Global Pulse

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  • Japan’s ‘polka dot queen’ artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

    Japan’s ‘polka dot queen’ artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

    Yayoi Kusama, the globally revered Japanese avant-garde artist universally known as the ‘Polka Dot Queen’, has passed away at the age of 97, her official institution confirmed in a public statement on August 27, 2026. The pioneering creative, who died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital, leaves behind a seven-decade legacy of boundary-pushing work that transformed contemporary art, shaped by her unique relationship with mental health and a distinct visual language defined by polka dots, net patterns and infinite, immersive motifs.

    Born in 1929 into a wealthy Japanese family, Kusama began nurturing her iconic artistic style as young as 10, rooted in the vivid visions and hallucinations that shaped her childhood perspective. In her autobiography, she recalled an early transformative experience: after noticing a red floral pattern on a tablecloth, the pattern appeared to spread across every surface of the room, from ceilings to pillars, even covering her own body. This epiphany laid the foundation for the repetitive, proliferating motifs that would become her lifelong signature.

    After completing art studies in her home country, Kusama relocated to the United States in the late 1950s, where she quickly carved out a space in New York City’s exploding 1960s avant-garde movement. As a Japanese woman working in a predominantly white, male creative scene, she faced systemic discrimination, but her large-scale bold canvases and provocative, experimental ‘happenings’—which combined body painting, public performance and her trademark polka dots—earned her rapid notoriety and a devoted cult following. Beyond fine art, Kusama expanded her practice into multiple domains: she launched a commercial fashion line, founded the conceptual ‘Church of Self-Obliteration’, and even officiated a same-sex wedding under her self-styled title as the ‘High Priestess of Polka Dots’, cementing her reputation as a radical cultural trailblazer.

    Kusama returned to Japan in the 1970s, where she voluntarily admitted herself to a Tokyo psychiatric hospital to manage her long-standing mental health challenges. For the remaining decades of her life, she continued to create art daily from her base at the facility, rarely stepping away from her practice. Her official statement noted that she kept painting until her final days, never putting down her brush, and remained committed to exploring her core artistic themes of infinite love and the eternal soul throughout her entire life.

    In the decades following her return to Japan, Kusama’s work grew into a global cultural phenomenon. Her iconic large-scale pumpkin sculptures—including the legendary installation on Japan’s Naoshima ‘art island’, her immersive ‘Infinity Rooms’ that play with perception and endless repetition, and other interactive installations drew record-breaking crowds at museums around the world, with major works selling for millions of dollars at auction. She developed a instantly recognizable public persona, often seen in public wearing her signature bright red wig and bold, polka-dotted clothing, turning her own image into an extension of her artistic brand.

    Her artistic philosophy, which she termed ‘self-obliteration’, centered on the idea that repeating simple motifs allows the individual self to dissolve into a larger, interconnected whole, a concept deeply rooted in her lifelong experience of hallucinatory visions. News of her death triggered an outpouring of tributes from fans and admirers across the globe. One Japanese user on the social platform X wrote, ‘I’ve had the privilege of viewing her paintings and your works several times. Bold, delicate, beautiful. That world was one I had never known. And to me, she was also someone truly endearing. May you rest in peace.’

  • Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo

    Yayoi Kusama, who splashed polka dots across art world, dies at 97 in Tokyo

    Legendary Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, whose instantly recognizable polka dot works transformed global visual art, passed away on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital at the age of 97, her official studio confirmed in a public statement released Thursday.

    Kusama remained dedicated to her craft right up to her final moments, the statement emphasized: “She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul. We will carry forward Kusama’s wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world.”

    Widely celebrated as one of Japan’s most influential contemporary creators, Kusama’s work has been showcased in leading cultural institutions across the globe, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Repetition lies at the core of her artistic identity: while she experimented with recurring motifs ranging from woven net patterns to swirling, worm-like forms, polka dots remain her most iconic signature. These vibrant, psychedelic spots danced across her canvases, took shape as glittering spheres, and became glowing installations that immerse visitors in her singular visual world.

    In a 2012 interview with The Associated Press, Kusama — appearing in her characteristic orange bob wig and a garment covered in her beloved dots — summed up her creative mantra simply: “Polka dots are fabulous.” Speaking in a gentle, straightforward tone, she added, “I want to create a thousand paintings, maybe two thousand paintings, as many as I can draw. I will keep painting until I die.” She kept that promise.

    Kusama drew the world as she experienced it: she explained that the spotted perspective that defined her work originated from the hallucinations she experienced from childhood. For decades, she navigated regular stays in psychiatric institutions, but her mental health struggles never derailed her trailblazing career. In 1957, she became one of the first Japanese female artists to relocate to New York to pursue artistic work. Though soft-spoken and naturally shy, she was unapologetically bold in advancing her unique creative vision, sticking to her dot-centric style for decades while working to make her art accessible to mainstream audiences, not just gallery elites.

