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Trump’s energy dominance rewrites the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after Biden drawdowns
America’s rise as a global oil powerhouse has changed how critical the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is to U.S. security and economic stability — even after President Joe Biden’s drawdowns drove stockpiles to modern-era lows, an economist and energy expert explained to Fox News Digital.
As the Trump administration works to gradually replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve following record releases under the Biden administration, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of The Heritage Foundation's Center for Energy, Climate and Environment, told Fox News Digital that the decades-old emergency oil stockpile no longer plays the same central role it once did.
President Donald Trump's policies of "unleashing" energy and his "drill, baby, drill" mantra are key as to why, following the U.S. as domestic supply rose and demand shifted.
"I don't think for the security of the United States, for the economy of the United States, I don't think the SPR is as important as it was 25, 30 years ago because now we are one of the greatest oil and natural gas producers in the world," Furchtgott-Roth said.
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The U.S. became the world’s largest natural gas producer in 2011, surpassing Russia, and then the top crude oil producer in 2018, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia — a surge driven largely by the shale revolution, which took off in the mid-to-late 2000s with the widespread use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisis to protect the United States from foreign supply shocks, at a time when the country relied heavily on imported oil. That dynamic has shifted dramatically as domestic production surged, turning the U.S. into the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas.
Furchtgott-Roth said the U.S.' shift to become an energy producer, combined with Trump's policies have opened the floodgates of producing U.S. oil, which lessens the need for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
"We have the potential to produce a lot more, and we have a government that's supportive of that," Furchtgott-Roth said of the oil in the U.S. "It's now possible to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but I just want to say the biggest strategic petroleum reserves we have is right under our feet in places like Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio. We have so much oil and natural gas in this country."
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Since returning to office, Trump has used executive authority to fast-track domestic energy production, including signing an order titled "Unleashing American Energy" aimed at rolling back regulatory barriers and accelerating permitting for oil and gas projects. The administration also moved to restart and speed reviews of liquefied natural gas export approvals, reversing the Biden-era "pause" approach and positioning U.S. natural gas exports as a centerpiece of its energy strategy.
Biden ordered a 50 million–barrel release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2021, framing it as a move to ease gasoline prices and help relieve pandemic-era supply chain pressures after COVID-19 brought the global economy to a "near economic standstill."
He dramatically expanded the drawdown in March 2022, announcing a plan to release up to 1 million barrels per day for six months as gas prices climbed. The move came weeks after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy sector. In total, Biden released roughly 300 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over his four years.
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Trump repeatedly criticized Biden’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases between his first and second terms, telling the New York Post in 2021 the reserve should be tapped only for "serious emergencies, like war, and nothing else."
He later pledged in his Jan. 20 inaugural address to "fill our strategic reserves up again right to the top" while driving prices down and expanding U.S. energy exports.
Furchtgott-Roth also criticized Biden's drawdowns, arguing the reserve was never meant to be used as a tool to manage consumer prices. She added that high energy prices during the Biden years were driven by domestic policy decisions.
"That's not what the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is supposed to be useful for," she said. "It's supposed to be used for a national security emergency. It's not supposed to be used because prices are too high. And in this case, it was a self-caused emergency caused by President Biden's different policies regarding oil and natural gas."
Meanwhile, the U.S. military successfully captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January, with Trump shortly after announcing the U.S. would "run" the South American, oil-rich nation.
He announced on social media in January that Venezuelan oil would immediately be turned over to the U.S., including "between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America."
"This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States! I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately. It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States," Trump wrote.
An administration official told Fox Digital that refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with Venezuelan oil is not currently under consideration.
Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox Business that the "we're going to bring more crude onto the marketplace" with Venezuelan oil.
"We're going bring crude that's particularly well-suited for American refineries," he explaimed Friday. "It helps us build asphalt as well. All of those things, as you drive market prices down, and you drive supply up, that's helpful for giving us multiple ways to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve."
