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Forget the Season 3 Finale — Justin Hartley Just Got a Real-Life Honor That Hits Even Harder and Nobody Saw It Coming…

The Tracker star is heading back to his Illinois roots to deliver a commencement address and receive an honorary degree — less than 15 minutes from where he grew up.

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Justin Hartley to Receive Honorary Degree at Knox College — Tracker Star Returns to Illinois Roots for 2026 Commencement
Justin Hartley, star of CBS's Tracker and This Is Us, will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois on June 7, 2026 — just miles from his hometown of Knoxville, Illinois.

Justin Hartley has tracked down a lot of things on screen. But this one is personal.

While fans of Tracker are already buzzing about the Season 3 finale landing on May 24, the bigger news about Hartley has nothing to do with CBS, Colter Shaw, or a missing persons case. It has to do with a small college in Western Illinois — and a homecoming that means everything.

On April 2, Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois announced that Hartley will serve as the official commencement speaker at their graduation ceremony on June 7, 2026. And if that wasn’t already a feel-good headline on its own, there’s more — the college will also award him an honorary degree on the same day.

“Western Illinois-born and award-winning actor, producer, and star of CBS’ Tracker Justin Hartley is the 2026 Knox College Commencement speaker,” the college’s official Instagram post read. He will share the stage with internationally respected art executive Deborah F. Rutter and award-winning investigative reporter Dorothy Tucker — but for the Galesburg crowd, the local boy will be the headline.

Justin Hartley to Receive Honorary Degree at Knox College — Tracker Star Returns to Illinois Roots for 2026 Commencement


And he really is local. Hartley hails from Knoxville, Illinois — a town sitting less than 15 minutes down the road from the Knox College campus. This isn’t a celebrity flying in for a photo op. This is someone going home.

Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney put it beautifully in the official statement: “It’s not often that Knox gets to welcome a native of the Illinois prairie as its commencement speaker, which makes awarding an honorary degree to Justin Hartley this June truly meaningful. With a career that spans more than 20 years as an actor, producer, and director, Justin’s outstanding work in television and film sets a noteworthy example of artistic achievement and personal accomplishment for the Class of 2026.”

Twenty years. From early roles that put him on the map, to the emotional weight of This Is Us — where he played the beloved Kevin Pearson — to his current run as the rugged survivalist Colter Shaw on Tracker, one of CBS‘s biggest hits, Hartley has built a career that any graduating class would be lucky to hear about.

For the Class of 2026 at Knox College, commencement day just got a whole lot more interesting. For Justin Hartley, it’s a full-circle moment that no script could have written better.

Entertainment

NBC4 Anchor Joseph Olmo Announces Exit After Nearly a Decade: “I’ve Got Just One More Story for You”

After three years at NBC4 Washington and nearly 10 years in broadcast journalism, Joseph Olmo has announced his departure — but his next career move remains a mystery.

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NBC4 Anchor Joseph Olmo Announces Exit After Nearly 10 Years
NBC4 Washington anchor Joseph Olmo announces his departure after nearly 10 years in broadcast journalism.

Joseph Olmo surprised viewers during his final NBC4 Washington broadcast when he revealed that he was leaving the station after nearly a decade in broadcast journalism.

Olmo made the announcement at the end of Sunday’s broadcast, turning what appeared to be a routine sign-off into a deeply personal farewell.

“Well, before we go tonight, I’ve got just one more story for you,” Olmo told viewers.

The anchor then reflected on the years he had spent reporting from the Washington, DC, area and explained why local journalism had meant so much to him.

Joseph Olmo’s emotional NBC4 farewell

“For the better part of a decade, which includes three thrilling years right here at NBC 4, I have had one remarkable job,” Olmo said.

He described local journalism as a unique profession, emphasizing the connection reporters have with the communities they cover.

“You can cover the world, but nothing compares to being a local news reporter,” he said. “Because think about it. Who else would tell you about all the things happening where we live?”

Olmo joined NBC4 Washington in 2023 after previously spending three years at DC News Now.