    In her later life, Kusama received the widespread acclaim she had long been denied. She collaborated with global luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton and lent her designs to a range of licensed consumer goods, from teacups and t-shirts to keychains and store display figures of herself. In 2008, one of her works sold for $5.8 million at Christie’s auction house, cementing her status as a major commercial force in the art world. In 2016, she received Japan’s highest honor for artists, the Order of Culture. Upon accepting the award, she reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to her craft, noting that the sincerity and devotion she brought to her personal life formed the core of her artistic legacy. “I feel there is little left in my life, but I am now still fighting to the death for my art,” she said at the time. “I am giving all I have so that many people will continue to be interested in my art, even after I am dead.”

    Critics have labeled her work with a wide range of labels, from pop art and avant-garde to feminist art, but Kusama rejected most attempts to box her practice into narrow categories. Born into a middle-class Japanese family, Kusama grew up feeling deeply misunderstood: her parents discouraged her artistic ambitions, pushing her to pursue traditional domestic life and marriage instead, offering to buy her kimonos rather than paints and brushes. Knowing she had to escape to fulfill her potential, she chose to build her career in the United States.

    When Kusama arrived in New York, the dominant artistic trend was abstract expressionist “action painting,” defined by gestural drips and broad brushstrokes — not the controlled, repetitive dots that would become her trademark. She endured years of poverty and public obscurity, but never abandoned her commitment to painting dots. In the late 1960s, she gained media attention (and legal scrutiny) for anti-war “happening” performances where she placed paper dots on participants’ bodies — and even on a horse — leading to obscenity arrests for some involved. While building her practice in New York, she befriended leading contemporary artists including Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Joseph Cornell, all of whom praised her innovative creative approach.

    Over her seven-decade career, Kusama created a vast body of quirky, celebratory works that span multiple mediums. Notable pieces include *Macaroni Girl*, a figure covered in dry macaroni that explores fear of food; *The Visionary Flowers*, large-scale sculptural works of twisting tulips; and *Mirrored Corridor*, an immersive installation that uses reflective surfaces to create the illusion of an endless field of dotted phallic forms. Beyond visual art, Kusama also experimented with filmmaking and published multiple novels. She once told the AP that the origin of her creative ideas remained a mystery even to her: she simply picked up her brush and started creating, and the process often surprised her. “I think, ‘Oh, I drew that? I was thinking that,’” she said.

    Kusama embraced public attention and acclaim for her work, happily reading her poetry for reporters and posing with energy for press photographs. She remained a disarmingly charming mix of vulnerability and defiance to the end: one moment declaring herself “an artistic revolutionary,” and the next murmuring, “I am so afraid, all the time, of everything.” Her work and legacy continue to resonate with audiences around the world, carrying forward the message of hope and creativity she spent a lifetime building.

  • Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

    Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

    Yayoi Kusama, the iconic Japanese avant-garde artist whose decades-spanning career redefined global contemporary art, has passed away at the age of 97, her official company confirmed in a formal public statement this week. The pioneering creator died on August 14, 2025, while receiving care at a Tokyo hospital, ending a life singularly dedicated to boundary-pushing artistic innovation.

    Widely recognized for her instantly recognizable visual language of infinite polka dots, immersive installations, and bold, colorful large-scale sculptures, Kusama rose to widespread international acclaim late in her life, cementing her status as one of the most influential contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Unlike many creators who confined their practice to a single medium, Kusama built a boundary-crossing career that spanned far beyond visual art: her body of work includes groundbreaking performance pieces, published fiction, and collections of poetry, each marked by her distinctive exploration of infinity, obsession, mental health, and human connection.

    For much of her later life, Kusama chose to live voluntarily in a Tokyo psychiatric hospital, a decision she framed as central to sustaining her artistic practice while managing her long-standing mental health challenges. She was equally famous for her iconic public persona as for her art, often appearing at exhibitions and public events in her signature bright crimson wig and playful polka-dot clothing, a look that became synonymous with her unapologetically creative and whimsical approach to life and work.

    Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Nagano, Kusama moved to New York City in the 1950s to pursue her artistic career, where she became a central figure in the 1960s avant-garde movement alongside pop art and minimalist pioneers. Though she faded from public attention for decades after returning to Japan in the 1970s, a global critical re-evaluation of her work starting in the 1990s catapulted her to the mainstream fame she holds today, with blockbuster exhibitions drawing record crowds at museums around the world. Tributes to her life and work have begun pouring in from art institutions, fellow creators, and fans across the globe, who celebrate her as a visionary who turned personal struggle into universally resonant art.

  • Susan Sarandon, Carol Burnett lead tributes to The Rocky Horror Picture Show star Tim Curry

    Susan Sarandon, Carol Burnett lead tributes to The Rocky Horror Picture Show star Tim Curry

    The global entertainment community is in mourning this week after news broke that legendary British actor Tim Curry, best known for originating the iconic role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, has passed away at the age of 80. Curry died peacefully on August 25 at his home in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, his long-time manager and friend Marcia Hurwitz confirmed publicly.