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Furchtgott-Roth said Venezuela’s power shift sent a powerful signal to U.S. adversaries, weakening Cuba’s economy, cutting into Russia’s oil revenues, limiting China’s leverage in Latin America, and emboldening opposition movements in Iran by demonstrating Washington’s willingness to confront authoritarian regimes.
She added that Venezuela’s oil comeback would take time because production collapsed after the regime expropriated U.S. infrastructure and couldn’t operate it, driving output from roughly 3.5 million barrels a day pre-Hugo Chávez to under 1 million today.
A Trump official explained to Fox Digital in December 2025 that the administration is working to "gradually" refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with oil, while citing significant "damage" left to the reserve following the Biden administration releasing millions of barrels of oil in 2021 and 2022.
"Joe Biden’s disastrous green energy policies sent gas prices soaring across the country, making the past four years painfully unaffordable for Americans filling their gas tanks to commute to work, take their children to school, and travel during the summer and holiday seasons," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital.
Congress must appropriate funding to fully replenish the reserve. The Department of Energy currently has refill authority and funding under the so-called "big, beautiful bill," which set aside $218 million for maintenance and repairs and another $171 million to begin refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
US power crunch looms as OKLO CEO says grid can’t keep up without new investment
The U.S. is running headlong into a power crunch driven by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence — and the nation’s energy grid is not ready for it, an executive behind a major new nuclear partnership warned recently.
Jacob DeWitte is CEO of OKLO, a California-based advanced nuclear company focused on helping large energy users add grid power through private investment rather than traditional utilities. He joined Meta executive Joel Kaplan and Energy Secretary Chris Wright for an announcement in Washington.
The Meta partnership will go a long way to add much-needed power to a key regional component of the national grid, DeWitte said, citing OKLO’s plans to develop a 1.2 GW installation in Pike County, Ohio, near the Hocking Hills.
"I think one of the really exciting things about today is announcing the fact we're going to be building a lot more power generation capabilities," he said, quipping that southeastern Ohio used to be an "industrial cathedral" and now can see new commercial rebirth for the digital and AI age.
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"Smaller [nuclear] plants can be built more quickly and come online faster -- then you shorten the learning curve. You reduce the cost both in time and money of iteration cycles to drive technological progress and bring these technologies that have huge promise forward in terms of cost reduction … energy dominance and energy reliability and energy abundance," he said.
Wright and President Donald Trump have helped companies like OKLO and Meta unleash this new energy potential, to not only increase power capacity and amend structural issues but also greatly reduce the regulatory burdens private companies tend to face from Washington, DeWitte added.
With the advent of AI and its power needs, DeWitte said the U.S. energy system as it stands has "absolutely" not been able to keep up.
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DeWitte warned that the U.S. needs to build out the power grid and invest in new installations like the Pike site:
"We are going to run out of power capacity in this country in the next several years, especially in critical industrial markets like sort of the Midwest and Northeast. The PJM interconnection [which supports the Mid-Atlantic region] is going to be undersupplied with power generation in just a matter of a few years."
"The steps taken today are going to help alleviate that, but there's going be a lot more that's needed."
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DeWitte also addressed what he described as a common misconception surrounding the rise of data centers, which have sparked NIMBY backlash in parts of the country.
"I think sometimes people conflate [that] building these data centers [will] drive prices up -- That's a scarcity mindset. We're in a world of an abundance mindset, right?" he said.
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He said Meta is committing to a total of 6.6GW of new power, calling it a "huge amount of capacity" to fuel the needs of decades to come, and that nuclear is a very reliable energy source.
DeWitte said that one of the biggest structural choke points in bringing new energy online and why the nation is running out of power, leading to price inflation, is the regulatory environment that has stymied growth for many years.
That dynamic, he said, has been "fundamentally anti-energy."
But, DeWitte said, that dynamic is changing: "The unfortunate thing is we have to undo decades of ... damage [from] not doing things to then overcome that inertia."
"Look at the states that have the worst energy … They're largely states that have had the heaviest-handed anti-energy policies, and they're the ones that are now facing some of the biggest challenges on that point and they are also responding which is encouraging."
