AGP Executive Report

Entertainment & Community: Victoria’s Uniting Hearts Music Festival is set for Oct. 17, bringing together female faith leaders Pastor Celia Halfacre and Stephanie Cadengo with local worship bands and a message of unity and redemption. Texas Arts & Events: Palmer Events Center in Austin released a full September lineup, including Rails World (Sept. 23–24), the Austin Tattoo Invitational (Sept. 4–6), ThrillerCon (Sept. 6), and the Texas Woodworking Festival (Sept. 26–27). Local Music Calendar: New Braunfels-area live music for the week of Sept. 3 spotlights everything from Robert Earl Keen homecoming shows to open mic nights and Labor Day Jam. Sports Culture: Dallas College is launching a collegiate women’s flag football program across six campuses ahead of NJCAA competition. Pop Culture: Disney Channel star Carla Jeffery, known for Bree in the ZOMBIES franchise, died at 33. Business/Entertainment Backlash: Good Good Golf fired CEO Matt Kendrick and president Joe Flannery after a controversial Callaway driver ad sparked backlash over violence against a woman.

Texas Music & Film: Houston-based country singer Chris Hughes drops “Up In The Air,” a father-daughter story built from a childhood memory and the changing meaning of “catching” someone through life. Local Community & Arts: Ridgewood Off-Kilter Film Festival returns with an eclectic lineup and new venues, plus a community mixer and late-night screenings. Family-Friendly Events: Victoria Police kicks off National Night Out 2026 with a Sept. 26 kickoff at DeLeon Plaza, and neighborhood block parties can register for merch bags. Sports & Streaming: Peacock acquires the Office fan documentary “Fan Level Midnight,” debuting Sept. 7. Food Buzz (Texas): McDonald’s launches a Texas-exclusive meal bundle starting Sept. 1, featuring collectible regional cups by Avery Orendorf and the limited-time return of Spicy Chicken McNuggets. Wildlife Rescue: SeaWorld San Antonio welcomes the final six beluga whales from Marineland’s closure in Canada, completing the rescue of 30 belugas.

Texas Music & Film: Drake teased an R&B-leaning remix of Ella Langley’s chart-topper “Choosin’ Texas” during a Toronto DJ set, swapping the upbeat country feel for a slower vibe—no official release date yet. Local Stage Spotlight: “The Voice” champ Jake Hoot brings his faith-and-country storytelling to Cailloux Theater in Kerrville on Sept. 26. Dolly Parton in the spotlight: Empire 8 Theatre in Jackson, Tenn. is running a Dolly movie tribute (Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Joyful Noise) with $5 tickets benefiting her Imagination Library. Streaming Picks: Netflix’s September lineup leans heavy on true crime and big returns, including “Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly” and “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.” Texas Sports Buzz: Texas Tech added Florida State transfer QB Thomas Castellanos, aiming to bolster depth behind Will Hammond. Sports Law: NFL legend Emmitt Smith faces a lawsuit tied to an alleged $2.5M fraud scheme involving a Texas solar project.

Texas Arts & Culture: UTSA opens “Antithesis in Contemporary Collage,” a brainy group show that aims to mess with how you see and connect images, running through Sept. 10. Music & Film in Texas: Lubbock’s Buddy Holly Center is hosting a free Buddy Holly 90th Birthday Bash (Sept. 7) with tours, trivia, and live music. Hill Country Fest: New Braunfels’ WurstFest (Nov. 6–15) is back with German-inspired food, family fun, and ticket sales now open. AI Music Fight: Grammy winner Jason Isbell and Texas blues musician Guy Forsyth are among plaintiffs suing Suno, claiming AI music generators use artists’ identities without consent. Local Live Shows: San Antonio’s San Japan returns for Labor Day weekend with cosplay, gaming, panels, and late-night parties. Streaming Picks: A September guide rounds up what’s new across Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and more, including “Slow Horses” and “Monster” season returns. Sports Pop Culture: Stan Kroenke’s sports empire expands as he agrees to buy a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels, expected to close in 2027.

Music & Tours: Sombr announced 2027 dates for his “You Are The Reason” tour, with stops across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the UK (tickets go on sale Sept. 4). Texas Live Music: Boerne’s Music at the Cave returns Sept. 6 with the Axiom String Quartet, while San Antonio’s 2M Smokehouse won Food Network’s “Pitmasters” finale with a five-course showdown. New Releases: Austin psych-rock trio The Well plays Fairborn Phoenix Sept. 5 ahead of its Sept. 14 album release. Streaming Picks: Netflix’s September lineup includes the horror cult classic “Valentine,” plus a broader slate of new shows and movies. Pop Culture Spotlight: MTV VMAs nominations were announced, and Dolly Parton’s death is driving tributes and theater retrospectives. Local Sports Spotlight: Texas high school athletes are being nominated for City National Bank Athlete of the Week as the season kicks off.