    Curry first introduced the world to his boundary-pushing interpretation of the mad, cross-dressing scientist on the London stage in 1973, before reprising the career-defining role in the 1975 cult classic film adaptation. The role catapulted him to international fame and cemented his legacy as a subversive, one-of-a-kind performer whose influence still ripples through stage and screen today. Over a six-decade-long prolific career, Curry built an extraordinary body of work that spanned genres, mediums, and generations of fans. His resume includes memorable turns in beloved projects ranging from *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*, *Annie*, and *The Hunt for Red October* to the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s *It*, where he famously portrayed the menacing clown Pennywise. He later earned critical acclaim for originating the role of King Arthur in the hit Broadway musical *Spamalot*, and delivered a fan-favorite turn as the sharp-witted butler in the cult comedy film *Clue*, among dozens of other roles across film, theater, and voice acting.

    Since news of his passing broke, fellow performers, collaborators, and co-stars from across the industry have shared heartfelt tributes celebrating Curry’s talent, generosity, and irreplaceable impact on entertainment. Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, who starred opposite Curry as heroine Janet Weiss in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, remembered the actor for his extraordinary spirit as much as his on-screen presence. “What I loved about him most was his heart,” Sarandon said, praising Curry as “a funny, sexy, original.” She added, “Even wheelchair bound he continued to be so sweet and generous with his fans. Thank you Tim for meaning so much to so many people.”

    Australian actress Nell Campbell, who played Columbia opposite Curry in the original *Rocky Horror* film, described the actor as the patriarch of the tight-knit *Rocky Horror* community. “I feel like the head of our family has just died because he was the head of the Rocky Horror family,” she told the BBC. Welsh actor Luke Evans, who stepped into the role of Frank-N-Furter for a Broadway revival of the musical, called Curry “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm.” In a letter written to Curry before his passing, Evans thanked him for his groundbreaking fearlessness, writing that Curry “created something so enduring, and for inspiring generations of actors to be a little braver than they thought they could be.”

    The official Broadway production account for *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* echoed that praise, nodding to one of the musical’s most iconic lines delivered by Curry: “Don’t dream it, be it.” The account wrote that Curry “gave the world a little more freedom, a little more fearlessness, and through the tears in our eyes, the courage to BE IT.” Richard O’Brien, the writer and composer who co-created the original *Rocky Horror* stage musical, remembered Curry as a generous, humble talent in a statement to *Entertainment Weekly*. “He never sought attention and never put himself before the roles that he played,” O’Brien said. “He was, in short, a good egg and class act.”

    Other co-stars and collaborators shared their own personal memories of Curry, highlighting his extraordinary skill as a character actor and his warm personality off-screen. American comedy legend Carol Burnett, who worked with Curry on the film *Annie*, posted a clip of his performance as her scheming brother to social media, writing that “nobody could play lovable villains better than he could.” Actor Rob Schneider, who shared the screen with Curry as a bellhop in *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York* where Curry played the condescending hotel clerk, called him a “sensational character actor.” “A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies,” Schneider wrote. “I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”

    Michael McKean, who co-starred with Curry in *Clue*, shared that his final conversation with the actor revolved around the simple joys of “life and love and laughter.” “The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend,” McKean wrote. Fellow *Clue* co-stars Christopher Lloyd and Lesley Ann Warren also paid tribute, with Warren calling Curry a “dear companion in crime” and writing, “The brilliant, hilarious, hysterically funny, magician of artistry has left us. What an unbelievable joy to have shared a soundstage with him and to engage with such a master talent. I adored him. Bless his wild and inspired soul.”

    Even the Muppets franchise honored Curry, who starred as Long John Silver in 1996’s *Muppet Treasure Island*. The official Muppets social media account noted that Curry was one of the few human performers to earn the title of honorary Muppet, writing: “As a performer he was unparalleled – witty, charming, unnerving, and deeply funny. We will always consider it one of our greatest treasures to have been part of Long John Silver’s crew.”

    Curry had suffered a major stroke in 2012, and had used a wheelchair in the years following his illness, continuing to make occasional public appearances and connect with fans until his passing.

  • At Dollywood, superfans honor the late singer and local hero

    At Dollywood, superfans honor the late singer and local hero

    In the rolling hills of eastern Tennessee, thousands of fans and local community members have flocked to Dollywood, the iconic theme park built by country music star Dolly Parton, to pay their respects to the legendary entertainer who passed away earlier this week at the age of 80.

    For many long-time admirers, showing up at the park immediately after news of Parton’s death was not just a choice — it was a promise kept. Rebekah Donchatz, a 35-year-old mortgage processor from Asheville, North Carolina, traveled to Pigeon Forge with her sister to honor a decades-old pact. “Years and years ago, my sister and I made a pact that when Dolly died we’d come to Dollywood immediately,” Donchatz said. “We just needed to be here.”