OKLO, he said, was founded on the idea that nuclear fission can deliver massive amounts of reliable, affordable energy, noting nuclear power has some of the lowest fuel costs per megawatt-hour of any source.
"Our view of that, though, is changing a couple of things, including the business model, [and the] deployment model, including how we think about size and technology. We see opportunities to go invest in and build significant generating capacity in areas that need it and have significant development opportunities around it," he said, noting that brings the conversation full circle regarding its investment in the Ohio site.
When asked whether U.S. energy woes are a regulatory or market failure, DeWitte said the issue is in red tape versus demand.
"We, as a country, decided that we didn't need to build new power capacity and instead masked the challenges it imposes on industrial and economic growth by shipping jobs and production overseas," he said.
"Then you're just having those countries build power plants to power it. We need to bring that capability-set of manufacturing back to the country, but we need the energy to do it, and we don't have it today."
Bills fire head coach Sean McDermott: reports
The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday after the team’s heartbreaking playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, according to multiple reports.
The Bills failed to get back to the AFC Championship Game after losing to the Broncos in overtime, following a controversial interception call. The defeat marked another crushing blow to McDermott’s tenure as the Bills’ head coach.
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Buffalo posted a portion of McDermott’s press conference following the controversial call.
"I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo. I’m standing up for us. What went on is not how it should go down," he said.
McDermott took the job before the start of the 2017 season. Buffalo only finished under .500 once since then. He helped guide the Bills to the playoffs in eight of the nine seasons. The team made the conference title game twice but never got back to the Super Bowl.
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NFL fans had confidence that the Bills could have been Super Bowl contenders going into the 2025 season. The Bills’ odds got better when their nemesis, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Buffalo fell short in winning the AFC East – falling to the New England Patriots. They made the playoffs via the wild card and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by three points. But the loss to the Broncos ultimately doomed McDermott’s tenure as head coach.
The next Bills head coach will take over the next few years of Josh Allen’s career. Allen won the MVP award last season and was in the running for most of this season. The team is in desperate need of a top wide receiver to couple with Allen and it is expected to be addressed going into the offseason.
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Australian boy fighting for life after shark attack, rescued by friends in Sydney Harbor waters
A 12-year-old Australian boy was fighting for his life after suffering catastrophic injuries in a shark attack in Sydney Harbor, surviving only because his friends leaped from a cliff and dragged him back to shore, authorities said.
The attack happened around 4:20 p.m. Sunday after the boy jumped from a 20-foot ledge known as Jump Rock near Shark Beach in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, police said in a statement. Police said the boy suffered severe injuries to both legs from what is believed to have been "a large shark."
His three friends immediately jumped into the water and pulled him to shore, actions authorities said likely saved his life.
"The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave," said Superintendent Joseph McNulty of the New South Wales Police Marine Area Command, calling the injuries "very confronting" for the young rescuers to witness.
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Local media reports said the boy lost both legs in the attack.
"He is in for the fight of his life now, and the actions of emergency services yesterday gave him that chance," McNulty said.
The attack was one of three shark encounters reported in the Sydney area in just over 24 hours.
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On Monday evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in the northern suburb of Manly. Bystanders pulled him from the water, and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.
Earlier Monday, an 11-year-old boy escaped unharmed after a shark bit into his surfboard at Dee Why Beach, also north of Manly.
Authorities believe bull sharks may be responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police said recent heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater runoff into Sydney Harbor, conditions known to heighten bull shark activity.
Sydney’s northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, remained closed as a precaution. All three locations have shark netting, though officials said it was not immediately clear whether the attacks occurred near those barriers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NFL rules analyst defends quick review of controversial Broncos interception: 'Want to move the game along'
NFL rules analyst Walt Anderson weighed in on the controversial interception ruling in overtime of the Denver Broncos’ victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.
Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian took the ball away from Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks on a deep pass from Josh Allen. It appeared that Cooks had come down with the ball and that McMillian had taken it away after Cooks completed the catch. But NFL officials ruled that McMillian had intercepted the pass and created the turnover.
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Denver came down the field and scored the game-winning field goal to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
Anderson appeared on the NFL Network and explained that Cooks never had complete control of the ball as he hit the ground and because the ball was still loose in his arms, McMillian was able to secure it for the interception.
He also addressed the issue of why there was no proper explanation of the play. Head referee Carl Cheffers didn’t address the play to the crowd or the TV audience. Anderson said replay assistant and officials in New York reviewed the play quickly and made the call.
"Replay has all of these angles to take a look and see ‘was the ruling on the field wrong, or was the ruling on the field correct?’" Anderson said. "If you can confirm that the ruling on the field is correct, they really want to move the game along, and they don’t want to have unnecessary stoppages."
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott was irate over the process of how the call was confirmed. He wanted officials to take a long look at the play, which is why he said he took a timeout after the interception.
"It would seem logical to me… that the head official would walk over and want to go and take a look at it, just to make sure that everybody from here who is in the stadium to there are on the same page. That’s too big of a play, in my estimation, and a play that decided the game potentially as well, to not even slow it down," McDermott said.
"It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled. If it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right? That would have made a lot of sense to me, to make sure that we have this thing right. Because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We have the ball at the 20, maybe kicking a game-winning field goal right there. So I’ll just leave it at that."
But he did not leave it at that. In fact, according to the Buffalo News, the coach called the outlet from the team plane and berated the officials even more.
"That play is not even close," he told the outlet. "That's a catch all the way. I sat in my locker and I looked at it probably 20 times, and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of Buffalo."
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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White House-backed GOP bill would revoke citizenship after Somali fraud scandal
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to dramatically expand the federal government’s ability to denaturalize a citizen with legislation built to withstand challenges in court.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., plans to introduce his Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act to develop a series of wide-ranging legal triggers for the denaturalization process in the wake of the Minnesota fraud scandal.
Schmitt’s legislation is designed to bolster the government’s ability to strip a naturalized person of their citizenship, but it does not stop at targeting just fraudsters.
The SCAM Act creates a 10-year window, post-naturalization that, if a person were to hit a series of triggers, would lower the threshold for the federal government to strike their citizenship and begin the deportation process.
Among the acts that would fall under the scope of Schmitt’s legislation are whether a person defrauded a federal, state, local or tribal government of $10,000 or more, committed espionage, committed an aggravated felony, or is affiliated with a foreign terrorist organization.
The lawmaker argued that people who trigger those requisites "must be denaturalized because they have proven they never met the requirements for the great honor of American citizenship in the first place."
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"The rampant fraud uncovered in Minnesota must be a wakeup call," Schmitt said. "People who commit felony fraud, serious felonies, or join terrorist organizations like drug cartels shortly after taking their citizenship oaths fail to uphold the basic standards of citizenship."
Schmitt’s legislation specifically targets the "good moral character" factor in the naturalization process, which requires a person to engage in moral and ethical conduct for up to five years before applying for citizenship.
The bill would automatically and retroactively undermine that key step in the naturalization process and contends that the aforementioned acts committed post-naturalization act as proof that a person never qualified for citizenship in the first place.
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It also has a built-in mechanism to deal with challenges to the legislation in court, specifically to automatically switch out the 10-year window — if found unconstitutional — with a five-year window.
His legislation also has the backing of the White House and was lauded by Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security advisor.
Prosecutors digging into the sprawling Minnesota fraud scandal estimate upward of $9 billion in stolen funds and have charged several native-Somali residents in connection with the boondoggle.
"The Somali fraud scandal is one of the greatest financial scandals in American history," Miller said. "All Somali refugees, or any other immigrants, who have committed fraud against the United States must be immediately denaturalized and deported."
Get ready for the Winter Olympics with these classic Team USA styles
The Winter Olympics kick off Feb. 6-22, with Italy hosting the Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. To help you get ready, we’ve rounded up must-have gear — from flag hoodies and 2026 Olympics hats to patriotic polos designed for watching and cheering in style.