Houston Music Spotlight: Rising Houston rapper Monaleo (Leondra Roshawn Caldwell) is teaming up with Don Julio vibes as she pushes new music and pink-brand energy. Local Business & Real Estate: The Kansas City Chiefs and Hunt Midwest are forming Two-Point Development to build mixed-use districts around the new stadium area in KCK and the team’s Olathe HQ/training site. Texas Arts & Design: Nina Magon talks wellness and home design, including her “amenity floor” rethink, as she represents the U.S. at Maison&Objet. Dolly Parton Everywhere: DollyFest is set for Nashville and London in 2027, while Regal expands Dolly Parton movie tribute screenings nationwide to fund Imagination Library books. Texas Entertainment & Community: Amarillo’s Don Harrington Discovery Center turns 50 with a Sept. 5 festival featuring food trucks, Amarillo Symphony, and a drone show. Music News: Frankie Miller, the Texas-born country songwriter, has died at 95. Sports (Texas): Steve Sarkisian says Texas’ CFP loss came down to being “tired.” Tech/Events: DFW Pulse launches to help North Texans find free events across 30+ cities in one place.

Texas Music Spotlight: Dexter and the Moonrocks are turning breakout momentum from “Freakin’ Out” into a debut album, “Friends That I Don’t Like,” out Oct. 2, leaning into their Texas-rooted identity and using social media to stay close to fans. Local Arts & Community: Garden Oaks Theatre in Houston is facing demolition, and Arthouse Houston is racing to raise millions to preserve the historic venue before it’s bulldozed. Pop Culture (Texas connection): Ella Langley fired back at Doja Cat after the rapper said she didn’t know who Langley is—Langley’s playful Instagram response keeps the spotlight on “Choosin’ Texas,” now a major chart force. Entertainment Tech/Travel: Chase opened a Sapphire Lounge at DFW with a Texas whiskey room, facials, showers, and work-friendly space for travelers. Arts Education: Artist INC Express is bringing a hands-on artist development workshop (Sept. 11–13) to help Texas creatives build long-term careers.

Texas Courtroom Drama: A federal judge again struck down Texas’ drag show ban, explicitly citing Dolly Parton and warning the law could even land her in jail—another First Amendment win for performers. Music & Pop Culture: Dolly Parton’s death at 80 sparked a flood of tributes, from radio and streaming surges to fans revisiting her biggest movie moments and her legendary friendship with Kenny Rogers. Entertainment Streaming: Netflix’s September 2026 lineup leans on classics and cult favorites, plus new picks like Gothika and The Gentlemen Season 2. Local Health & Business: A Tarrant County ketamine clinic is under the microscope, with reporting focused on what’s next for the operation. Sports & Texas Fans: College football Week 0 kicked off the new rankings, while NFL roster cuts hit late—plus UFC Shanghai delivered a major KO upset. Wrestling Live: AEW All In London 2026 goes down today at Wembley, with the main card starting 1 p.m. ET.

Dolly Parton News: The country icon has died at 80, and Texas media is already rolling out tributes—from MeTV’s 90-minute Dolly block to theater re-releases of her movies like Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas—while fans keep sharing why she mattered. Texas Pop Culture & Health: Texas AG Ken Paxton’s PFAS probe into Lululemon clothing is reigniting “low-tox” worries about chemicals in everyday wear. Sports Spotlight (Texas ties): Nebraska kicked off its season with a No. 1 sweep over UNLV in Las Vegas, and USC’s opener drew empty seats despite a win—another reminder that entertainment hype doesn’t always fill stadiums. Local Entertainment Retail: SCHEELS opened a massive new Cedar Park flagship with experiential attractions, bringing a big “go do something” vibe to Central Texas. Lottery Buzz: Powerball numbers for Aug. 29 are out (18-56-62-65-67, PB 18) as players wait to learn if anyone hit the $119M jackpot.

Texas Sports & Community: Angelo State University celebrated a big win for handball with $220,000 in renovations to its courts, now hosting the Rams Handball Invitational (Aug. 28–30) and setting up the 2027 Doug Randolph Cup on campus. Music & Local Events: Wortham’s Wortham Blues Festival returns Sept. 12, with gates at 5 p.m. and music at 6 p.m., featuring Peter Sinclair plus Josh Calvin & Co., B’Nois King Band, and Mark Gorman Band. Texas Sports Safety: Texas Tech softball players were hurt in a jet ski accident at Lake Ransom Canyon near Lubbock; the school says no critical injuries and recovery is expected. Pop Culture Spotlight: Dolly Parton’s legacy keeps spreading—Liza Minnelli paid tribute to their friendship after Parton’s death, while tributes and screenings of her classic movies are rolling out. Entertainment & Sports Crossover: Ella Langley appears to be firing back at Doja Cat’s comments about “Choosin’ Texas,” turning the chart chatter into a fresh celebrity moment.

Dolly Parton Memorial Wave: The country icon died at 80, and Texas fans are soaking up tributes, streaming picks, and theater revivals—AMC is bringing back “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” while “9 to 5” is getting a free-watch push. Texas Arts & Community: Hill Country Arts Foundation opens “Nature’s Bounty,” a gourd-art exhibit with Hill Country Master Naturalists, plus a “Hot Shakespeare” spicy-chicken night. Sports Spotlight (Texas): MacArthur’s Jayden Burnett exploded for three long TD runs as the Cardinals beat Creekview 32-26. Music Business Buzz: BTS hit $102.5M in July concert revenue for No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Tours chart. Local Service Growth: Guadalupe County Fire and Rescue has expanded from 5 firefighters to 21 as development ramps up. Faith & Food Policy: Brazos Valley Food Bank and Salvation Army are clarifying how prayer and Christian music fit with TEFAP rules.