    Since opening its gates in 1986, Dollywood has grown far beyond a standard leisure destination. What started as a small regional attraction has expanded to a 150+ acre complex featuring more than 50 rides, a dedicated museum, adjacent water parks, resort hotels, and daily live performances that celebrate Appalachian culture. Today, the park draws 4 million annual visitors and supports more than 4,000 local jobs, injecting much-needed economic vitality into the historically underserved communities of the Appalachian Mountains.

    At the heart of the park stands a full-scale replica of the humble two-room log cabin in Locust Ridge, outside Sevierville, where Parton grew up alongside 11 siblings. Walking through the tiny space, Donchatz paused to examine the original family heirlooms on display, reflecting on what Parton meant to her and people across the region. “I think growing up in Appalachia, she’s always been my hero,” Donchatz said. “She made me proud to be Appalachian. She put us on the map a little bit — a lot.”

    Parton remained deeply involved with the park throughout her life, making regular visits to check on operations and connect with guests as the property expanded. For local business owners, Dollywood’s presence has been life-changing. Laurie Blanton Faulkner, co-owner of the family-owned Pottery House Cafe just steps from the park’s entrance, said the attraction has transformed the entire regional economy. “It’s been a huge impact, for not just our business but the whole community” in Sevier County and beyond, Faulkner said from her bustling dining room. “Having them at the back door has been such a blessing for us.”

    That impact extends across the entire state. Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts who worked closely with Parton for many years, told AFP the park generates approximately $2 billion in annual economic activity for Tennessee. He added that Parton’s core values guided every decision made at the park over its 38-year history. “Family, faith and doing good in the community where we live and work” have been key commitments that Parton and her partners have strived for over the past four decades, Naughton said.

    Long-time visitors say they have watched the region transform alongside the park. Retirees Ray and Patti White, who have traveled to Pigeon Forge from their South Carolina home every year since 1989, rolled through the park’s shaded paths on mobility scooters this week, reflecting on how much has changed. “It’s grown immensely because of Dollywood,” the 77-year-old Ray White said, noting the widespread positive economic ripple effects of Parton’s project.

    Beyond economic growth, one of Dollywood’s most enduring draws is its work to preserve and celebrate Appalachian mountain culture, a way of life that has gradually faded from mainstream American life. Guests can wander through working blacksmith shops and historic corn mills, sample local specialties like Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread, and find quiet reflection in an authentic on-site Appalachian chapel. For fans near and far, the park will remain a living legacy to the girl from a log cabin who lifted up an entire region.

  • Rocky Horror star Tim Curry dies at 80

    Rocky Horror star Tim Curry dies at 80

    Legendary British actor Tim Curry, whose decades-long career spanned stage, screen, and voice work and shaped popular culture across generations, has passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles’ Toluca Lake neighborhood on August 25 at the age of 80. His decades-long body of work included some of the most recognizable and beloved characters in modern entertainment history, starting with the role that made him a household name: the flamboyant, irreverent mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*.

    Curry’s path to stardom began shortly after he graduated from university, when he landed his first professional acting role in the original 1968 London production of the boundary-pushing rock musical *Hair*. It was there that he met playwright Richard O’Brien, who invited him to audition for O’Brien’s new experimental stage production in 1973. Curry won the lead role, and first brought the lingerie-clad “sweet transvestite” Dr. Frank-N-Furter to life at London’s Royal Court Theatre, where the show quickly gained a cult fanbase that pushed for a big-screen adaptation.

    The 1975 film adaptation, co-starring Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick, was not an immediate box office success, but it grew into a global cultural phenomenon that still holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in film history. Curry’s iconic performance of the famous line “Don’t dream it, be it” became a rallying cry for self-expression, and cemented his legacy as a performer who redefined what on-screen character acting could be.

    Beyond *Rocky Horror*, Curry built a sprawling, versatile career that spanned every genre of entertainment. In the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic *It*, his menacing portrayal of the killer clown Pennywise set a benchmark for on-screen horror that still influences adaptations decades later. He took on comedic roles as Long John Silver in 1996’s *Muppet Treasure Island*, the con artist Rooster Hannigan in 1982’s *Annie*, and the uppity hotel manager in 1992’s *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*, alongside memorable turns in *The Hunt for Red October*, *Clue*, *Legend*, *Congo*, and *Scary Movie 2*.

    On Broadway, Curry earned three Tony Award nominations: first for his portrayal of Mozart in the original 1981 production of *Amadeus*, then for 1993’s *My Favorite Year*, and finally for his leading turn as King Arthur in the hit Monty Python musical *Spamalot* in 2005, a role he also performed in the West End to critical acclaim. Even in the digital space, Curry gained a new generation of fans in the 2000s: his over-the-top performance as Soviet Premier Anatoly Cherdenko in the 2008 video game *Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3* spawned a viral meme that has racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube alone. The line, “I’m going to escape, to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism… space!” delivered with a barely stifled laugh, remains a staple of online comedy.