You may not be watching the Winter Olympics from the mountains, but this heavyweight, fleece-lined Team USA hoodie will keep you warm while showing off your national pride. The bold 2026 Olympic logo is set against towering mountain graphics inspired by the Milan–Cortina landscape, while rib-knit cuffs and an adjustable drawstring hood deliver the classic, comfortable fit you’ll reach for all season long.
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This Team USA 2026 T-shirt is a classic, comfortable staple. Made from soft, breathable cotton, it offers an easy fit that won’t cling. A bold American flag sits above the iconic Olympic symbol on the front, while the back features a sweeping mountain graphic inspired by Italy’s alpine landscape.
Prefer a more understated option? This neutral Milano Cortina hat delivers subtle style with everyday wearability. An Olympic patch anchors the front, with a smaller event patch on the back for a low-key finish. A snapback closure lets you dial in the fit, while the decorative cord along the brim adds just the right pop of color.
Show your support for Team USA and FOX News with this Proud American hat from the FOX News Shop. Available in classic white or bold red, it features "Proud American" text stitched across the front for a clean, eye-catching look. A sleek metal clasp offers a secure, adjustable fit, and a visor version is also available for a standout option on the golf course or around the neighborhood.
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Celebrate the American athletes in the Games with a simple tee from the FOX News Shop. The unisex fit and neutral colors look flattering on anyone and pair well with anything. It's also made with pre-shrunken ring-spun cotton and fits true to size.
Show your patriotic side with this Grunt Style American flag hoodie, proudly printed in the U.S. The veteran-owned brand features an American flag across the chest and down the sleeve for a bold-yet-classic look. Available in black, dark heather gray and military green, the hoodie has a tagless design and generous fit.
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Train, walk or lounge in this Olympic agility defender hoodie. The relaxed, fleece-lined fabric moves with you, while the dropped shoulders and extra room in the chest gives you lots of wiggle room, especially during workouts. It's also finished in the signature 2026 Olympic Games colors and has the country name printed across the chest.
If curling is your favorite Olympic sport, this branded sweatshirt may be the one to buy. It’s fleece-lined, soft and warm, and has a midweight feel that works as a comfortable layer or standalone option in warmer weather. The chest design shows a curler in action, on top of powerful graphics that demonstrate America’s strong spirit.
Look your best while watching all your favorite events. This retro-style Winter Olympics polo is made of flexible cotton and has a roomy fit. The collar and demure Milano Cortina logo make the shirt a versatile pick for hitting the golf course or heading into the office.
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Embrace the spirit of the Winter Games with this Olympics beanie. Olympic rings stand out against a black, white, and gray striped pattern that works with just about any winter look. From the slopes to watch parties, it delivers reliable warmth.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get a few of these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.
Dolly Parton at 80: From a one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains to worldwide fame
Dolly Parton has spent the last 60 years transforming herself from a small town girl to one of the biggest names in the world. Now, Parton is celebrating her 80th birthday.
In a video shared earlier this month, the country music icon informed viewers that she will not be attending the "Opry Goes Dolly" event, which is an annual event hosted to honor Parton. In a video shared on Jan. 17, Parton wished attendees and viewers have "the best night ever."
"I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol’ birthday," she began.
"I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll be sending you all my love for sure," Parton concluded.
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On Jan. 17, the Grand Ole Opry honored Parton "80s era" with performances from Lainey Wilson, Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent and more.
Below is a look at how Parton transformed herself from humble beginnings to superstar fame.
Parton spent her young years in rural Sevierville, Tennessee, but knew from a young age that she had big dreams.
Parton was born in 1946, the fourth of 12 children. She grew up in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee, and much of her childhood was spent sharing a one-bedroom cabin with her parents and 11 brothers and sisters.
