The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get a Raise
June 18: TBH, fans were a bit thunderstruck by the news. As the second season of the Netflix smash America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders took the proverbial field, reports emerged the squad had received a raise as high as their famed kicks.
"We pushed and we got back good results," fifth year vet Armani Latimer said of the 400 percent bump. "I get emotional knowing that I was a part of that. I love the fact that I made change for the girls that are coming up behind me, even if I'm not getting a chance to benefit."
Tom Sandoval Auditions for America's Got Talent
June 24: Tom Sandoval was the most extra when he took on a cover of A-ha's classic '80s hit "Take on Me" for his America's Got Talent audition. After news broke in 2023 that the Vanderpump Rules star had cheated on then-girlfriend Ariana Madix with their friend and costar Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, "I was the most hated man in America," the Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras frontman explained of trying out for the competition series. "This is the chance to show who I am as a musician."
For eight weeks, it was his time, the best days of his life—until his Aug. 20 elimination.
Vera Wang Rocks the Perfect LBD
June 27: Vera Wang proved black is the new black when she slipped into a trés chic LBD from her eponymous line to celebrate her 76th birthday in Paris. "Birthdays should be celebrated and treasured," she explained to E! News of suiting up for the occasion. "A lot of my friends are scared. I say, if you get to this stage, you're really lucky. So you should celebrate it."
Jeff Bezos Marries Lauren Sánchez in Venice
June 27: With a net worth north of $250 billion, the Amazon founder didn't spare a single cent when he wed his partner of six years on the Italian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Everyone from Khloé Kardashian to Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Scooter Braun and Sydney Sweeney said sí to attending the multi-day affair.
Sean "Diddy" Combs Found Guilty on 2 Out of 5 Counts in Sex Trafficking Trial
July 2: After a seven-week trial and roughly 12 hours of deliberation, Sean “Diddy” Combs—who pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, as well as transportation to engage in prostitution—was convicted on prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
"My actions were disgusting, shameful and sick," the music mogul said in October before he was sentenced to 50 months in prison. "I was sick, sick from the drugs, I was out of control, I needed help and I didn't get the help."
Julian McMahon Dies After Cancer Battle
July 2: This news cut deep. Kelly McMahon confirmed her husband, Nip/Tuck alum Julian McMahon "died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer." The 56-year-old "loved his family," she continued in a statement. "He loved his friends. He loved his work and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible."
Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry End Engagement
July 3: If the singer had to do it all over again, she would still do it all over again. But after a stretch of putting Band-Aids over a broken heart, she and the actor—parents to 4-year-old daughter Daisy Dove—announced the end of their engagement in a joint statement.
"They will continue to be seen together as a family," their reps told E! News, "as their shared priority is—and always will be—raising their daughter with love, stability and mutual respect."
Love Island Becomes Summer's Hottest Bombshell
July 13: Love Island USA had fans tuning in daily, making it the most streamed show in July and delivering 1.9 billion minutes watched in just one week, according to Variety.
As the bombshells prepared to exit the villa, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales earned the most votes and walked away from the season seven finale with the $100,000 prize. "Boy, was this a ride," she said after her win. "But, man, I would do this ride all over again if it just led me to him."
A month later, she announced their split on Instagram—"You don't have to drink the whole sea to know it's salty," she shared—but emphasized, "I truly wish him the best."
Paranormal Expert Dan Rivera Dies Suddenly
July 14: Fans of the metaphysical had a new mystery to dig into when paranormal investigator Dan Rivera—who was hosting a national tour of the original Annabelle doll, popularized in The Conjuring movie franchise—died suddenly following a stop in Gettysburg, Pa.
Though viewers ran wild with theories, officials later said he was a victim of a heart attack.
Coldplay Captures Scandalous Kiss Cam Content
July 15: Captured on the Kiss Cam at Coldplay's concert outside Boston, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR exec Kristin Cabot lost something that they couldn't replace: their anonymity. "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just really shy," frontman Chris joked as the pair ducked out of view.
By summer's end, both had resigned from their Astronomer roles and officially ended their separate marriages.
Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt Reveal They're Expecting
July 16: Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson isn't the only one with jokes. "Welp now everyone knows we had sex," model girlfriend Elsie Hewitt cracked when revealing her pregnancy.
"I'm very lucky and very, very happy," the comic later told E! News, adding he's looking forward to "being able to take care of something and show it the childhood I didn’t have. I assume you just try to give them what you didn’t have, and what you didn’t like, not do it."
Malcolm Jamal Warner Drowns
July 20: Fans were left crushed when news broke that The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. According to authorities, the actor was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the water. He was later rescued by people on the beach, but had no vital signs.
Duck Dynasty’s Jessica Robertson Welcomes Three Grandchildren
July 20: The Duck Dynasty crew added some new ducklings. Series stars Jessica Robertson and Jep Robertson revealed their then-18-year-old daughter Priscilla Robertson was expecting her first baby with boyfriend Dillon Nash.
"This isn’t the plans we had laid out for Priscilla but God takes our meager offerings and turns them into His greatest blessings!" Jessica wrote on Instagram. "We are so proud that Priscilla & Dillon chose life for their baby and we will all be rewarded with this precious baby girl!"