    In 2012, Curry suffered a debilitating stroke that left him reliant on a wheelchair, but he never retired from creative work. He shifted his focus to voice acting, continued to make appearances at fan conventions around the world, and published his memoir *Vagabond* in 2025, which was released by Grand Central Publishing.

    Following the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from fellow performers, collaborators, and fans across the globe. Welsh actor Luke Evans, who stepped into the role of Frank-N-Furter for a Broadway revival, praised Curry as “a force, a bright fierce flame, an exquisite charm.” In a letter to the late actor, Evans thanked him for inspiring generations of performers to embrace bravery, writing, “Being compared to you has been one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, even though it’s a comparison no one could ever hope to live up to.”

    The official Broadway *Rocky Horror Picture Show* account also paid tribute, saying Curry “gave the world a little more freedom, a little more fearlessness, and through the tears in our eyes, the courage to BE IT,” nodding to his iconic line. Comedy legend Carol Burnett, who worked with Curry on *Annie*, noted that “nobody could play lovable villains better than he could.” *Home Alone 2* co-star Rob Schneider called the news “gutting,” writing, “A truly gifted performer of stage and screen, his one eyebrow could say more than most actors entire bodies. I am grateful to have the rare gift of watching him work, he made you better just standing near him.”

    Michael McKean, Curry’s co-star from *Clue*, shared that his final conversation with the actor centered on “life and love and laughter,” adding “The grim physical state he found himself in has now ended, a blessing. Our blessing was that we had Tim Curry in our lives. RIP, my friend.” Grand Central Publishing, which released Curry’s memoir, released a statement calling him a “singular talent” whose work left an “indelible mark on generations of audiences.”

    In an official statement released after his death, Curry’s representatives highlighted his five-decade career moving seamlessly between comedy, horror, drama, and music, noting, “Few actors can claim to have left as many distinct fingerprints on pop culture – and though he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2012, he continued adding to his achievements as an artist and, most recently, a writer. Though widely known for his inimitable, flamboyant characters and colorful stage performances, his greatest legacies to those who knew him were his curious, expansive mind and generous, gentle heart, both of which remained open and filled with anticipation until his final breath.”

    Local law enforcement confirmed to BBC News that officers responded to a death investigation at the address Tuesday evening at 23:23 local time, matching the details of Curry’s age and place of death.

  • ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ star Tim Curry dead at 80

    ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ star Tim Curry dead at 80

    Veteran British character actor Tim Curry, whose decades-long career spanned West End theater, Broadway, and iconic film and television roles anchored by his legendary turn as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult classic *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, has passed away at his Los Angeles home at the age of 80.

    Per TMZ reports citing anonymous industry sources, Curry’s death followed more than 15 years of ongoing health challenges after he suffered a severely debilitating stroke that impacted his mobility in 2012.

    Curry launched his professional acting career in the 1960s on London’s iconic West End, cutting his teeth at prestigious venues including the Royal Court Theatre and Citizens Theatre. He built a reputation as a versatile stage performer, taking on complex roles from the works of William Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht and Tom Stoppard, earning nominations for both the Olivier Award in London and the Tony Award on Broadway for his theatrical work. One of his most lauded later stage roles was King Arthur in the hit musical *Monty Python’s Spamalot*, a stage adaptation of *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, which earned him a Tony nomination in 2005.

    It was his 1973 originating performance as the flamboyant, gender-bending mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s experimental stage production *The Rocky Horror Show* that catapulted him to cult fame, a role he reprised for the 1975 big-screen adaptation *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*. Though the film underperformed commercially during its initial theatrical run, it found an enduring second life as a staple of midnight movie screenings around the world, a tradition that continues more than 50 years later. Fans regularly attend screenings in costume, sing along to every track, and participate in interactive audience rituals like throwing props at the screen.

    In a 1970s television interview, Curry reflected on the role’s risk and legacy, noting he had initially worried that the iconic part would typecast him permanently. “I was hesitant in that, if it worked, it might be a difficult image to shake off,” he said. “But really, I’ve often thought that it wasn’t worth doing unless you took a risk.”

    Beyond *Rocky Horror*, Curry built a diverse and memorable career across film and television, showing off his range as a performer from menacing villains to sharp comedic foils. He became instantly recognizable to a new generation of horror fans for his iconic portrayal of the sinister, shape-shifting clown Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s *It*. His other notable film credits include 1982’s *Annie*, where he played scheming con artist Rooster Hannigan; 1985’s *Clue*, where he led the ensemble cast as the mysterious butler Wadsworth; a supporting role opposite Sean Connery in the 1990 political thriller *The Hunt for Red October*; the villainous pirate Long John Silver in 1996’s *Muppet Treasure Island*; a memorable cameo as a scheming concierge in 1992’s *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*; and the villainous Rod Slocum in 2000’s *Charlie’s Angels*.