In 2021, she told USA Today that she knew there was more out there than the Great Smoky Mountains. "I just knew that I wanted to be out in a bigger world. I knew there was more than just the Smokies. I love my people, I love my home, but I just wanted to do more."
Before she made it to the big stage, she told the outlet that she would go to her front porch and attach a tobacco tin can to a stick and make her own microphone. Family members caught on that she had a passion for singing.
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"I had an uncle, Bill Owens, that used to take me around to different places to sing. He had taught me all the chords on the guitar, because he saw early on that I was serious about my singing," Parton told USA Today.
While in high school, Parton and Owens signed with Tree Publishing, which led to a deal with Mercury Records.
Her first single with the record company, "It's Sure Gonna Hurt," was released in 1962. It didn't perform well, and she was dropped by the label shortly after.
The day after her high school graduation in 1964, Parton left her hometown for Nashville.
In 1976, Parton told the New York Times that she met her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, right when she moved to Nashville. She said he "hollered" at her while driving his pickup truck outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat, but she declined his request for a date.
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She instead invited him over the following day while she was babysitting her nephew.
"He came up every day that week and we sat out on the porch. I wouldn't even take him in the house," she told the outlet at the time.
"Then my aunt got a day off, and she could keep the kid and that was my first chance to go anywhere with Carl and he drove me straight to his folks' house and introduced me to his mother and daddy. 'Cause he said he knew right the minute he saw me that that's the one he wanted."
In 1965, Parton signed with Monument Records as a pop artist.
In 1966, Parton and Dean tied the knot.
Monument Records requested that she and Dean wait to get married for the sake of her career, according to Business Insider. They married in Georgia, so their marriage wouldn't be promoted in the press in Tennessee, the outlet said.
She told CMT in 2016: "It was just my mother and Carl and me. We went across the state line to Ringgold, Georgia. My mother made me a little white dress and a little bouquet and a little Bible. But I said, 'I can't get married in a courthouse because I'll never feel married.' So we found a little Baptist church in town, and went up to Pastor Don Duvall and said, 'Would you marry us?' We got pictures on the steps right outside the church."
Dean remained largely out of the public eye before his death in 2025.
However, to honor the couple's 50th wedding anniversary in 2016, he shared a statement with Entertainment Tonight: "My first thought was 'I'm gonna marry that girl.' My second thought was, 'Lord she’s good lookin.' And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth."
In 1967, Parton released her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly."
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Shortly after the release of her album, Parton had a guest appearance on "The Porter Wagoner Show," which offered her a spot as his duet co-host. In 1974, she officially left Wagoner’s show (amicably, after legal disputes).
In 1970, Parton launched her solo career. Her breakout solo hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" were released in 1973.
Parton's movie debut was in "9 to 5," and her title song became a global hit. She went on to star in several popular movies, including "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Rhinestone."
The '80s was Parton's time to shine when it came to her business.
In 1986, she became co-owner of Dollywood, a theme park and entertainment resort, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The park draws millions of people annually.
In 2005, Parton launched the Imagination Library, a literacy program that provides free books to children around the world. In the 2000s, she continued to release music, tour and receive numerous lifetime achievement honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors.
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In the 2010s and beyond, Parton celebrated major career anniversaries, released new albums, and gained renewed attention through film and television projects inspired by her life and music. In 2016, Parton celebrated 50 years in music with the "Pure & Simple" tour.
In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2023, Parton decided to stray from country music and released her first rock album, "Rockstar."
In 2025, Parton mourned the death of her husband in March.
Several months later, she was a guest on Khloé Kardashian's podcast and admitted that she was deeply grieving.
"My husband passed away three months ago… [There are] several things I have wanted to start, but I can’t do it," Parton shared on "Khloé in Wonder Land."
"I will later," she added. "I’m just coming up with such wonderful, beautiful ideas, but I think I won’t finish it. I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things."
Parton announced Dean's death in a heartfelt statement that she shared on Instagram on March 3.
"Carl and I spent many wonderful years together," the "9 to 5" singer wrote. "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."
