Tag archive: Singer

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Aster-Obit:  Dolly Parton

American country music icon Dolly Parton passed away August 25th, 2026, aged 80, after a brief bout with cancer.  The singer/songwriter and actress was a globally beloved figure, a noted humanitarian, and a bit of a dichotomy.  Although a professed devout Christian, Parton was very accepting of others, particularly the LGBTQ community, whom she counseled her coreligionists not to judge.  An acknowledged ‘wholesome sex symbol’ from the ‘70s and ‘80s, Parton nevertheless remained in a faithful exclusive relationship with her husband of almost sixty years, Carl Dean, seemingly never tempted to stray, though she had offers from the likes of Hugh Hefner, fascinated to learn if her outsized feminine endowment was real.

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Taylor & Travis:  A Match Made in Heaven?

Swifties the world over were gob smacked by the announcement on 26 August 2025 that pop icon Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, were engaged.  The couple had been dating for just under two years, a record for Swift, who is noted for the brevity of her entanglements, and the fodder her failed relationships have been for her music career.  No date has yet been set for the wedding, but it is not expected to occur before the 2026 Super Bowl, due to her tour commitments and his playing schedule.

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Two Funerals & a Memorial

The Sun’s annual opposition to Pluto (in 2025 extending from July 15 to August 5) cast a bright spotlight (Sun) on themes of death and mortality (Pluto), showcasing the passing of two iconic ‘80s figures, and the unveiling of a memorial to commemorate the passing of a third.  On Sunday 20 July, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, part of the ensemble cast on the megahit “The Cosby Show,” accidentally drowned while on holiday in Costa Rica.  On Thursday 24 July, WWE pro wrestler Hulk Hogan died at his home of cardiac arrest.  And on Saturday, 19 July, a mural was unveiled in Paris to honor Jazz era American-French dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker, marking the fiftieth anniversary of her passing.

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Aster-Obit:  Connie Francis

Who’s Sorry Now?”  Legions of Connie Francis fans, that’s who, mourning the death of the singer whose signature tune that became.  Francis herself hated the song, but it was her breakout hit from 1958, and she paid homage to its importance in her life and career by using the phrase to title her 1984 autobiography.  Francis was translated to the celestial choir on 16 July 2025, aged 87.

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Death in Triplicate

The recent pairing of Jupiter, the planet ruling fame and celebrity, and asteroid Requiem 2254, named for the funeral mass for the dead, has yielded a fresh crop of autumnal celebrity deaths, much in the way Jupiter’s earlier conjunction with asteroid Lachesis 120, named for the mythic Greek Fate who determines the span of life, depopulated the planet of famous names in mid-summer.  Among the recently departed:  Dame Maggie Smith, celebrated British actress best known for her work in the Harry Potter movies and PBS’ “Downton Abbey;” Kris Kristofferson, American singer, songwriter and actor; and Pete Rose, American professional baseball player and gambling afficionado.

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AAA Profile: Taylor Swift – Karma?

Taylor Swift, in case you’re unfamiliar with the name, is the latest in a string of global female superstars in the music industry.  At just 34, Swift has a list of smash hits to rival the best, and is only the third female vocal artist to garner a net worth in excess of a billion dollars.  Not just a pretty face and a lilting voice, Swift is a canny businesswoman as well – and she’s got moxie!  In 2019, an ownership dispute between Swift and her former label, Big Machine Records, resulted in Swift rerecording her first six albums, to ensure control of her creative output.

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