    With his distinctive charm, ability to lean into camp humor and dramatic presence, Curry became one of the most beloved character actors of his generation, leaving an enduring legacy on stage and screen.

  • Essential Dolly: five key Parton songs

    Essential Dolly: five key Parton songs

    For more than six decades, Dolly Parton stood as one of the most iconic and prolific figures in country music, building a legacy that stretches across genres, generations, and art forms. Before her passing, the beloved entertainer amassed a catalog of nearly 3,000 original songs, ranging from infectious, crowd-ready sing-alongs and gut-wrenching introspective ballads to chart-topping pop anthems that conquered global audiences. To honor Parton’s unparalleled contributions to music, we take a deep dive into five of her most recognizable and culturally impactful tracks, unpacking the real-life inspirations behind their creation and the searing, timeless lyrics that have made them permanent fixtures of popular culture.

    First among these standouts is 1973’s *Jolene*, one of Parton’s biggest commercial hits and one of the most widely covered songs in modern music history. Sung in Parton’s signature crystal-clear soprano, the track is a raw, plaintive plea from a heartbroken woman begging the eponymous beautiful Jolene not to steal her partner, the only person she loves. Backed by a propulsive, driving guitar rhythm, Parton delivers the iconic opening verses: “He talks about you in his sleep / And there’s nothing I can do to keep / From crying when he calls your name, Jolene.”

    In a 2023 interview with *USA Today*, Parton revealed the track had a surprisingly relatable origin: it was inspired by a bank teller Parton suspected of flirting with her long-time husband, Carl Dean. “I was just a little jealous that she was prettier than me, so you always feel a little threatened when that happens. But it was not a big deal — it was just good for a song, let’s put it that way,” she explained. In the years since its release, *Jolene* has been reimagined by artists across every genre, from Beyoncé, who included a cover on her 2024 country album *Cowboy Carter*, to rock icon Jack White, who performed the track at a London show just hours after news of Parton’s death broke.

    Next is the globally beloved ballad *I Will Always Love You*, a track that folklore claims Parton wrote on the same exact night she penned *Jolene*. Parton later clarified that she could no longer confirm the exact timeline, admitting it “could have been a few days apart” but confirming the two tracks were written within a very narrow window of time. Regardless of the writing timeline, the heartfelt track was born as a farewell to Parton’s mentor and long-time collaborator Porter Wagoner, marking her transition to a standalone solo career after years of working together. The song became a worldwide cultural phenomenon when Whitney Houston recorded a cover of it for the 1992 romantic thriller *The Bodyguard*, turning the country ballad into one of the best-selling singles of all time. Its tender, universal lyrics still resonate with audiences today: “I hope life treats you kind / And I hope that you have all that you ever dreamed of / And I wish you joy and happiness / But above all of this, I wish you love / And I will always love you.”

    The third iconic track is 1980’s *9 to 5*, recorded as the title theme for the workplace satire film of the same name that starred Parton alongside Hollywood legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Parton earned an Academy Award nomination for the upbeat, razor-sharp track, which she wrote in a famously unconventional way while on the film’s set. In a 2020 interview with NBC’s *Today* show, Parton recalled: “I did it on my fingernails. It sounded like a typewriter.” She even kept that playful detail in the final recording, explaining: “I played my nails on the real record just for fun.” The track’s opening verses perfectly capture the exhaustion and grind of everyday working life: “Tumble out of bed and I stumble in the kitchen / Pour myself a cup of ambition / And yawn and stretch and try to come alive / Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’ / Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’.”

    *Coat of Many Colors*, the 1971 hit, draws directly from Parton’s own humble childhood growing up in deeply rural Tennessee. One of 12 children, Parton grew up in extreme poverty, and when she needed a new coat for the cold fall weather, her mother stitched one together from leftover fabric scraps. Bullied by other kids for her handmade patchwork coat, Parton turned that experience of pain and pride into a deeply personal song that remains one of her most beloved works. She later expanded the story into a best-selling children’s book of the same name, as well as a made-for-television movie. The song’s gentle, heartfelt lyrics highlight the love that went into the simple garment: “And I didn’t have a coat / And it was way down in the fall / Mama sewed the rags together / Sewin’ every piece with love / She made my coat of many colors / That I was so proud of.”

    Rounding out the list is 1968’s *The Bridge*, a track that showcases Parton’s unmatched talent for narrative storytelling long before she became a global household name. The song chronicles a doomed romantic relationship that leaves the main character pregnant and abandoned, tackling the deeply taboo mid-century topics of extramarital pregnancy and suicide with unflinching honesty. It ends on a devastating, abrupt note as the protagonist stands despondent on a bridge, contemplating taking her own life. Parton told podcaster Brene Brown that she drew inspiration for the track from overheard conversations about difficult circumstances she listened to as a child growing up in a small community. The song’s haunting final verses lay bare the protagonist’s despair: “Tonight, while standing on the bridge / My heart is beating wild / To think that you could leave me here / With our unborn child.”