During his time at NBC4, he became a familiar face to viewers across the Washington region, covering local stories and anchoring broadcasts as part of the station’s news team.

“One means many” — Olmo thanks viewers and colleagues

Olmo also used his final broadcast to recognize the large team working behind the scenes.

“Whenever you watch us on TV or online, remember one means many,” he said. “You may see one person on at a time, but there are hundreds of people who get us here.”

The departing anchor then thanked his colleagues at NBC4 and the viewers who had followed his work.

“And to my entire NBC 4 family, I say thank you for letting me be part of this accomplished team. And to everybody who watches us, thank you.”

He described his experience at the station as “remarkable” and “so cool,” praising the organization and its team.

So, what will Joseph Olmo do next?

That remains the biggest unanswered question.

Olmo has confirmed that he is leaving broadcast journalism and is moving toward a different profession, but he has not publicly revealed what that next chapter will be.

His social media activity had previously led some followers to speculate that he might pursue a career in aviation. Olmo frequently posts about airplanes and airlines, prompting some viewers to guess that he could become a pilot.

But there is one problem with that theory.

Olmo himself said the speculation was incorrect.

His LinkedIn profile also did not list a new position following his departure from NBC4 Washington, leaving viewers with little information about what comes next.

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Viewers and journalists react to his departure

Olmo’s announcement quickly prompted an outpouring of messages from viewers, colleagues and fellow journalists.

Many praised his reporting and expressed disappointment that he was leaving the station.

One viewer described him as one of the coolest journalists on television, while another thanked him for his contribution to the NBC4 team.

Neal Augenstein, a reporter at Washington-based WTOP, also paid tribute to Olmo.

“Job well done, Joseph,” Augenstein wrote, praising Olmo’s reporting and saying his journalism had earned the respect of both colleagues and viewers.

TV producer Marcel Gooden also congratulated Olmo on what he described as his next chapter.

The reaction highlights the impact Olmo had built during his years in local television.

A decade in broadcast journalism comes to an end

Before joining NBC4 Washington, Olmo worked for DC News Now for three years and also worked as a freelance journalist earlier in his career.

His departure now marks the end of nearly 10 years in broadcast journalism.

For viewers who became accustomed to seeing him on their screens, however, the goodbye may not feel like a complete ending.

Olmo has made it clear that he is moving on — but he has kept the destination largely to himself.

And for now, that mystery may be the most intriguing part of his departure.

Joseph Olmo has left viewers with one final story. The next chapter is still waiting to be revealed.

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Taylor Swift Looks Back at Her Country Roots: “I Want to Honor Them More and More”

The superstar opened up about Nashville, the Bluebird Cafe and the country influences that helped shape her songwriting career during a rare Recording Academy conversation.

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Taylor Swift Reflects on Country Roots and Nashville Beginnings
Taylor Swift reflects on her Nashville beginnings and says she wants to honor her country music roots “more and more.”

For Taylor Swift, the journey to becoming one of the world’s biggest music stars began with a guitar, songwriting ambitions and the country music community of Nashville.

Two decades after the release of her self-titled debut album, Swift is looking back at those early years with a renewed sense of appreciation. During a career-spanning conversation with Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, the superstar reflected on her country roots and the people who helped shape her as an artist.

“I love my country roots more and more the further along this path I get and I want to honor them more and more,” Swift said.

She added that she feels increasingly connected to the people and experiences that helped define her early career.

“The people that shaped who I am as an artist and as a writer, that all happened in Nashville,” she said.

Nashville Still Holds a Special Place in Swift’s Story

Swift’s connection with Nashville dates back to her teenage years, when she became immersed in the city’s songwriting and country music scene.

One venue has a particularly important place in that journey — the Bluebird Cafe.

Swift recalled hearing that country superstar Faith Hill had been discovered at the famous Nashville venue. The story inspired the young Swift to dream of performing there herself.

“I started learning about the Bluebird Cafe, made it a personal life goal to get to perform there,” Swift recalled.

The Bluebird Cafe would eventually become part of Swift’s own career story, making her connection with Nashville even more meaningful.