Baby August flew into the picture in October. And he wasn't the only one to join the flock. Jessica's daughter Lily Robertson and husband Austin Stalbaum welcomed son Winston in February, with daughter Merritt Robertson and husband Tyler Metro set to embrace their daughter in December.
Trisha Paytas Makes a Splash With Baby Name
July 22: Searching for baby name inspiration, Trisha Paytas dove deep. Already mom to daughters Malibu Barbie and Elvis with husband Moses Hacmon the YouTuber decided to swim against the current once more after giving birth to her son.
The resulting moniker—Aquaman Moses Paytas-Hacmon—combined her love of the superhero flick and her husband's fondness for water. "I've been wearing Aquaman t-shirts for years," she explained on her podcast Just Trish. "I've gone to so many comic-cons for Aquaman. And I really fell in love when we rewatched Aquaman. We watched all the Aquamans, I watched the cartoon, I was watching everything."
Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76
July 22: There was darkness all around when rock legend Ozzy Osbourne died just weeks after taking the stage with his band Black Sabbath. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," his family—including wife Sharon Osbourne as well as kids Aimee Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Jack Osbourne, and Louis Osbourne—said in a statement shared to E! News. "He was with his family and surrounded by love."
Bryan Kohberger Sentenced to Life in Prison
July 23: Three weeks after Bryan Kohberger confessed to the 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, he was officially sentenced to life in prison.
Presiding Judge Steven Hippler sentenced the PhD student to 10 years and imposed a fine of $50,000 on the count of burglary. He also handed out a life sentence—to be served consecutively—without the possibility of parole for each count of first-degree murder accompanied with a $50,000 fine for each count and a $5,000 civil penalty to be paid to each of the victims' families.
Hulk Hogan Dies Following a Heart Attack
July 24: After authorities were called to Hulk Hogan's Florida residence for an emergency relating to “cardiac arrest,” per a 911 phone call recording obtained by E! News, the wrestling legend was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Despite their shaky relationship, daughter Brooke Hogan shared in a July 29 Instagram post, "When he left this earth, it felt like part of my spirit left with him. I felt it before the news even reached us."
Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas Team Up
July 26: At times it can feel like Mission: Impossible to untangle Tom Cruise's relationship status. But after he and actress Ana De Armas vacationed together in Spain and attended an Oasis reunion show in London, they walked hand-in-hand through Woodstock, VT.
Still, while the duo are set to partner up for a future movie, they're not together IRL.
Sydney Sweeney Shows Off Her Jeans
Aug. 1: American Eagle might have gotten a bit too clever when they dropped an ad that saw Sydney Sweeney discuss the particulars of genes and her go-to denim jeans.
While some felt the brand was sending a dangerous message about eugenics in using the blond-haired, blue-eyed actress, American Eagle insisted in an Instagram statement, "'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."
Kelly Clarkson Says Goodbye to Ex Brandon Blackstock
Aug. 7: One day after Kelly Clarkson revealed her former husband Brandon Blackstock—dad to her daughter River and son Remy—was sick, his rep confirmed the talent manager had died after a private battle with cancer.
"Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years," his rep shared in a statement to NBC News. "He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family."
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Reunite
Aug. 13: For years it seemed that Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were, indeed, destined to go their own way. Decades after their 1976 breakup all but spelled the end for Fleetwood Mac—the rock band they formed with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and the late Christine McVie in the early '70s—their antagonistic relationship remained every bit as famous as their chart-topping singles.
But time makes you bolder. And the duo—who briefly performed as Buckingham Nicks before joining Fleetwood Mac—announced plans to release a remastered version of that 1973 eponymous album.
Taylor Swift Soars to New Heights
Aug. 13: "I owe a lot to this podcast," Taylor Swift said while making her debut on Travis Kelce and brother Jason Kelce's New Heights series. "This podcast got me a boyfriend, ever since Travis decided to use it as his personal dating app."
So, she spent nearly two hours filling in all the blank spaces about her and the NFL standout's love story and detailing how her record-breaking Eras tour inspired her 12th studio album. All the while, the athlete was transforming his backyard into the scene for his secret garden proposal. That's the life of a showgirl, babe.
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi Reveal They Adopted a Baby
Aug. 21: Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi adopting a baby girl? Stranger things have happened. But we'd guess the milestone event turned their lives upside down. "This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption," the pair announced on Instagram. "We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy."
Two Survivor Contestants Are Eliminated Hours Before Filming
Aug. 21: Survivor producers have spoken. Well before the tribes could weigh in, producers snuffed out the proverbial torches of two wannabe castaways, adding alternates Jason Treul and Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu to the season 49 cast a mere 12 hours before filming began.
"We take this game very seriously," host and executive producer Jeff Probst told Parade of the unprecedented switch-up. "We want you to have a blast when you play. But we do have rules, and they have to be respected, and if they’re not, we will take action. And we did, and I’m sure it will send a seismic warning to future players, and I’m okay with that, because we don’t ask for a lot."