Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has reportedly died.

Annett’s death was announced by his former team, JR Motorsports, on Friday. He drove for them between 2017 and 2021, when he retired. NASCAR.com also confirmed the sad news.

It is not clear how he died, but his fellow former NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said on X he’s “glad he is no longer suffering.”

He joined JRM in 2017 and made 158 Xfinity Series starts with them, taking home the W at the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.

He was sidelined for part of the 2021 season due to a stress fracture, which would end up being his last season.

Before becoming a pro stock-car racer, Annett played defense for the Tier I junior ice hockey team Waterloo Black Hawks.

Michael was 39.

Donald Trump is giving Americans a new way to celebrate his birthday — free entry to national parks! Two other holidays — Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day — are getting the boot, however.

The calendar of free entry dates on the National Park Service website confirms this change for 2026 and covers 116 parks, from Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon to Everglades National Park and beyond.

Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in the U.S. and was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 under the Biden Administration. It was added as a free day to enter national parks in 2024.

In addition to Trump’s birthday, which is shared with Flag Day on June 14, US residents can also enjoy free admission to parks on Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend (July 3 – 5), the 110th Birthday of the National Park Service on August 25, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday and Veterans Day.

The Trump Administration calls the free entrance designations “patriotic fee-free days.”

The move is a part of the prez’s July 2025 “Making America Beautiful Again” executive order that aimed to make parks more affordable for American citizens and to fund improvement by charging foreign visitors higher national park fees.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a press release the upcoming changes are part of President Trump’s plans to “always [put] American families first.” He added … “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”

Sydney Sweeney ain’t keeping her lips tight like a pair of skinny jeans any longer — she has fully addressed the viral American Eagle ad controversy.

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress opened up about the highly publicized AE ad drama that unfolded over the summer, telling People she was “surprised by the reaction.” She also noted she doesn’t support the narrative that people were pairing with the campaign, stating … “Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”

As you know, folks thought the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” slogan featured in the campaign had underlying support of genetic superiority. Some people also likened it to 15-year-old Brooke Shields‘ controversial 1980 denim campaign and accused it of being styled for the male gaze.

AE immediately pushed back at the hate, saying in a statement that Sydney’s ad “always was about the jeans” and her story. The company went on … “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”

Sydney told People while she usually does not respond to negativity, this seemed like a special case that needed to be addressed to end the hate. She explained … “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness.”

She added … “So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.”

The “Housemaid” star first spoke about the drama during an interview with GQ for its “Men of the Year” cover story published in early November, but took a much mor casual approach. She noted at the time … “I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”

Despite the backlash, the campaign worked in AE’s favor, as the chatter sent the company’s stocks soaring and even increased foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores by 5%. Plus, they reported her custom Sydney Jeans sold out in a day.