  • How Dolly Parton became a fashion icon

    How Dolly Parton became a fashion icon

    For decades, Dolly Parton has been far more than just a legendary country music vocalist and songwriter. Beyond her chart-topping hits and signature gravelly vocals, the cultural icon has built a lasting legacy through one surprising avenue: her one-of-a-kind personal style that has redefined what it means to be a fashion trailblazer. In a new exploration of Parton’s decades-long career, BBC culture correspondent Noor Nanji dives into how the star’s unapologetically bold aesthetic cemented her status as a global fashion icon, turning a signature look into a cultural movement.

    Long before celebrity branding and curated personal style became ubiquitous in the entertainment industry, Parton crafted an image that was entirely her own. Rejecting the understated, conservative aesthetic that dominated the country music scene in her early career, she leaned into exaggerated, unapologetic glamour: sky-high blonde bouffants, form-fitting sequined gowns, statement rhinestone jewelry, and sky-high platform heels that became instantly recognizable to fans around the world. What many early critics dismissed as over-the-top spectacle, Parton framed as an extension of her personality — a celebration of joy, self-acceptance, and intentional self-expression that resonated far beyond country music circles.

    Nanji’s analysis traces how Parton’s style evolved alongside her career, adapting to changing cultural trends while never losing its core authenticity. From her early days performing at the Grand Ole Opry to her recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Parton has used fashion to challenge stereotypes about working-class Southern women, country music performers, and aging in the public eye. Unlike many celebrities who conform to industry standards of beauty as they age, Parton has continued to embrace her bold look, turning down pressure to tone down her style at any age.

    What has made Parton’s impact on fashion so enduring, experts note, is her ability to balance accessibility with boundary-pushing creativity. She has never positioned her style as unattainable for ordinary fans; instead, her willingness to lean into kitsch, sparkle, and over-the-top details has encouraged generations of creators and fashion lovers to embrace their own unique taste, regardless of mainstream approval. Modern designers from Marc Jacobs to Christian Siriano have cited Parton as a key influence, drawing on her love of glamour and unapologetic self-expression in their own collections.

    Today, as the fashion industry continues to shift toward celebrating individuality and authenticity over rigid beauty standards, Parton’s status as a fashion icon only grows stronger. What began as a personal branding choice for a young country singer from Tennessee has turned into a lasting cultural legacy, proving that style is about far more than clothes — it is about telling the world who you are on your own terms.

  • Heart, hope and a steely determination: Dolly Parton’s musical legacy

    Heart, hope and a steely determination: Dolly Parton’s musical legacy

    Dolly Parton, the one-of-a-kind country music legend whose career spanned seven decades and reshaped both the music industry and conversations around gender and worker rights, leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as both an artist and a trailblazer.

    Few of Parton’s hits carry the layered history and cultural weight of 9 to 5, the iconic theme song for the 1980 comedy film of the same name, her first major Hollywood project. The song’s origin story is as memorable as its catchy hook: while on set, Parton could not access her banned guitar, so she created the track’s distinct beat by strumming her acrylic nails together, mimicking the clack of a typewriter that matched her character’s experience as an overworked, underappreciated office secretary facing constant belittlement and sexual harassment from her male boss. Immediately recognizing she had created something special, she ran to share the unfinished song with co-stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, who also produced the film. Fonda later recalled that both she and Tomlin were instantly moved, knowing the track was far more than a movie theme—it was an anthem for working women everywhere. When 9 to 5 was released in November 1980, it became Parton’s only solo number-one hit on the U.S. charts and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Beyond its commercial success, the track’s legacy lies in its unflinching take on working-class struggle and gender inequality in corporate spaces. On the surface, the jaunty, infectious chorus (“Working 9 to 5 / What a way to make a living!”) resonates as a universal nod to the drudgery of daily work, but deeper lyrics reveal a quiet, righteous fury: “It’s a rich man’s game, no matter what they call it / And you spend your life putting money in his wallet. They just use your mind and they never give you credit.” Those words gave voice to widespread unspoken frustrations among working women, a testament to Parton’s skill at wrapping sharp social commentary in accessible, memorable melody. What many listeners miss, however, is that this quiet anger was rooted in Parton’s own lifelong experience navigating the rampant sexism of the music industry, which she began facing as a 13-year-old rising performer.