Parton has battled various health issues over the past few months, and in September, sparked concern among fans when she announced that she would be postponing her upcoming Las Vegas residency from December 2025 to September 2026.
In October, the country icon took to social media to give a much-anticipated update on her health, saying she was "not dying" just yet.
"Well, today's October the eighth, and obviously I'm here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I'm dressed kind of like a country western girl," Parton said in a video posted on Instagram. "But before I got started, I wanted to say, I know lately everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am. Do I look sick to you? I'm working hard here."
"Anyway, I wanted to put everybody's mind at ease," she continued. "Those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate, and I appreciate your prayers because I'm a person of faith. I can always use the prayers for anything and everything, but I want you to know that I'm okay. I've got some problems. As I mentioned back when my husband, Carl, was very sick. That was for a long time. And then when he passed, I didn't take care of myself. So I let a lot of things go that I should have been taking care of."
Parton said her doctor urged her to take care of a few things, but reassured her fans it was "nothing major."
"I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I'm kind of having a few treatments here and there," she said. "But I wanted you to know that I'm not dying."
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"But anyway, there's just a lot of rumors flying around, but I figured if you heard it from me, you'd know that I was okay," she concluded. "So anyhow, that's what I wanted to say, and I'm not ready to die yet. I don't think God is through with me and I ain't done working. I love you for caring and keep praying for me."
She captioned the post, "I ain't dead yet!"
Ahead of the release of her new book, "Star of the Show: My Life on Stage," the country music legend opened up about her impressive career spanning more than seven decades, was candid about the personal sacrifices she's made throughout the years and explained why she feels like she's "just getting started" as she turns 80 years old.
"You know, I have just been going so fast my whole life," Parton told People magazine. "And I just start thinking, ‘How in the world did I even have a life? How did I even get it done?’ I really realized when I was putting this book together just how much I had sacrificed in my life. I never had children, so at least I didn’t have a guilty feeling. I’m thankful that I got to see my dreams come true."
"People say, ‘Well, you’re going to be 80 years old.’ Well, so what? Look at all I’ve done in 80 years. I feel like I’m just getting started," said Parton. "I know that sounds stupid, but unless my health gives way, which right now I seem to be doing fine… I think there’s a lot to be said about age. If you allow yourself to get old, you will. I say, ‘I ain’t got time to get old!’ I ain’t got time to dwell on that. That’s not what I’m thinking about."
Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
Alexa.com brings Alexa+ to your browser
For years, Alexa mostly stayed in one place. It lived on kitchen counters, nightstands or living room shelves. That setup worked for music and timers, but it also limited when and how people could actually use the assistant. Now that is changing.
Amazon has rolled out Alexa.com, which brings Alexa+ directly to your web browser for Early Access users. Instead of relying on a speaker or phone, you can now open a laptop and start using Alexa like any other web-based AI tool.
This shift is less about new tricks and more about access. Alexa can now follow you throughout your day instead of waiting for you at home.
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Alexa.com is the browser-based version of Alexa+. You can type questions, explore topics, plan trips, organize tasks, or create content without touching a smart speaker. The biggest difference is continuity. Alexa keeps context across devices, so conversations carry over whether you are on your laptop, phone, Echo, or Fire TV. You do not have to repeat yourself every time you switch screens. That makes Alexa feel less like a command tool and more like an assistant that remembers what you are working on.
Alexa.com is not open to everyone yet. To use it, you need:
Child profiles are not supported on the browser version. Older Echo devices will continue using the original Alexa.
Because Alexa.com is still in Early Access, it has limits that matter for everyday users. Right now:
Amazon says features will roll out gradually. Alexa.com is meant to complement your devices, not fully replace them yet.
One area where Alexa.com feels genuinely useful is meal planning. You can ask Alexa for a full week of meals and set preferences like high protein, low sugar, or kid-friendly lunches. Alexa generates a plan and turns it into a shopping list. From there, items can be added directly to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods. Instead of bouncing between recipes, notes and carts, everything happens in one place.
