SUMMARY: East Tennessee celebrated the Fourth of July with vibrant parades, including Farragut’s family-favorite event and Gatlinburg’s renowned midnight parade, the nation’s first. Nashville also hosted one of the country’s largest fireworks displays. Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen’s foundation donated \$15,000 to the Salvation Army Knoxville Area Command, funding summer camp arts and music programs for 35 underserved kids. Knoxville comedian Leanne Morgan stars in a new Netflix series premiering July 31, about a woman navigating life after 33 years of marriage. Both Wallen and Morgan highlight the region’s growing influence in entertainment and community support.

Here’s a check of what’s trending in the entertainment world this week!

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SUMMARY: Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) received numerous prestigious awards in 2024, highlighting its outstanding local journalism. Their investigative partnership with ProPublica earned recognition from the Education Writers Association for in-depth reporting on Tennessee’s student threat laws. The National Association of Black Journalists honored a story about an 11-year-old wrongfully arrested and also nominated WPLN’s “Making Noise” podcast. WPLN won Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for feature and documentary reporting. In the Public Media Journalists Association, they secured two first-place honors. Their “Supermajority” podcast was a finalist for the Peabody Award and won multiple journalism accolades for exceptional political coverage.

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SUMMARY: Fans at Knoxville’s Covenant Health Park celebrated the Fourth of July with the Tennessee Smokies baseball game, enjoying classic American traditions like hot dogs, fireworks, and baseball. The event marked the first Independence Day celebration at the new stadium, drawing families, first-time visitors, and community members. Army recruiters joined with booths to engage with attendees beyond their uniforms, emphasizing unity and patriotism. As the sun set, fans savored food and drinks while eagerly awaiting the fireworks show downtown. The festive atmosphere highlighted a shared sense of celebration, community, and American pride at the ballpark.

The Smokies’ signature colors weren’t the only reason for red, white and blue at tonight’s game.

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