninterview with Fandango, published in January. "The thing for me is you can't adapt a book as dense and complicated and difficult as this book— I can't say I'm makingWuthering Heights. It's not possible. What I can say is I'm making a version of it."

Wuthering Heightsis now streaming on HBO Max.

Read the original article onPeople

byAnio Baumeister

in

May 25, 2026

“Wuthering Heights ”Director Says She Regrets Cutting Margot Robbie's 'Extremely Hairy Armpits' from the Film

Emerald Fennell said she regrets cutting a Wuthering Heights scene showing Margot Robbie's character with unshaven armpits NE...

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