Alexa.com also works as a lightweight life organizer. You can upload documents, emails and images so Alexa can pull out key details. That includes appointments, reminders and schedules you would otherwise forget. Instead of searching your inbox, you can ask Alexa when the dog last went to the vet or what time practice starts tonight. The information stays available across devices.
Alexa.com keeps your smart home controls visible next to your chat window. While full smart home control is still limited in the browser, Alexa.com lets you check status, review activity and continue actions on your Echo or Fire TV devices. It is most useful as a bridge. You can start something in the browser and finish it at home without starting over.
Alexa.com also simplifies cooking. If you find a recipe online, you can paste the link into Alexa and ask it to adjust for dietary needs. Alexa can save it, convert it into ingredients and add everything to your shopping list. When it is time to cook, Alexa can pull the recipe up on your Echo Show, guide you step by step and manage timers so your hands stay free.
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Decision fatigue hits hard at night. On Alexa.com, you can explore movie themes, get recommendations and save picks for later. When you sit down, Alexa remembers your choices and sends them to your Fire TV. That cuts down on scrolling and family debates.
Using Alexa on the web raises natural privacy questions. Amazon says Alexa+ includes built-in protections and user controls. Still, it is worth taking a minute to review your settings, especially if you plan to upload documents or personal information. A few smart habits can help:
As with any AI assistant, convenience comes with trade-offs. Staying aware helps you stay in control.
Alexa+ is free during Early Access. When Early Access ends, you will not be automatically charged. After that:
This makes Alexa.com more appealing for Prime members and a tougher sell for everyone else.
For most people, Alexa.com is about convenience. If you already use Alexa at home, the web version makes it easier to use during the day. You can plan, organize or look things up from your computer and then pick up later on your phone or Echo. It also puts Alexa in the same category as other browser-based AI tools, but with deeper ties to shopping, smart home features and entertainment. Whether you stick with it will likely come down to how often you want Alexa to help you during your day.
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Alexa.com does not reinvent Alexa. It simply makes it easier to use where people already spend time. By bringing Alexa+ to the browser, Amazon is betting that continuity matters more than novelty. For some users, that will be enough to make Alexa feel relevant again.
If Alexa followed you from your laptop to your living room, would you actually rely on it more, or would it still feel optional? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Springsteen tells ICE to 'get the f--- out of Minneapolis,' slams 'Gestapo' tactics at concert
Bruce Springsteen called out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a show in New Jersey on Saturday and told the agency to "get the f--- out" of Minneapolis, according to reports, dedicating a song to Renee Good.
"If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that it’s worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for, if you believe in the power of the law and no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president," Springsteen told the crowd, according to NJArts.net.
Springsteen performed at the Light of Day festival in New Jersey on Saturday night.
Quoting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, he added, "and as the mayor of that city has said, ‘ICE should get the f--- out of Minneapolis.'"
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The rock legend went on to dedicate his song "The Promised Land" to Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.
"So this one is for you, and the memory of the mother of three and American citizen Renee Good," Springsteen said.
Springsteen, a longtime Democrat, campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, Joe Biden in 2020, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barack Obama in 2012 and 2008.
SPRINGSTEEN SAYS DEMS TOO FAR-LEFT FOR AMERICA, BUT TRUMP STILL BELONGS IN 'TRASH HEAP OF HISTORY'
In a September interview with Time magazine, Springsteen said he is among several left-leaning figures who believe the Democratic Party has lost touch with everyday Americans.
"We’re desperately in need of an effective alternative party or for the Democratic Party to find someone who can speak to the majority of the nation. There is a problem with the language that they’re using and the way they’re trying to reach people," he said.
Time magazine noted the irony in that left-leaning Springsteen appeals to working-class fans while being wealthy, particularly as many of his core audience have "flocked to Trump."
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Springsteen criticized Trump during a June 2025 concert in Germany as well.
"The America that I love, the America that I sung to you about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration," he told the crowd during his set with the E Street Band.
Fox News' Alexander Hall contributed to this report.