Taylor Swift Reflects on ‘Tim McGraw’

During the conversation with Harvey Mason Jr., Swift also looked back at her debut single, “Tim McGraw.”

Released in 2006 from her self-titled debut album, the song introduced Swift to a wider country audience and showcased the deeply personal storytelling that would become one of her trademarks.

Looking back almost 20 years later, Swift believes the song contained hints of the career that was still ahead of her.

“If I look back at the song ‘Tim McGraw,’ there are actually sort of hints at everything that was gonna happen in the next 20 years,” she said.

That reflection is striking considering how dramatically Swift’s sound and career have evolved since those early days.

She moved from country music into mainstream pop and later explored a range of other sounds, but detailed storytelling has remained at the heart of her songwriting.

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Swift’s Country Roots Are Making a Comeback

Swift’s renewed focus on her country background comes at an interesting point in her career.

Earlier this year, she released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” described in the source material as her first clearly country song in years.

The track also made history at country radio, becoming the first song by a woman to have every country radio station reporting to Mediabase agree to play it during its first week.

The development has naturally revived discussions about Swift’s relationship with the genre that first made her famous.

For longtime fans, country music never completely disappeared from Swift’s work. Even as her music moved toward pop, her songs continued to feature the personal stories, memories and emotional details that characterized her Nashville beginnings.

Memory Becomes a Major Theme

Memory was another major theme during Swift’s Recording Academy Icon Sessions appearance.

The superstar discussed songs connected by the idea of remembering particular moments and revisiting important chapters of life.

She also performed a medley featuring “I Knew It, I Knew You,” “August” and “All Too Well.”

The performance carried an extra layer of nostalgia because Swift performed on the same piano she had used during surprise-song performances on The Eras Tour.

For an artist who has spent much of her career turning personal experiences into songs, the setting was particularly fitting.

Twenty Years Later, Swift Is Looking Back

Swift’s comments show that her country beginnings are becoming an increasingly important part of the way she views her artistic journey.

Her career may have taken her far beyond the Nashville sound of her teenage years, but the foundation remains visible in her songwriting and storytelling.

Her self-titled debut album is now approaching its 20-year milestone, giving fans another opportunity to revisit the beginning of her remarkable career.

And after two decades of international fame, Swift’s latest comments make one thing clear: she may have traveled far from Nashville, but she has never forgotten where her musical story began.

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Hollywood’s Top Financial Power Players Sought: THR Opens 2026 Power Business Managers Nominations

The Hollywood Reporter invites industry professionals to nominate the entertainment world’s leading financial advisors and business managers for its prestigious 2026 Power Business Managers list.

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The search for Hollywood’s most influential financial minds has officially begun. The Hollywood Reporter has opened nominations for its highly anticipated 2026 Power Business Managers list, spotlighting the professionals who quietly shape the financial success of the entertainment industry’s biggest names.

Behind every successful actor, musician, filmmaker, and celebrity brand is often a trusted financial expert who handles complex decisions involving wealth management, investments, taxes, and long-term planning. These business managers play a crucial role in protecting and growing the fortunes of Hollywood’s elite.

The annual recognition highlights professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the world of entertainment finance, working with some of the industry’s most recognizable personalities.

From negotiating financial strategies to managing multi-million-dollar careers, these experts operate behind the scenes while helping stars focus on their creative journeys.

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Previous years’ honorees have included financial advisors representing major Hollywood figures such as Taylor Swift, Leonardo DiCaprio, and other leading names across film, television, and music.

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The nomination process gives industry professionals an opportunity to showcase the work of business managers who have made a significant impact through strategic financial planning and client success.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the list aims to recognize the “power players” who help entertainment personalities navigate an increasingly complicated financial landscape.

As Hollywood continues to expand beyond traditional movies and television into streaming, global partnerships, brand deals, and digital ventures, the role of entertainment business managers has become more important than ever.

The 2026 edition is expected to feature some of the most respected names in entertainment finance, celebrating those who have built strong reputations through expertise, trust, and results.

Industry professionals can now submit nominations for consideration, with the final list set to highlight the financial experts influencing the future of Hollywood.

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