    Parton’s path to stardom was forged through repeated stands against industry exploitation, a pattern of courage that paved the way for future generations of female artists. Her first major break came in 1967, when she was hired as the “girl singer” on the nationally syndicated Porter Wagoner Show, which brought her talent into millions of American homes each week. Over the next decade, the pair released 21 hit duets, and as Parton’s star grew to outshine Wagoner, she made the difficult decision to launch a solo career—writing the timeless ballad *I Will Always Love You* as a heartfelt farewell and apology to her mentor. Instead of accepting her departure graciously, Wagoner sued Parton for breach of contract in 1979, demanding $3 million in damages. Eager to avoid a lengthy, career-derailing court battle, Parton settled for roughly $1 million, a choice she never regretted. “I made up my mind that if he could live with it, I could live without it,” she wrote in her autobiography, adding, “I am neither his conscience nor his accountant.” True to her trademark graciousness, Parton never held a grudge, continuing to credit Wagoner for giving her her first big break, but she never let goodwill override her commitment to protecting her work and her autonomy. That conviction was tested again just a few years later, when Elvis Presley expressed interest in covering *I Will Always Love You*. Parton was elated at the opportunity, but just one day before the scheduled recording session, Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker delivered an ultimatum: Elvis would only record the track if Parton surrendered half of the song’s lucrative publishing rights. Parton refused, explaining that she intended to leave the rights to her family as a legacy. Though she cried all night after the deal fell through and always wondered what Presley’s version would have sounded like, she never questioned her choice. That decision ultimately paid off decades later, when Whitney Houston recorded her record-breaking cover of the track for 1992’s *The Bodyguard* soundtrack. Because Parton retained full publishing rights, she earned enough from the hit to buy Presley’s iconic Graceland mansion. Instead of keeping the windfall for herself, she invested the proceeds into a majority-Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee—a intentional choice to honor Houston’s legacy.

    That willingness to stand up for artistic autonomy inspired countless women who followed in her footsteps, most notably Taylor Swift, who re-recorded her entire early catalog to reclaim control of her work from private equity firms that purchased her master recordings. When asked about Swift’s campaign, Parton praised her openly: “Smart! She’s so smart, she’s so great, she’s genius. I mean really, look at what she’s doing! That’s amazing!” After Parton’s passing, Swift honored the trailblazer, crediting Parton’s “backbone of steel” in the lifelong fight “to defend her own self worth as an artist.”

    Beyond her industry activism, Parton’s musical legacy is defined by her unparalleled ability to turn quiet, everyday moments and personal stories into universally resonant art. She wrote her first song at just six years old: *Little Tiny Tasseltop*, a tender ode to her favorite doll with corn-silk hair. That commitment to drawing from personal experience shaped her entire discography. Her 1971 classic *Coat of Many Colors* tells a deeply moving story of childhood poverty and pride, centered on a hand-sewn coat her mother made for her when her family could not afford store-bought clothes. The 1974 concept album *My Tennessee Mountain Home* is a full musical autobiography, opening with a recording of the first letter Parton wrote home after moving to Nashville as a teenager, where she reassured her family she would be fine even if success took time. The album cover featured a photograph of the two-room log cabin that was her actual childhood home, and its lyrics frame her humble upbringing not as a hardship, but as a source of joy and community: “We might have been poor but we didn’t know it / We’d heard that word but we didn’t know what it meant.”

    This diaristic, personal songwriting style produced some of the most beloved hits in country music history, from *Jolene*—the haunting story of a red-headed woman threatening Parton’s marriage—to *All I Can Do*, a tender love letter to her long-time husband Carl Dean. Even as her over-the-top stage costumes and signature blonde bouffant became cultural touchstones, her lyrics remained rooted in raw, relatable authenticity. Long before 9 to 5 cemented her status as a feminist voice, Parton was pushing back against gendered double standards in tracks like *When Possession Gets Too Strong* and *Just Because I’m A Woman*, which challenged the idea that women should be judged more harshly for their mistakes than men: “My mistakes are no worse than yours / Just because I’m a woman.” At a time when the music industry forced women into narrow, limiting stereotypes—housewife, temptress, fallen woman—Parton leaned into the performative nature of these roles to satirize them, while never hiding her core strength. On 2008’s *Backwood Barbie*, she sang, “I’ve always been misunderstood because of how I look. Don’t judge me by the cover, cos I’m a real good book”—a message that inspired generations of women to reject others’ expectations and embrace their true selves.

    Even as the country music establishment leaned heavily into conservative politics in later decades, Parton used her platform to unite diverse audiences. In a 2002 performance at Los Angeles’ House of Blues, she playfully changed the lyrics of *Jolene* to center a drag queen, to the delight of the crowd of drag performers in attendance. Beyond music, Parton’s philanthropic work touched millions of lives: she funded scholarships for low-income students and built the Imagination Library, which has delivered more than 200 million free books to young readers across the world.

    No other star has ever been able to replicate Parton’s magic, and no successor was ever billed as “the next Dolly Parton”—for good reason. She was one of a kind: irreplaceable, unapologetic, and unforgettable. A legend in her own lifetime, her legacy will continue to resonate for generations to come.