Texas Court Watch: A federal appeals court upheld a Texas judge’s dismissal in a patent fight involving Bath & Body Works and The Buckle, keeping the e-commerce case dead. Food & Safety: Church’s Texas Chicken must pay $20,000 to a customer after a judge found her pot pie was served too hot and caused second-degree burns. Dolly Parton in Texas History: A Waco radio station was sued by Parton in 1976 over unpaid wages tied to her “Dolly Parton Show” appearance. Drag Rights: A federal judge struck down Texas’s drag show ban again, citing First Amendment concerns and even referencing Parton in the ruling. Local Arts & Community: Howard Payne University announced Homecoming weekend Oct. 2–3, with events for alumni, families, and prospective students. Music & Culture: Gladys Knight says she plans to perform less as she enters a new career chapter. Austin Entertainment Picks: Rainey Street’s nightlife is getting a more upscale glow-up, with new spots spotlighted for food, drinks, and style.

Music & Culture: Chelsea Wolfe returns with the guitar-bass-drums heft of The Dark, leaning into doom-folk and darker atmospheres across tracks like “Cold,” “Seethe,” and “Turn the Key.” Sports Entertainment (Texas): The PGA Tour’s Austin event fallout keeps growing: Callaway cut ties with Good Good Golf after the brand reposted a violent ad, and Good Good has now stepped away as title sponsor—while the tournament still goes on in November. Wellbeing Spotlight: The 10th World Wellness Weekend is set for Sept. 18–20 with 278 US venues, including Texas partners, aiming to make wellness more social and accessible. Local Arts & Community: Denison’s Battle of the Ax gets a new official gameday DJ, DJ Dun-Nee-D, promising crowd-ready mixes (including Dolly tributes). Pop Music: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” holds No. 1 on the singles chart as DMA’S land their first ARIA Albums No. 1 with their self-titled record.

Texas Drag Ban Update: A federal judge struck down Texas’ drag show restrictions again, pausing enforcement of SB 12 and citing First Amendment concerns—plus judge references to Dolly Parton’s legacy. Golf Backlash in Texas: Callaway cut ties with Good Good Golf after a controversial ad showing a man shoving a woman; the PGA Tour also removed Good Good as title sponsor for an Austin event, while Callaway pledged $1M to support domestic-violence prevention. Dolly Parton’s Texas Reach: The country icon’s death at 80 sparked tributes across the state, including a Houston bar built around her philanthropy and plans for Dolly-themed screenings and events. Music & Film Buzz: Netflix’s Vince Young documentary “Untold: The Testimony of Vince Young” is out, and Jamie Foxx says Tarantino cut a rape scene from “Django Unchained,” reshaping it into a love story. Travel & Lifestyle: American Airlines announced seven new international routes for 2027, including new service from Philadelphia to Porto, Vienna, and Reykjavik.

Texas Drag Law: A federal judge struck down Texas’ drag show ban again, citing Dolly Parton and warning the wording could even criminalize tributes—another win for performers and a fresh headache for state lawmakers. Music & Pop Culture: Dolly Parton’s death at 80 sparked tributes across Texas and beyond, from Dollywood fans making pilgrimages to local bars running “9 to 5” screenings. Streaming & Film: Netflix set a November 18 debut for Guarding Stars, starring Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester, with a Texas-set romance twist. Texas Arts & Community: Austin’s Latinx Micro-Book Festival returns Aug. 29-30, spotlighting local and statewide writers and creators. Sports (Texas angle): Nebraska vs. Florida volleyball heads to AT&T Stadium for “Spikes Under the Lights,” with TNT carrying the match. Local Spotlight: Texarkana’s new Tonsorium Gallery barbershop-salon opens downtown, betting on revitalization.

Texas Drag Ban: A federal judge struck down Texas Senate Bill 12 again, saying the “simple” fix is just not to attend—while also noting how even Dolly Parton could be swept up by the law’s broad wording. Dolly Parton Tributes: The Queen of Country died at 80 after a brief cancer battle, and Texas fans and stars alike flooded social media with memories of her LGBTQ+ allyship and her huge impact on music and film. Streaming Watch Guide: If you missed ABC/CBS tributes, Hulu/Disney+ is now carrying Dolly Parton: An American Original—Special Edition of 20/20, with more specials still rolling out. Local Business & Style: An Austin western apparel brand with no retail stores says it’s winning customers online as shoppers keep shifting toward direct-to-consumer. Sports Rules: The SEC approved tougher penalties for schools that bring pro athletes back to college programs, including suspensions and fines. Texas Entertainment: Chris Hansen is set to appear at every screening of A24’s Primetime with a new preshow ad for his TruBlu network.